Distinctiv Passion targets Los Angeles Stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. - Distinctiv Passion is working diligently to rebound from a poor performance in Dubai in March.
The four-time stakes winner could only finish 13th of 16 in the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint at five furlongs on turf at Meydan Racecourse on March 28, his first trip away from California. Since returning to Santa Anita, Distinctiv Passion has worked so well that trainer Jeff Bonde is planning a start in the $100,000 Los Angeles Stakes on May 25.
“He’s been a very sharp horse,” Bonde said.
Distinctiv Passion has had bullet workouts three times in the last month, including five furlongs in 58.20 seconds on May 12. A 5-year-old horse, Distinctiv Passion will be a leading contender in the Grade 3 Los Angeles, which is run at six furlongs.
Owned by Edward Brown Jr., Alan Klein, and Phil Lebherz, Distinctiv Passion has strong credentials, despite the Dubai setback. Distinctiv Passion has won two stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita since Christmas – the Grade 3 Midnight Lute Stakes on Dec. 27 and the Joe Hernandez Stakes on Feb. 22. The Midnight Lute is the most prestigious win of his career.
The Los Angeles is one of two graded stakes on the Memorial Day program on May 25. The day’s richest race is the $300,000 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
The competition for the Los Angeles Stakes is expected to include San Onofre, second in the Grade 2 Kona Gold Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on April 11; and Wild Dude, who won the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes on March 7 but was sixth in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct on April 4.
Sunday, Wild Dude worked six furlongs in 1:12.
The field will not include Kona Gold winner Masochistic. Trainer Ron Ellis said on Sunday that he plans to start Masochistic in the $300,000 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs on June 27.
“I’ll point him for some of the bigger sprints,” Ellis said.