That Corey, Border Town try not to disappoint – again

ARCADIA, Calif. – By definition, a beaten favorite is an underachiever that bettors generally try to avoid. But just try to resist two such runners Friday at Santa Anita.

That Corey is a 3-year-old maiden who has lost as the favorite in both his starts. Border Town is an older gelding whose futility at the second allowance condition includes two losses as the favorite. That Corey and Border Town reprise familiar roles Friday – the ones to beat, again.

Despite falling short in his first two starts, That Corey enters race 3 as the most probable winner on the card when he stretches out in the second division of a turf mile for California-bred maidens. Everything about That Corey – form, speed, pace, and pedigree – suggest two turns will be his chance to shine.

Border Town starts in race 7, with attributes that are less clear. He finished in the middle or rear of the field three times at the second condition. But he was gelded just prior to his most recent start three months ago, and might be a different horse in 2021.

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Friday’s card also includes a maiden mile for 3-year-old fillies, race 4, led by Peachtree Road. An allowance turf sprint for 3-year-olds is race 5; Superman Shaq meets Exhalting, who has won his last three. Race 8 is a starter allowance/optional-claiming mile in which front-runner Zestful faces late-runner Pubilius Syrus.

That Corey never was considered to be a sprinter, but the Square Eddie colt trained well enough to go favored in both starts. He finished fifth and second. “I thought he ran creditably, but he’s always looked like he wanted to go long,” trainer Ben Cecil said.

Cecil would know. He also trained the colt’s dam, a European distance mare. “Distance-wise, a mile to a mile and an eighth was good for her, and that should suit [That Corey] as well,” Cecil said.

J. Paul Reddam bred and owns That Corey, named for a family member. That Corey and jockey Mario Gutierrez must overcome the outside post (10 of 10). And though seven of the 10 3-year-olds add Lasix, That Corey remains Lasix-free.

“He hasn’t had a bleeding episode to this point,” Cecil said. “I’m hoping he’s good enough for Cal-bred stakes, and you’re not going to be able to run on [Lasix] there.”

Rivals include stretch-outs Gordy’s Boy and Hail Freedom. The race is a split of race 1, which includes improving Discretionary Day and unlucky debut runner-up Big Flint.

As for trouble-prone Border Town in race 7, supporting him requires a leap of faith. He was gelded in early September in order to improve his mental attitude, and though he ran as a first-time gelding in October, trainer Richard Mandella cautioned it usually “takes a couple months to really take effect.”

Border Town, off three months, has trained very well for his comeback, and ran fast enough last spring to win the second condition. Flavien Prat rides Border Town, whose rivals in the mile turf race include eight-time winner Murad Khan and Salvator Mundi.