Cash Equity ready for belated U.S. debut

ARCADIA, Calif. – Things sometimes go wrong, even for the leading trainer. Phil D’Amato will try to make things right in three turf races Saturday at Santa Anita.

Cash Equity, a highly regarded import whose U.S. debut was postponed last month when he got sick and had to scratch, tries again in the featured ninth race. He faces stablemate Hong Kong Harry and Moody Jim in the second-level allowance at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

D’Amato also will seek redemption Saturday with race-1 starter Cool Acclaim, who bombed last out in a similar California-bred maiden turf route, with excuses.

“A lot of things did not go right for him,” D’Amato said. “I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt.”

The trainer entered a pair in race 5, an entry-level allowance turf mile for 3-year-olds. Doitforandrew will stretch out by necessity, because a hillside allowance he targeted was not used. D’Amato also entered Shut Up Michael with the expectation the sprinter will improve at a mile. D’Amato-trained maiden Maxim Moment returns in race 4, on dirt.

No fewer than 30 of D’Amato’s meet-leading 33 wins have been on turf, a stat that may increase Saturday on a card without a stakes race. The second-level allowance is the feature, and Cash Equity is past due for a start.

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Purchased for a reported $284,000 last fall at a European horses of racing age sale, Cash Equity was scheduled to make his U.S. debut March 11.

“The week before the race, he got a temp on me and was under the weather, so I had to scratch him,” D’Amato said.

The fever did not last long.

“He’s come back to train really well, and I thought his last breeze was his best breeze,” D’Amato said. “He’s plenty fit, first off the bench.”

Hong Kong Harry moves up off a facile first-level allowance win in his U.S. debut.

“It wasn’t the strongest one-other-than, but it was the way he did it. I thought he did it with energy in reserve,” D’Amato said.

Juan Hernandez rides Cash Equity; Ramon Vazquez is on Hong Kong Harry. Rivals include Jeff Mullins-trained top contender Moody Jim, in addition to Henley’s Joy, Irideo, Flashiest, and Comradery.

In the first race, D’Amato believes Cool Acclaim is better than his last start suggests. His final pre-race work was interrupted by a breakdown, Cool Acclaim got rank in the race and sputtered. Based on his better-than-looked debut and workouts since his last start, expectations are Cool Acclaim will improve third time out switching to Ricky Gonzalez.

In the race-5 turf mile for 3-year-olds, D’Amato stretches out Shut Up Michael off a series of sprints.

“He’s a horse I think will prefer to go long, and his riders have said the same thing,” D’Amato said.

Doitforandrew also entered the turf mile, after a hillside sprint was not used. The mile was not D’Amato’s first choice, but he said Doitforandrew worked in company with Grade 1 winner Count Again on April 9 and “held his own.”

Ryan Hanson-trained Barsabas drops from a stakes race as a contender in the fifth race. Others include Baladi, Echosmith, Arrabiata, St Anthony, and War At Sea.