Dark Vader to make long-awaited return in Palos Verdes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will ride Dark Vader for the first time when the 7-year-old gelding has his first start in 17 months in Saturday’s Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes at six furlongs at Santa Anita.

Trainer Peter Eurton said the $200,000 Palos Verdes is an opportunity to give Dark Vader a foundation for the rest of the year. Dark Vader has not raced since a last-place finish in a field of six in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar in August 2020.

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“We want to get started,” Eurton said. “I know it’s not the distance that he wants.”

Owned by a partnership that includes Burns Racing, the family of the late Sharon Alesia, Ciaglia Racing, and Robin Christensen, Dark Vader has won 3 of 14 starts and earned $276,145. Dark Vader worked in the fall of 2020 and resumed workouts in late October last year for his comeback.

Sunday, Dark Vader worked a half-mile in 47.60 seconds, according to Eurton.

The Palos Verdes field has five other probable starters – Arham, Cezanne, Collusion Illusion, Shooters Shoot, and Team Merchants.

Collusion Illusion, the winner of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar in 2020 but fifth in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship in his latest start in October for trainer Mark Glatt, is under consideration for Saturday’s $150,000 King Cotton Stakes at Oaklawn Park, if transportation can be arranged.

Cezanne has not raced since a victory by 9 3/4 lengths in the Grade Kona Gold Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs here last April. Trained by Bob Baffert for the Coolmore partnership, Cezanne was purchased for $3.65 million at auction as a 2-year-old.

Dean Martini, the winner of the Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown in 2020, recently joined Eurton’s stable. Previously trained by Tom Amoss, Dean Martini, 5, has won 3 of 23 starts and earned $459,960.

Dean Martini races for Raise the Bar Racing and David Bernsen and finished fifth in an allowance race at Delta Downs on Dec. 10.