Danjer looking to break out of bridesmaid role in 2020

This could be the year Danjer proves he is more than the winner of six-figure consolation races.

At 2, Danjer won the $200,000 All American Juvenile at Ruidoso Downs, the consolation race for the $3 million All American Futurity. Last September, Danjer won the $100,000 First Down Dash Handicap, the consolation for the All American Derby.

Danjer has run extremely well in major stakes, too, finishing second by a neck in his final start of 2019 in the $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park in December.

Well regarded throughout his career, Danjer will start favored in his 2020 debut, an allowance race with a $75,000 claiming option at 330 yards on Thursday night at Remington Park. None of the 10 entrants are entered to be claimed.

A successful race by Danjer could lead to an appearance in the $212,500 Debbie Schauf Invitational Championship at 440 yards on May 30.

Thursday’s optional claimer is the ninth race on a 10-race program that begins at 7 p.m. Eastern. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Owned by trainer Dean Frey and Downtime Enterprises, Danjer has won 6 of 13 starts and earned $526,711. A 4-year-old gelding, Danjer has excelled in races at 400 and 440 yards. Thursday’s race is his shortest race since a win in a maiden special weight race at 300 yards at Canterbury Park in July 2018.

“I don’t think 330 will bother him at all,” Frey said Monday. “He’s a fast horse. It’s our first race of the year, and we’ll take our best shot.”

Last June, Danjer was a game second to Apocalyptical Jess in the Ruidoso Derby at 400 yards. Apocalyptical Jess was the champion 3-year-old of 2019.

Cody Smith will ride Danjer for the first time. He replaces Cody Jensen, who retired last December. Danjer’s near miss at Sunland Park was his final mount.

“At Sunland Park, he broke a little slower than normal, but he ran a good race,” Frey said. “It would have been nice to win that last race for Cody Jensen.

“He’s got a Grade 1 in him. It’s a matter of getting it out of him.”

Danjer breaks from post 2, well to the inside of main rivals Dickey Bob and MM Fourinthemorning.

Dickey Bob has won his last three starts, in allowance races at Prairie Meadows last fall and on March 12 at Remington Park.

MM Fourinthemorning, fifth in the 2018 All American Futurity, won an optional claimer at 350 yards on March 28 at Remington Park in his first start of 2020. The Schauf Invitational is a goal for MM Fourinthemorning, trainer Blane Wood said Monday.