Dicey Mo Chara shortens up for San Francisco Mile
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In the last year, Dicey Mo Chara has shown a versatility in graded stakes on turf in California at distances ranging from 1 1/8 miles to 1 1/2 miles. He has won only once in that span, but the gelding seldom runs a poor race.
The range of Dicey Mo Chara’s ability will be tested when he goes a mile on turf in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields.
The $250,000 San Francisco Mile is Dicey Mo Chara’s first start at the distance since a third-place finish by a half-length in the All American Stakes on the synthetic main track at Golden Gate Fields last May. Trainer Leonard Powell is banking on that performance as proof Dicey Mo Chara can be a factor on Saturday.
In some of his more recent starts, Dicey Mo Chara won the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita in December from off the pace, and was a good second after setting a slow pace in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf April 8.
Dicey Mo Chara, who races for Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, drew the outside post of nine in the San Francisco Mile, the 11th race on a 12-race program that begins at 1:15 p.m. Pacific. The San Francisco Mile, the richest race at Golden Gate Fields, is the last of six stakes on the card.
Dicey Mo Chara is one of five stakes winners in the field, along with Balnikhov, Bob and Jackie, Flavius, and Il Bellator. The others runners are Tarantino and Tesoro, who have placed in stakes, and Lamplighter Jack and Rio King, who each won his last start impressively.
Lamplighter Jack, who won a starter allowance at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on March 25 in his 2023 debut, will play a vital role in the San Francisco Mile as the potential pacesetter. He is likely to be joined at or near the front by Bob and Jackie, a four-time stakes winner who was third in in the Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on April 2.
A quick pace would aid Dicey Mo Chara, who will be ridden by Drayden Van Dyke.
“The key with him is not to be too far back,” Powell said. “I hope he will be okay.”
Balnikhov is likely to be in mid-pack along with Dicey Mo Chara. Balnikhov won the Grade 3 Bryan Station Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf at Keeneland last October, and was seventh of eight in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 4 in his first start of 2023.
Trainer Phil D’Amato is hoping Balnikhov can save ground from post 2.
“He did run in a Grade 1 last time, so it should be a little bit softer company,” D’Amato said. “He can be tactical if need to be.
“So long as he gets covered up, he’ll be fine.”
The San Francisco Mile is the first start since March 2022 for Flavius, who won the Tourist Mile at Kentucky Downs in 2020 and the restricted Lure Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Saratoga in 2021 for trainer Chad Brown. Flavius starts for the first time for George Papaprodromou on Saturday.
“He’s been coming along nicely,” Papaprodromou said earlier this week. “He probably might need a race.”
Papaprodromou said the San Francisco Mile can serve as a prep for Flavius for the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf at Santa Anita on May 29.
Flavius is trained at Santa Anita and is one of five shippers for the San Francisco Mile. The four locally based runners are Il Bellator, Rio King, Tarantino, and Tesoro.
Rio King, claimed for $20,000 from a maiden race last October, has won his last three starts. A closer, Rio King will have his stakes debut on Saturday.
Tarantino was third in the Grade 3 American Stakes at Santa Anita last June. This year, Tarantino has started twice, finishing last of six in an allowance race on the synthetic track at Golden Gate Fields in January and second in an allowance race on turf at Santa Anita on March 4.
Tarantino is an upset candidate in the San Francisco Mile, said trainer Ed Moger Jr.
“I love him in there,” Moger said. “He’s as good as he’s been.
“He’s not a good-footed horse, but his feet are as good as they’ve ever been. He’s been training super.”
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