Drysdale duo prepping – but still dangerous
DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Neil Drysdale will have two chances to claim the $75,000 Kathryn Crosby Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar with his duo of Three Hearts and Energia Fribby, but be forewarned that Drysdale believes both will be much more effective two weeks hence in the Grade 3, $100,000 Red Carpet.
The Kathryn Crosby, a restricted stakes, is at 1 1/16 miles on turf, probably short of ideal for both of Drysdale’s mares. The Red Carpet, worth more money and prestige, is at 1 3/8 miles, which is more in their wheelhouse. Both, though, have proven effective at shorter distances, so even if this isn’t the main goal of the meet, they certainly merit respect.
Three Hearts won the Red Carpet last year, so that is an obvious target. This will be her first start since July 11, when she raced wide and beat just one horse when facing males in the Stars and Stripes at Arlington, won by The Pizza Man.
“That was very disappointing,” Drysdale said Thursday. “Coming out of that, she wasn’t happy, so we gave her time.”
The peripatetic Energia Fribby, who began her career in her native Brazil and raced in Britain and Dubai before joining Drysdale’s barn, is making only her second start in this country.
“She’s coming along, but, like Three Hearts, she’s prepping for the mile-and-three-eighths race,” Drysdale said. “I like her a lot.”
Eight older female grass runners are entered in the Kathryn Crosby, which goes as race 8 on a nine-race card that begins at 12:30 p.m. Pacific. The field also includes the multiple stakes winner Nashoba’s Gold, who is making her first start since February, and Chaulk O Lattey, who has yet to win a stakes race but loves the Del Mar turf and appears to be the controlling speed.
KEY CONTENDERS
Three Hearts (Last 3 Beyers: 74-86-91)
◗ She scored a 29-1 upset last year in the Red Carpet when making her first start in 2 1/2 months. Considering she is slated to come back in two weeks, Drysdale’s warning that she’s “prepping for the Red Carpet” ought to be paid heed.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Three Hearts. Trainer Neil Drysdale is 45-8-5-5 with a $4.29 ROI over past five years in turf routes with Joe Talamo aboard. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Energia Fribby (Beyer: 87)
◗ She finished well five weeks ago in a similar restricted stakes at Santa Anita when returning from a 7 1/2-month layoff. That was her first start with Lasix.
Chaulk O Lattey (Last 3 Beyers: 88-86-84)
◗ She has won two of her last three starts.
◗ The rails are scheduled to be set 24 feet from their innermost position, which will help her since she figures to be the front-runner.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Chaulk O Lattey. Trainer Richard Baltas is 11-4-3-0 with a $3.32 ROI over the past year in turf routes with Rafael Bejarano aboard last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Beat of The Drum (Last 3 Beyers: 90-81-87)
◗ She got a soft pace and took advantage of the situation last time when beating a second-level allowance field at Santa Anita. Chaulk O Lattey has more natural speed, but Beat of The Drum is drawn toward her inside, so that early matchup could prove pivotal to the way the race unfolds.
Nashoba’s Gold (Last 3 Beyers: 85-71-76)
◗ This is only her third start since May 2014, but she’s better than these on her best day. After winning three of her first four starts, though, she has lost three straight, and she beat only one of 14 rivals in two starts combined this year.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Sweet as a Rose. Trainer Patrick Gallagher is 23-2-3-0 with a $0.54 ROI over the past two years in turf routes with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan