Express Train earns shot at American Pharoah Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Express Train had a narrow lead on the backstretch of a maiden special weight race at a mile at Del Mar on Wednesday when the heavily favored colt was briefly passed by a longshot rival.

The deficit was quickly reversed. With minimal urging by jockey Mike Smith, Express Train regained the lead and had a one-length advantage with a quarter-mile remaining. Express Train won by 14 1/4 lengths over Can’tbetemall, a 40-1 outsider who had led momentarily.

“I know Mike Smith,” trainer John Shirreffs said Thursday morning, recalling the race. “He likes to give a horse a little breather.

“He’s a really nice horse.”

Express Train was timed in 1:38.58 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 83.

Owned by Lee and Susan Searing’s CRK Stables, Express Train will leave Del Mar this summer as one of the most highly-regarded juveniles in California. Express Train, who is by Union Rags, is likely to run in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita.

“That would be a logical spot,” Shirreffs said.

Express Train was second to Eight Rings in a maiden special weight race at 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 4, losing by 6 1/4 lengths. Express Train was nine lengths clear of third-place finisher Shooters Shoot, who finished fourth in Wednesday’s maiden race.

Eight Rings is likely to be favored in Monday’s Grade 1 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity. Monday’s program is the closing day of the summer meeting. The Los Angeles County Fair meeting at Los Alamitos begins Sept. 6.

Shirreffs has another 2-year-old prospect in the unraced Thunder Code, who starts in a maiden special weight race at 5 1/2 furlongs in Saturday’s eighth race. The colt, by Honor Code, is owned by breeder Jerry Moss and is out of Tarlow, who won 4 of 10 starts and earned $439,740. Tarlow won the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational at Santa Anita in 2005.

“He’s got a wonderful pedigree,” Shirreffs said. “I have three Honor Codes, and they all have nice strides – really good, long, loping strides. His thing will be getting out of the gate.”

The maiden race drew a field of nine and has seven first-time starters.

“There’s a lot of chatter in that race, a lot of chatter,” trainer Bob Baffert said.

Baffert starts Backshot, who was purchased for $350,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita 2-year-olds in training sale in June. Backshot, by Tapiture, was the most expensive colt in that sale.

There has been widespread anticipation about the debut Saturday of American Theorem, a gray ridgling by American Pharoah trained by George Papaprodromou for Kretz Racing. American Theorem has shown quick workouts in the last month, including a half-mile in 47.20 seconds last Monday.

“Since we started him, he’s done everything right,” Papaprodromou said. “I think he wants to go longer. I’m looking forward to seeing a good effort. We’re excited.”

Whirl Candy, a first-time starter by Twirling Candy, worked three furlongs in 36.40 on Tuesday. Leading rider Flavien Prat will ride Whirl Candy for trainer Richard Baltas.

“That’s a very tough race,” Baltas said. “I don’t have him cranked up. He’s done everything so easily. He seems like he has a lot of talent.”