Footbridge finds suitable spot
ARCADIA, Calif. – Footbridge will race at 1 1/4 miles on dirt for the first time in an optional claimer at Santa Anita on Thursday, and trainer Eoin Harty is cautiously optimistic.
“We’re in uncharted territory,” Harty said.
A year ago, Footbridge finished last of 14 in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, his final start at 3. In three starts this year, Footbridge has finished fifth, fourth and third in allowance races or optional claimers. On March 8, he led an optional claimer over a mile on turf into the stretch and finished third, beaten 1 3/4 lengths.
Harty said Footbridge is probably better on the main track.
“I’m not as confident on the turf as I am on the dirt,” he said.
Owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing, Footbridge beat maidens on dirt at Santa Anita over a mile in March 2013, his only win in eight starts. Harty is confident the son of Street Cry can handle Thursday’s distance.
“At a mile and a quarter, the pedigree really kicks in,” he said. “I think he’s got plenty of potential.”
The optional claimer, Thursday’s second race, drew a field of six, including Woodmans Luck, who was second in an optional claimer over 1 1/4 miles on turf March 21. Trained by Vladimir Cerin, Woodmans Luck has 2 wins and 10 seconds in 27 career starts. He won a starter allowance over 1 1/16 miles on turf at Hollywood Park on Dec. 22, the last race run at that track.
Cerin also starts Honduran, who was fifth in an optional claimer over 1 1/16 miles in his California debut on March 29. Honduran, a maiden race winner at Gulfstream Park in March 2013, will be fitted with blinkers for the first time on Thursday.
Perfect Set was fourth behind Woodmans Luck on March 21. Trained by Gary Mandella, Perfect Set won a maiden race over a mile on the synthetic main track at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 28.
Ashtar and Seeking the West are the other runners in the second race. Ashtar was fifth in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes over 1 1/4 miles on turf in February 2012, and is winless in his last nine starts. He was sixth in a $20,000 claimer on March 1.
Seeking the West was fourth in an optional claimer over 1 1/16 miles on March 29 and starts from the outside post.