First shot for open-company 2-year-olds

ARCADIA, Calif. – The unraced juvenile colts Argosy Fleet and Runaway Ghost arrived at Santa Anita this spring from Florida and New Mexico, respectively, and will run Friday in the year’s first 2-year-old maiden race for open company at Santa Anita. Two California-bred maiden races were held last weekend.

Argosy Fleet and Runaway Ghost are part of a full field of eight going 4 1/2 furlongs in Friday’s second race. Both have made fans of their trainers.

Argosy Fleet was purchased for $250,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. auction of 2-year-olds in training in March and is owned by Peter Redekop. Argosy Fleet has been with trainer Eddie Truman since late March. Early indications are that the colt, by Mineshaft, may need more distance, Truman said.

“You hate to keep waiting when they’re ready,” he said. “It’s time to run. We’ve never really set him down. The big thing to me is he’s so intelligent. He’s like a 3-year-old.”

Runaway Ghost, by Ghostzapper, was bred by owner Joe Peacock. Runaway Ghost was trained at Sunland Park by Todd Fincher earlier this year and joined Mike Machowsky’s stable in mid-April.

“He’s pretty professional,” Machowsky said. “He’s been well schooled.

“He’s not a rocket, but I think we’ll let him break and let him settle and get some good experience. He’s talented enough to win first time out.”

There are seven first-time starters in the main body of the field. Hydrostatic, who was fifth behind the impressive Sir Valentine in a maiden race for California-breds last Saturday, is the only entrant to have started.

Hydrostatic is trained by Mike Harrington, who also starts Send a Buck, a first-time starter by Creative Cause.