California Flag rebound spot for Gold Rush Dancer

ARCADIA, Calif. – Gold Rush Dancer, Richard’s Boy, and Tribalist are the three 2017 stakes winners among seven entrants in Saturday’s $100,000 California Flag Handicap on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita.

Their trainers approach the race, for statebred 3-year-olds and up, with varying goals.

Trainer Vann Belvoir is hoping Gold Rush Dancer can rebound from a sixth-place finish in the E.B. Johnston Stakes on Sept. 9 at Los Alamitos. Before that, he won the Grade 3 Longacres Mile on Aug. 13 at Emerald Downs.

Peter Miller trains Richard’s Boy, and he considers the California Flag, at about 6 1/2 furlongs, to be a prep for the five-furlong Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 4 at Del Mar.

Plans for Tribalist are less clear. Trainer Blake Heap said Wednesday that Tribalist may skip the California Flag for the BC Turf Sprint.

KEY CONTENDERS

Gold Rush Dancer, by Private Gold

Last 3 Beyers: 77-97-91

◗ The California Flag will be the first start on turf for Gold Rush Dancer since a ninth in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita last November. Earlier in 2016, Gold Rush Dancer won consecutive stakes for 3-year-old California-breds on turf – the Silky Sullivan Stakes at a mile at Golden Gate Fields and the Snow Chief Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita.

◗ Owned by John Parker, Gold Rush Dancer was beaten 9 1/4 lengths by Soi Phet in the E.B. Johnston Stakes at a mile. Gold Rush Dancer was as close as fourth through the first half-mile and faded in the long stretch. Belvoir said a half-mile workout in 46.80 seconds the week before at Del Mar may have taken a toll.

“We squeezed too much from his final work,” Belvoir said.

“He didn’t look comfortable in the race down the backstretch. It was not a soundness issue, but he had his head to the side.”

◗ Belvoir has enlisted former jockey and current exercise rider Corey Black to work Gold Rush Dancer in recent weeks. Black had not worked Gold Rush Dancer for several months and gave Belvoir a positive report.

“Corey said he was bigger and stronger than ever,” Belvoir said.

◗ Corey Nakatani will ride Gold Rush Dancer for the first time, replacing apprentice jockey Evin Roman.

“Nothing against Evin, but I wanted a jockey with more experience down the hill,” Belvoir said.

Tribalist, by Tribal Rule

Last 3 Beyers: 100-91-90

◗ Tribalist has run twice this year, winning the Green Flash Stakes on turf Aug. 17 at Del Mar and finishing second by a neck in the Grade 3 Eddie D Stakes on the hillside turf course Sept. 29.

◗ Heap said the owners are considering paying a $100,000 supplemental feel to make Tribalist eligible for the BC Turf Sprint over a course the 6-year-old gelding has shown to like.

“If it wasn’t at Del Mar, we wouldn’t think about it,” Heap said. “He’d be tough there, for sure. We’re still up in the air.”

Richard’s Boy, by Idiot Proof

Last 3 Beyers: 89-87-96

◗ Richard’s Boy disputed the pace to the eighth pole and was beaten a half-length as the 3-2 favorite in the Green Flash. Earlier this year at Santa Anita, Richard’s Boy won the California Cup Sprint on dirt and was second by a nose in the Sensational Star Stakes for California-breds on the hillside turf course.