Brandothebartender fresh for Sensational Star

ARCADIA, Calif. – When rain fell in California in January, the stakes winner Brandothebartender spent most of the month on vacation.

Brandothebartender resumed workouts in mid-February and will have his first start of 2019 in Sunday’s $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes for California-breds at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita.

Brandothebartender won the California Flag Handicap for statebreds at five furlongs on turf last October and an allowance race at a mile on turf on Dec. 31. Those wins and the recent rest give trainer Craig Dollase confidence about Sunday’s race.

“We gave him a freshening and I’m excited about his comeback,” he said. “I think it’s worked out good so far. He’s on edge.”

The Sensational Star, Sunday’s second race, is one of two stakes on the hillside turf course on the program for statebreds. The eighth race is the $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for fillies and mares.

Brandothebartender races for Flawless Racing, Brian Flanagan, and Michael Jarvis. A 6-year-old gelding, Brandothebartender was claimed for $40,000 at Del Mar last August and has since earned $125,538 in five starts.

The Sensational Star Stakes drew a field of seven, but may lose leading contender Eddie Haskell to the Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland on April 6. The $200,000 Shakertown Stakes is run at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf.

Trainer Mark Glatt said he prefers the shorter distance of the Shakertown for Eddie Haskell, who was third in the California Flag Handicap last October.

“If the weather looks good in Kentucky, that will be a big factor,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to run on a soft turf course.

“The race is $200,000. It’s a tougher race, but twice the money. The distance is a big factor.”

Pee Wee Reese, a two-time stakes winner, enters the Sensational Star having been off since a fourth in the Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar last August. Owned by Nick Alexander, Pee Wee Reese was vanned from the turf course to trainer Phil D’Amato’s stable after that race.

“He took a couple of funny steps on the gallop-out,” D’Amato recalled on Friday. “They vanned him off for precautionary reasons. We didn’t see anything. We scanned him and nothing really popped up. Out of caution, we decided to give him a couple of months.

“He’s trained very well.”

Pee Wee Reese is likely to set the pace.

S Y Sky gets back on turf

Later on the card, D’Amato runs the stakes winners Barbara Beatrice and S Y Sky in the Irish O’Brien.

S Y Sky is unbeaten in two starts on turf, both on the hillside course, including the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint for statebreds on Jan. 26. S Y Sky was second by three-quarters of a length to Show It N Moe It on Feb. 24 in the Spring Fever Stakes at six furlongs on dirt.

“I think she’s a little better on the grass,” D’Amato said. “Her form kind of shows that. She’s drawn a nice post.”

S Y Sky starts from post 10 in a field of 11 and will be ridden for the first time by Geovanni Franco, a replacement for Joe Talamo, who is traveling on Sunday from Dubai to California.

Glatt has an intriguing contender in Gypsy Blu, who was claimed for $20,000 on Jan. 25 when she won an optional claimer for statebred fillies and mares on the hillside turf course. In her first start for Glatt, Gypsy Blu won a starter allowance on the hillside turf course on Feb. 24.

“I’m pleased with her progress,” Glatt said. “She’s 3 for 3 on the grass. That kind of record is hard to ignore. This is the most substantial-class race she’s faced.”

The Irish O’Brien drew a competitive field. Donut Girl, Fiery Lady, Queen Bee to You, and X S Gold each won an optional claimer or allowance race in her last start.