Boozer back with statebreds in California Flag Handicap
ARCADIA, Calif. – Boozer, at age 6, accomplished a career first Sept. 30 in his 27th start – he finished second in his graded- stakes debut in a division of the Grade 3 Eddie D Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita.
Boozer was beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Holy Lute, who is being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 5. Boozer is not bound for that $1 million race. Owners Al and Sandee Kirkwood and trainer Mark Glatt have Boozer geared toward Saturday’s $100,000 California Flag Handicap for statebreds on the hillside turf course.
The California Flag drew a strong field of seven, including the stakes winners Acceptance, Big Bane Theory, Mana Strike, Richard’s Boy, and Somethings Unusual.
KEY CONTENDERS
Boozer, by Unusual Heat
Last 3 Beyers: 98-88-93
◗ The California Flag will be Boozer’s 11th start of the year and his eighth in a stakes. He won the Sensational Star Handicap for California-breds on the hillside turf course in February and the Bertrando Stakes for statebreds at a mile on dirt at Los Alamitos in April. More recently, he was third in the California Dreamin’ Stakes for statebreds at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar in July.
“He’s run in competitive races,” Glatt said.
◗ Ideally, Glatt said, Boozer would have more time between starts, but Glatt is guardedly optimistic that the gelding has rebounded from the loss in the Eddie D Stakes.
“I wish it was a full month and not three weeks,” he said.
◗ Gary Stevens, who has ridden Boozer in a majority of his starts in the last year, has the mount Saturday. Stevens is likely to have Boozer in a stalking position on the hill, in pursuit of likely pacesetter Richard’s Boy.
Richard’s Boy, by Idiot Proof
Last 3 Beyers: 91-93-94
◗ While Boozer has frequently raced around two turns this year, Richard’s Boy is a true sprinter. He was second by a head in the Sensational Star in February and did not start again until a second-place finish in the Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar in August.
◗ Trained by Peter Miller for Gary Hartunian’s Rockingham Ranch, Richard’s Boy was second in the first division of the Eddie D Stakes on Sept. 30, leading in the stretch before finishing second, 1 3/4 lengths behind Ambitious Brew.
◗ Richard’s Boy, a 4-year-old gelding, has won twice on the hillside turf course in five starts.
Acceptance, by Vronsky
Last 3 Beyers: 86-73-60
◗ Acceptance was a game fifth, beaten three-quarters of a length, in an optional claimer Sept. 30, his first start since February. A two-time stakes winner at 2 in 2014, Acceptance is expected to race near the front.