The Breeders' Cup question for Sharp Samurai is turf or dirt
Sharp Samurai will make his next start in a Breeders’ Cup race on Nov. 7 at Keeneland, but a decision on whether the five-time stakes winner runs in the BC Mile on turf or the Dirt Mile has yet to be finalized.
“Everything is on the table,” trainer Mark Glatt said Thursday.
Owned by Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, Sharp Samurai has been second in his last two starts, finishing three lengths behind BC Classic contender Maximum Security in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on dirt on Aug. 22 at Del Mar and second to top BC Mile contender Mo Forza in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on turf Oct. 3 at Santa Anita.
“He bounced back in good shape,” Glatt said.
Glatt said the Dirt Mile is “definitely under consideration.”
Sharp Samurai has won 8 of 22 starts and earned $1,021,270, but is winless in eight starts since winning the 2018 City of Hope Mile. This year, Sharp Samurai has been second or third in four starts, all graded stakes.
:: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more.
Anoakia tops Monday card
This is the only weekend of the five-week autumn meeting without a graded stakes. There are three stakes this three-weekend, including Monday’s $75,000 Anoakia Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs.
The meeting concludes Oct. 25. The leading race next week is the Grade 2 Twilight Derby, a $200,000 race at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Smooth Like Strait, a three-time stakes winner who was fourth in the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes on Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs as the 6-5 favorite, is among the notable candidates. Smooth Like Strait won the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar in August.
Friday, Smooth Like Strait worked five furlongs in 1:00.