Calhoun has momentum going into twin juvenile stakes
No trainer has won more 2-year-old races in North America this year than Bret Calhoun, who will attempt to keep that momentum going Saturday night in the El Joven and La Senorita at Retama Park. Calhoun has leading contenders in the twin turf features for 2-year-olds. Each race is a mile and worth $75,000.
Calhoun had won 34 juvenile races from 129 such starts through Wednesday. Together, the babies are nearing $1 million in earnings.
Better Than Magic and Cash Bonus will represent Calhoun in the El Joven, which goes with a field of eight, including 27 1/4-length maiden winner Break Free. Calhoun’s representative in the seven-horse La Senorita is More Than Most, a recent maiden special weight winner at Churchill Downs.
KEY CONTENDERS
EL JOVEN (RACE 8)
Better Than Magic (Last 3 Beyers: 68-52-48)
◗ He could go favored after finishing third in the Sunday Silence on Sept. 12 at Louisiana Downs. Better Than Magic rallied from next-to-last in the race won by Uncle Brennie, a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Earlier in his career, Better Than Magic won a maiden special weight at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf at Lone Star Park.
“We’ve always liked this horse,” said Calhoun, who trains for Doug Scharbauer. “He’s run a few good races, [but] we think he’s a bit of an underachiever. There’s a little bit more there. We’re thinking there’s more to him than what we’re getting.”
◗ Better Than Magic will add blinkers Saturday. Calhoun is hopeful that the addition of blinkers will lead to a more focused Better Than Magic.
“He always drops back off of it, has very little gate speed,” Calhoun said. “When he makes his run, he goes to swapping leads, leaning in and leaning out instead of moving forward.”
◗ Cliff Berry has the mount from post 4.
Cash Bonus (Last 3 Beyers: 65-34-52)
◗ He comes off a win in an optional $75,000 claiming sprint at Remington. He will make his turf debut Saturday.
“Pedigree-wise, I think that will work,” Calhoun said. “It’s kind of a new wrinkle. A 2-year-old who’s already won two races this time of year, there’s not a lot of options with him right now.”
LA SENORITA (RACE 6)
More Than Most (Last 3 Beyers: 69-50-67)
◗ She will make her two-turn debut off a one-turn-mile win Sept. 12. The score came in her first start beyond 5 1/2 furlongs.
“This is a filly we’ve been extremely high on for a long time,” Calhoun said. “I tried hard to get her in two-turn races, but they wouldn’t go. She’s definitely a two-turn horse. I had to run in a one-turn mile. That helped her, but it still wasn’t what I’d been hoping for.”