Crystal Water comes up strong with Alert Bay, Ashleyluvssugar

ARCADIA, Calif. – Under normal circumstances, a graded stakes winner dropping into a stakes restricted to California-breds would have an easy time of it.

But the $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita is anything but normal for Alert Bay and Ashleyluvssugar, a pair of 5-year-old multiple graded stakes-winning California-breds who meet for the first time in a one-mile turf race that came up strong.

Alert Bay, trained by Blaine Wright, won the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile last out at Golden Gate Fields, the millionaire’s fifth graded stakes win. Conditions on Saturday are ideal for Alert Bay, whose five starts at a mile on turf include four wins and a second.

Ashleyluvssugar, a back-to-back Grade 2 winner last spring at 1 1/2 miles on turf, is using the Crystal Water to launch his campaign. Trainer Peter Eurton likes the distance for a comeback but recognizes that the gelding prefers more ground.

“A mile is perfect because he’s so fresh,” Eurton said. “But a mile is a tough distance, with a lot of fast horses. I had to start somewhere.”

The fast horses are stakes winners with speed – Spirit Rules and Boozer. Graded stakes winner Poshsky and allowance-caliber longshot Zinvor complete the field of six.

The Crystal Water is race 2 on an 11-race card that begins at noon Pacific. Post time for the Crystal Water is 12:30.

KEY CONTENDERS

Alert Bay
Last 3 Beyers: 101-88-89

◗ Wright gave Alert Bay a short holiday after winning the San Francisco Mile in late April.

“We gave him 10 days off after that race, got back to work, and everything has come together,” Wright said.

◗ Alert Bay is based in Northern California but ships frequently to Southern California, where he has won 5 of 12, including two Grade 2 turf races at Santa Anita. Overall, Alert Bay has won 12 races and $1,098,815 from 26 starts for owner Peter Redekop. The gelding is the best horse Wright has trained.

“For me, it’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime chance with this kind of horse,” he said.

◗ Tyler Baze rides Alert Bay.

Ashleyluvssugar, by Game Plan
Last 3 Beyers: 100-98-100

◗ He went to the sidelines after finishing second in a Grade 2 last summer at Del Mar.

“He was just very uncomfortable,” Eurton said. “He was really body sore. We nuked [nuclear-scanned] him, no fractures, but he lit up . . . lots of bone remodeling.”

Eurton gave Ashleyluvssugar four months off before he resumed training early this year. His main 2016 target is ambitious – the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita.

“We have hopes and dreams like everyone else,” Eurton said, adding, “I don’t know if he is that good.”

◗ Ashleyluvssugar is good enough to have won six races and $515,504 from 13 starts. Rafael Bejarano is his rider.

Boozer, by Unusual Heat
Last 3 Beyers: 93-95-90

◗ He finished third two weeks ago with a compromised trip in a dirt stakes. Edwin Maldonado rides the gelding, who has won seven races and $555,792 from 23 starts for trainer Mark Glatt.