California horses back in the mix for Spiral

One only has to think back to this past Saturday to find the last California shipper to win Oaklawn’s Rebel Stakes, a race champion American Pharoah dominated in the slop. But to recall the last California invader to win the Spiral at Turfway Park requires a much longer memory or an expansive Internet search.

Not since 2000 – when President Bill Clinton was still in the White House – has a California shipper won the Spiral. That year, Globalize scored for Jerry Hollendorfer.

Saturday, two California-based horses – Metaboss and Conquest Typhoon – will try to put end to that California drought as leading contenders in the Grade 3, $550,000 Spiral. They are among 12 horses entered, with post positions still to be determined during a Wednesday luncheon at the Horseshoe Casino of Cincinnati, which sponsors the race.

In fairness to the California shippers over the years, they have been outnumbered by Florida horses and locally based horses. Still the results aren’t pretty. Since Turfway added Polytrack and the first Spiral was run on that surface in 2006, horses that last raced in California are 0 for 11, with the best finishes being Connemara’s and Medjool’s thirds in 2010 and 2008.

Tamarando ran eighth as the favorite last year after winning the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate, the same race Metaboss and Conquest Typhoon exit. Metaboss won the Feb. 14 El Camino Real, with Conquest Typhoon the third-place finisher.

Perhaps one reason for the poor record is the differences in surfaces. Golden Gate has Tapeta, and when the Santa Anita and Hollywood Park had synthetic tracks, they were different brands than the Polytrack at Turfway.

“These synthetic tracks are unique in their own ways,” said Mark Casse, who trains Conquest Typhoon. “Turfway seems pretty similar to Woodbine.”

Woodbine, like Turfway, has Polytrack, though it is being replaced with Tapeta in late 2015. Last year Conquest Typhoon twice ran second on Polytrack at Woodbine.

Casse is hoping Conquest Typhoon can improve upon his performance in the El Camino Real, which was his first start of the year. He was fresh after a layoff and showed more speed than usual before weakening late.

The Spiral, at 1 1/8 miles, should give Casse a gauge for whether Conquest Typhoon can become a contender for the Queen’s Plate at 1 ¼ miles at Woodbine for Canadian-bred runners, or whether shorter routes on turf better suit him.

Metaboss is no such question mark at the Spiral distance. Both of his wins have come at 1 1/8 miles, first on turf at Santa Anita, and then the El Camino Real.

Mike Smith rides Conquest Typhoon in the Spiral, while Alex Solis will be aboard Metaboss.

Imperia, with Joel Rosario named to ride by Kiaran McLaughlin, is the likely Spiral favorite, despite not having raced on any type of synthetic track. Winner of the Grade 3 Pilgrim on turf last year at 2, he closed out 2014 with a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill on dirt before finishing a non-threatening fifth in the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds in his only race at 3.

Other prominent Spiral entries include Dubai Sky, winner of the Kitten’s Joy Stakes on turf in his last start Jan. 24; Royal Son, blowout winner of the John Battaglia in the local prep for the Spiral; and Fair Grounds invader Wireless Future, who has won three in a row.