Enterprising puts perfect turf mark on line in La Puente

ARCADIA, Calif. – Enterprising and Gary Stevens have a perfect record together on turf. They won a maiden race over a mile at Hollywood Park in November, followed by a win in the Eddie Logan Stakes in December and a win by a nose in the Pasadena Stakes over a mile March 22.

Those are Enterprising’s only three starts on turf, and he can make his grass record 4 for 4 in Saturday’s $75,000 La Puente Stakes for 3-year-olds over 1 1/8 miles. Stevens rides again and expects another victory for the colt, owned by breeder Glen Hill Farm.

“I’m more at ease going a mile and an eighth than a mile,” Stevens said. “It’s a longer run into the first turn. I’ve got the race played out in my head.”

In his turf wins, Enterprising raced just behind the leaders and took the lead in the stretch. Stevens envisions a similar trip in the La Puente.

“He’s versatile and listens to what I want,” Stevens said.

Trained by Tom Proctor, Enterprising beat Quotient in the Pasadena Stakes after stalking the pace and taking the lead in the final strides. Enterprising overcame a touch of trouble on the final turn in that race.

“It shouldn’t have been as close as it was last time,” Stevens said.

Enterprising has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $166,050. His three losses were on dirt or synthetic tracks, including a third in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 15. Dance With Fate, second in the El Camino Real Derby, returned to win the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland last Saturday.

Enterprising, by Elusive Quality, is part of a field of eight in the La Puente that includes the stakes winner Diamond Bachelor and Home Run Kitten, a close third in the Pasadena Stakes.

Three runners – Excessive Kid, Life’s Journey, and On Draft – each won a maiden race last out. The field also includes the French import Flamboyant and the maiden Argentine. Flamboyant, now trained by Paddy Gallagher, won twice in France. The La Puente will be Flamboyant’s stakes debut.

Diamond Bachelor won the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf over a mile at Del Mar last September but is winless in four subsequent starts, all stakes. He was ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile here in November and fourth in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes on dirt here in February. In the Pasadena Stakes, Diamond Bachelor led in the stretch and finished fourth, 1 3/4 lengths behind Enterprising.

“He idled a little bit when he made the lead,” trainer Patrick Biancone said.

For the La Puente, Diamond Bachelor will be fitted with blinkers for the first time, Biancone said.

“We’ll put some blinkers on, and we hope it will keep him focused,” he said. “Sometimes horses take time to adjust from 2 to 3. At least he has the experience.”