Cherubim gearing up for Del Mar
CYPRESS, Calif. – The Del Mar summer season is three months away, which makes a second-level optional $62,500 claimer at Los Alamitos on Friday a good time for the 5-year-old gelding Cherubim to have his first start of 2016.
Cherubim was second in the Pirate’s Bounty Stakes at Del Mar last September in his most recent start. Having Cherubim ready for that meeting this year is a goal for owner Jerry Frankel and trainer Phil D’Amato.
“Jerry Frankel loves to campaign him at Del Mar, where he lives,” D’Amato said.
Cherubim will return to action in a race at 6 1/2 furlongs that drew 10 entrants, the largest field on Friday’s eight-race program at Los Alamitos. The group includes Top Fortitude, who won the Grade 3 Laz Barrera Stakes at Santa Anita in 2014; Stalk the Wildcat, unraced since winning the Golden Nugget Stakes for 2-year-olds in November 2014; and Desert Dynamo, who has not run since finishing second to Shotgun Kowboy in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park last September.
Race 7
KEY CONTENDERS
Cherubim, by Henny Hughes
Last 3 Beyers: 86-86-87
◗ Cherubim was first or second in four starts last year, winning an optional claimer at Santa Anita in May and finishing second in his next three starts there and at Del Mar. He finished 4 3/4 lengths behind the multiple stakes winner Big Macher in the Pirate’s Bounty after encountering trouble in early stretch.
“He needed a little break,” D’Amato said. “He puts a lot into his races. We gave him a planned break. We have him freshened and ready to fire through the whole year.”
Desert Dynamo, by Desert Party
Last 3 Beyers: 96-98-78
◗ Desert Dynamo won a maiden special weight race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita last April and an optional claimer at a mile last May. The sprint distance of Friday’s race is a concern for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
“I’m not sure he wants to run short, but we thought we’d get a race in him,” he said. “We’ll take a look and see whether we want to run. He runs well in stakes, so we’re looking forward to this year.”
◗ Owned by Mark Dedomenico, Jerry Durant, and Michael House, Desert Dynamo ran in two stakes last summer and fall. He was a close third to Gimme Da Lute in the El Cajon Stakes at a mile on the main track at Del Mar last August.
Pay the Fine, by Square Eddie
Last 3 Beyers: 87-79-89
◗ Pay the Fine has started against California-breds in 10 of his 12 starts, but his two races in open company are notable. Pay the Fine won an allowance race on turf at Del Mar last November and was a game third in an optional claimer at six furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita in January.