Conquest Farenheit will need all his talent to win Pasadena Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Conquest Farenheit is in a familiar role Sunday at Santa Anita – the favorite – in the $75,000 Pasadena Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf.

Conquest Farenheit gets bet wherever he runs. He has been favored in all four of his starts, including a maiden win and a runner-up finish in a Grade 2 race last fall at Woodbine. He was favored in a foiled experiment on dirt at Santa Anita and again when he scored a decisive victory in a turf-sprint stakes.

But when he stretches out to two turns Sunday, Conquest Farenheit is no cinch. The Peter Miller-trained colt faces a deep cast of nine rivals.

Cistron, 2 for 3 at a mile on turf and third in the Eddie Logan Stakes in December, has the same front-running style as Conquest Farenheit. Ritzy A. P. might be better than his maiden win last out indicates; Ky. Colonel ran the race of his career last out, finishing second; the 2-for-2 Taxman’s Quest and 4-for-4 Taco each race in California for the first time.

Conquest Farenheit, purchased for $735,000 last fall, made his first start for Miller in February and finished third at odds-on in an allowance on dirt here. He returned to turf 18 days later and shortened up to a sprint in the Baffle Stakes. He was a different horse.

Conquest Farenheit won the Baffle ridden out by 1 1/4 lengths after the fastest opening quarter-mile of the meet – 21.02 seconds. He went the opening half in 43.67 and came away from the rest of the field.

“He was short first time,” Miller said.”But he’s fit now. He’s sharp and doing super.”

It was a sharp win by a promising colt who is likely to set the pace Sunday, although Miller will leave the strategy up to jockey Norberto Arroyo.

“If someone wants the lead, they can have it,” Miller said. “He’s naturally fast. If we get an easy lead, we’ll take it.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Conquest Farenheit, by Scat Daddy

Last 3 Beyers: 92-69-89

◗ He is owned by Gary Hartunian (Rockingham Ranch) and Chad Littlefield.

◗ Arroyo and Miller entered the weekend 14 for 25 together.

◗ If he sets the pace, Conquest Farenheit faces a challenging course profile. Although the Santa Anita turf course plays fair, only 6 of 39 races at one mile through Thursday had been won by the pacesetter.

Cistron, by The Factor

Last 3 Beyers: 79-79-76

◗ He had a target on his back when setting the pace in all three of his turf starts but could be positioned second behind the favorite in the Pasadena.

◗ Cistron, trained by John Sadler, is reunited with Tyler Baze, who entered the weekend as the meet’s second-leading rider.

Ritzy A. P., by English Channel

Beyers: 76-80

◗ His maiden win at one mile was better than it looked. The distance was changed from 6 1/2 furlongs at the last minute due to inclement weather.

“He wasn’t ready for [one mile],” trainer Dan Blacker said. “He won because he’s good.”

◗ Blacker has been able to train Ritzy A. P. for the one-mile distance Sunday with no interruption.

“He’s going to improve a lot,” Blacker said. “He’s ready to fire.”