Experience may favor Canadian Game
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLEBy Steve Andersen
CYPRESS, Calif. – The experience Canadian Game has gained from three races may be the difference against the first-time starters Aquila and Regulate in a maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds at a mile Friday at Los Alamitos.
Canadian Game was fourth and third twice in September and October and is part of a field of eight in Thursday’s sixth race. Aquila, trained by Simon Callaghan, and Regulate, trained by Bob Baffert, will draw attention because of their bloodlines and trainers.
Trainer Peter Eurton has two starters. Dark Vader and Draft Pick were second and third, respectively, when they debuted in the same one-mile maiden race Sept. 7 at Los Alamitos, but neither one has run as well in subsequent starts.
KEY CONTENDERS
Canadian Game, by Curlin
Last 3 Beyers: 67-66-58
◗ Canadian Game was fourth behind Dark Vader on Sept. 7 and then third in maiden special weight races at a mile and 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita in September and October.
◗ Owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam and trained by Doug O’Neill, Canadian Game was beaten 4 1/2 lengths by Instilled Regard on Oct. 29. Instilled Regard is a candidate in Saturday’s Grade 1 Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity.
◗ Canadian Game will be fitted with blinkers for the second consecutive race Friday.
“He’s the got the pedigree and ability,” O’Neill said. “I thought he moved a bit forward last time with the blinkers on. The fact we’ve never tried him one turn speaks volumes about where his best situation will be.”
Aquila, by Union Rags
◗ Purchased for $685,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. 2-year-olds in training sale in March, Aquila has worked quickly in the last month, including five furlongs in 1:00 on Nov. 20 at Santa Anita.
◗ Callaghan expects Aquila to be forwardly placed from an outside draw.
“I think he’ll run well first time,” Callaghan said. “He’s got a pretty good foundation. It’s tough to win going a mile the first time, but we want to go long with him, and that’s what we think he wants to do.
“I think he’ll be pretty quick out of the gate.”
◗ Owned by Kaleem Shah, Aquila is a full brother to Tequilita, a three-time stakes winner who was third in the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga in August.
Regulate, by Quality Road
◗ Regulate, who will be ridden by Mike Smith, has a steady pattern of workouts at Santa Anita, including six furlongs in 1:13.20 on Nov. 27. Baffert said a mile race for a debut fits Regulate’s needs.
“I want to give him an out,” Baffert said. “I think by stretching out we don’t have to rush him.”
◗ Regulate is out of Modulate. Modulate’s dam, Mesmeric, is a half-sister to Grade 1 winners Chester House, Chiselling, Empire Maker, and Honest Lady.
Draft Pick, by Candy Ride
Beyers: 62-60
◗ Draft Pick was involved in a speed duel when fourth behind Instilled Regard on Oct. 29. This is the first time Draft Pick has not drawn the rail. He is expected to be near the front.