Dandy Man Shines will revert to closing tactics

Dandy Man Shines won the restricted Let It Ride Stakes at Del Mar last fall by unleashing a late rally that carried him to the front in early stretch.

A change in tactics – racing closer to the front – led to a disappointing fifth in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 3.

For the 4-year-old gelding’s next start, an allowance race at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Sunday, the former strategy will be utilized.

“He wants to lay back and make one run,” trainer Jeff Mullins said. “I think he’s got as good a shot as anyone.”

:: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports

In the winter, the closing style led to a third in the Grade 2 Mathis Mile and a second in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf for Dandy Man Shines, who races for Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners.

Dandy Man Shines was beaten six lengths by the multiple stakes winner Du Jour in the Kilroe Mile, the track’s leading grass race of the winter meeting.

“We changed his running style and I don’t think it helped,” Mullins said.

A winner of 2 of 12 starts, Dandy Man Shines is part of a field of seven in the allowance race, the fifth race on a nine-race program. The $100,000 Singletary Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf was scheduled for Sunday, but failed to draw sufficient entries.

Dandy Man Shines is one of four stakes winners in the allowance race, including Aligato, who won the 2022 Unusual Heat Turf Classic for statebreds at Santa Anita; Flashiest, the winner of the 2021 Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar; and Dean Martini, who won the Grade 3 Ohio Derby in 2020.

Flashiest and Dean Martini, along with the intriguing contender Crosby Beach, are entered to be claimed for $80,000.

Aligato won an allowance race at a mile on turf on April 6, ending an 11-race losing streak since the 2022 Unusual Heat Turf Classic. During that span of losses, Aligato was second or third in nine races, including a second in the 2023 Unusual Heat Turf Classic and a third in the same race in January of this year.

Aligato will attempt to win consecutive starts for the first time on Sunday in his 18th race.

“There’s no reason to think he can’t,” trainer Mark Glatt said.

“He hadn’t won in a long time. I’m sure it boosted his confidence a bit and maybe he can win back-to-back.”

The key for Aligato is for runners such as Crosby Beach or Dean Martini to contribute to a decent pace in a race that lacks a confirmed front-runner.

“At first glance, the race may be void of early speed,” Glatt said. “His late kick depends on at least a fairly decent pace scenario. I don’t know if there is enough speed in there to really expect a quick pace.

“His style is what it is. You don’t want to force him to be closer than what he is early on.”

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.