Cutback should suit Cleopatra's Strike in San Gabriel

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 1 1/2 miles of the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar on Dec. 1 was perhaps too far for Cleopatra’s Strike, who finished fourth by a length.

“He looked like a winner in early stretch and he tailed off,” trainer Phil D’Amato said.

Five weeks later, Cleopatra’s Strike starts at a more suitable distance of 1 1/8 miles on turf in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita. This is the second year Cleopatra’s Strike has started in the $200,000 San Gabriel, having finished second by a nose in the 2019 running in his first start for D’Amato.

A 7-year-old gelding, Cleopatra’s Strike was given an eight-month break. In the second race of his comeback, in September, Cleopatra’s Strike recorded a 9-1 upset in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles, a race that may be on the upper range of his best distance, then ran in the Hollywood Turf Cup.

Owned by Slam Dunk Racing and Michael Nentwig, Cleopatra’s Strike is one of two horses to have won a stakes last year among the seven runners entered in the San Gabriel Stakes. Majestic Eagle won the Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf here last June, but is winless in three subsequent starts. He is trained Neil Drysdale.

Majestic Eagle was fourth at 44-1 in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 30, finishing two lengths behind winner Next Shares.

Acker was second in the $100,000 Los Alamitos Special at 1 1/4 miles on Sept. 15 and fifth in an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option here on Oct. 5, the day he was taken by trainer Neil French. The San Gabriel is Acker’s first start for French.

Desert Stone was third in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf last March, and last of nine in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf on May 27. Desert Stone was rested after the Shoemaker.

“He was tired and I thought he needed some time off,” trainer Richard Baltas said.

Desert Stone was second and third in two graded stakes on turf for 3-year-olds in 2018, suggesting a stakes win was imminent. But Baltas and owner Zayat Stables are still waiting to see a breakthrough race.

“He’s kind of got a mind of his own,” said Baltas. “He runs very spotty.”

D’Amato also runs Overdue, the winner of an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option at 1 1/8 miles on turf here on Oct. 5. In the Hollywood Turf Cup, Overdue was third with a furlong remaining before fading rapidly to finish ninth.

“He looked good at the head of the lane and he just fizzled,” D’Amato said.