Fashionably Fast tries open company again in Santana Mile

The veteran California-bred Fashionably Fast has won five stakes for statebreds in the last 18 months, fighting off challenges for narrow victories in races at distances of six furlongs to a mile at The Big Fresno Fair, Del Mar, and Santa Anita.

On Feb. 28, Fashionably Fast raced wide and dueled through the stretch to win the Tiznow Stakes at a mile at Santa Anita, prevailing by a head. The victory has led to a third career appearance in a stakes against open company in Sunday’s $75,000 Santana Mile at Santa Anita.

“You’ve got to step up once in a while,” trainer Dean Pederson said. “My options are limited. He bounced out of his last race in good shape.”

Fashionably Fast is the only 2021 stakes winner in a field of six that includes the stakes winners Ax Man and Restrainedvengence; Major Cabbie, who was fourth in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 6; and Growth Engine and Mastering, who will have their first starts in stakes in the Santana Mile and are certain to attract support.

Fashionably Fast, a 6-year-old gelding owned by John Harris, Per Antonsen, and John Nicoletti, was a game second to McKinzie in the Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs last June, but sixth of eight in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs at Del Mar last August in his final start of 2020.

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Fashionably Fast was third in the California Cup Sprint on Jan. 16 in his only start this year prior to the Tiznow Stakes.

Fashionably Fast is quick enough to be part of the pace Sunday, but may be better from a stalking position, Pederson said.

“The best thing is that he always puts himself in a good spot,” he said. “It looks like there will be a couple of speed horses. We can find a place sitting just off of them and hope that things work out.”

Mastering, a $500,000 yearling purchase, has won his last three starts – a maiden race at a mile on Dec. 27, an allowance race at a mile on Jan. 18, and an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on March 6.

“He’s developing slowly,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “This might be a little short for him.”

Baffert rates Mastering as a prospect for the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on May 31.

Growth Engine was considered for graded stakes earlier this year, but sustained a bruised foot and missed an intended start in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes on Jan. 30. Without the benefit of that race, the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 6 was no longer logical, trainer John Sadler recalled Friday.

“He was ready to run,” Sadler said.

A winner of 3 of 7 starts, Growth Engine will have his debut for owners Pete and Kosta Hronis and Sadler in the Santana Mile. Previously trained by Chad Brown, Growth Engine was purchased for $150,000 at the Keeneland November sale last year.

Leading rider Flavien Prat rides Growth Engine.

“He’s training really well,” Sadler said. “Prat has been on him his last two works, and we’ve been really happy.”