Free: Stilleto Boy sharpens up for Californian

ARCADIA, Calif. – From Santa Anita to Golden Gate Fields to Churchill Downs and Keeneland, the cross-country notebook is full again. With stuff like this . . .

Stilleto Boy sharpens up

After a reinvigorated Stilleto Boy dusted two workout rivals last Saturday at Santa Anita, blazing five furlongs in 58.80 seconds prepping for the Grade 2 Californian Stakes this Saturday, trainer Ed Moger pondered the identity of the work rivals Stilleto Boy blew away.

“I think it was Flightline and Express Train,” Moger deadpanned, adding “maybe they were maiden-8s.”

The truth is, Stilleto Boy looked super working under Juan Hernandez and should give favorite Express Train a battle in the Californian. Video of the April 23 workout can be viewed at XBTV.com

No soft spots for Park Avenue

Choosing which Santa Anita stakes to enter is sometimes a choice between lesser of evils. The improving filly Park Avenue scratched recently from the Grade 2 Royal Heroine on turf to run Saturday in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita on dirt. In either race, Park Avenue would have been up against a favorite trained by Phil D’Amato.

Going Global dominated the Royal Heroine at odds-on, her seventh stakes win. In the Santa Margarita, Park Avenue will face Miss Bigly, who has won two stakes.

Park Avenue’s trainer, John Sadler: “I’d rather run against Miss Bigly than Going Global.”

:: Win big at Santa Anita: Get DRF Past Performances, Picks, Clocker Reports and Betting Strategies.

Award Winner turned out

Front-runner Beyond Brilliant could be long gone stretching to 1 1/4 miles on turf in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita – if he holds off Majestic Eagle. Meanwhile, a notable absence from the field is 2021 Whittingham winner Award Winner.

“He’s turned out,” trainer David Hofmans said this week. “He won’t make Del Mar; he’ll make Santa Anita [fall meet]. He just needs time. He got stiff and sore.”

Award Winner, a 6-year-old gelding who blossomed last year, was working toward a spring comeback when his pattern was interrupted.

Flightline, Leyva stay cool

The fastest horse in training (based on speed figures) continued his weekly work pattern Sunday at Santa Anita. Flightline went a half-mile for trainer John Sadler, the colt’s third work back after his campaign was interrupted. Juan Leyva worked Flightline in 47.60 seconds.

Although the work was designed as a solo drill, Flightline caught unexpected company at the quarter pole. Leyva let the workmate through inside, and Flightline finished without urging.

“Juan didn’t take the bait in company,” Sadler said. “I liked the next eighth, the gallop-out in a minute.”

Flightline, winner of the Grade 1 Malibu on Dec. 26 with a 118 Beyer, is aiming to the Grade 1 Met Mile on June 11 at Belmont Park.

SF Mile worth a wager

The best betting race in California this week might be the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields. The past dozen years, average field size for the $250,000 turf race is more than nine starters. As many as 12 may enter this year, including possible favorite Ecrivain from Southern California.

Third in his U.S. debut for trainer Richard Mandella, Ecrivain would be the first graded stakes victory for jockey Jessica Pyfer. Others possible for the San Francisco Mile include Camino Del Paraiso, Freeport Joe, and Harmon. Nolde, the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby winner in 2019 who hasn’t raced in 2 1/2 years, is among the potential starters.

Leggs Galore healing

Darn spiders. Leggs Galore might have been favored in the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes on May 1 at Santa Anita, but the five-time stakes winner was not even nominated to the turf mile.

“She got an infection in her leg,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “It was one of those weird deals, maybe a spider bite or something. It took us a couple weeks to get taken care of.”

The good news is that Leggs Galore resumed working this week, going an easy three furlongs. Winner of the Grade 2 Buena Vista in her most recent start March 5, Leggs Galore has won eight races and $560,208, all for owner-breeder William Sims.

Periban risks perfection

California-based trainer Jorge Periban will try to extend his undefeated record in Kentucky on May 5 at Churchill Downs. Periban will start the 2-year-old filly Tom’s Regret in the $200,000 Kentucky Juvenile Stakes following her debut romp April 15 at Santa Anita.

Tom’s Regret worked an easy five furlongs Tuesday.

“Nice and easy,” Periban said.

Tyler Baze rode the filly first out and will ride her back.

Periban’s only previous starter in Kentucky was the 2-year-old colt Phantom Boss, who won the Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs in 2019 following a maiden win at Santa Anita. The five-furlong Kentucky Juvenile has been won by fillies three of the last six years.

Big tickets net big payoffs

Just to catch up on recent bonanza payoffs – single-ticket pick six jackpots at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park were won on consecutive days on April 15-16. It is a 20-cent wager at both tracks.

The $436,787 payoff at Santa Anita came from a $1,972.60 ticket purchased at Maryland-based Hunt Valley wagering hub, according to the Santa Anita press office. The $220,289 payoff at Gulfstream Park was from a $4,320 ticket purchased through TVG, according to the Gulfstream press office.

Asmussen’s best shot yet

Among the more peculiar Kentucky Derby statistics is the 23-0-2-2 record of Epicenter’s trainer, Steve Asmussen. But seriously, how many of his 23 Derby runners really had a shot? Only three started at single-digit odds (2011 runner-up Nehro, 2007 third Curlin, 2008 eighth Pyro); a dozen were 30-1 or higher, including 2017 runner-up Lookin At Lee.

Not to compare Epicenter to Asmussen-trained Derby starters Curlin or 2016 third Gun Runner, but Epicenter looks like the best chance yet for Thoroughbred racing’s winningest trainer to score his first victory in the sport’s most famous race.

International Derby runners

The spate of Japanese winners at Breeders’ Cup (two wins on card), Saudi Cup (four), and Dubai World Cup (five) could tempt Kentucky Derby bettors to take a longshot flyer on Japan-bred and -raced Crown Pride. He won his first two starts, both in Japan, and the UAE Derby last month in Dubai.

But here’s the thing – over the years, not one of the 16 Kentucky Derby starters who prepped in Dubai so much as hit the board in Louisville. Yikes.

As for UAE Derby pacesetter/runner-up Summer Is Tomorrow, might he be the speed of the speed in the Kentucky Derby? His latest Daily Racing Form odds – 50-1. Win or lose, Summer is Tomorrow will keep the Derby front-runners, including Messier, honest on the lead.

:: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures

‘Goddess’ might be vulnerable

Grade 1 winner War Like Goddess is the class of the field Friday at Keeneland, and she could win the Grade 3 Bewitch Stakes first start back off a layoff. However, War Like Goddess has not raced since she finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf last fall. In this case, current form may trump back class.

The past two decades, Bewitch entrants making their first start of the year are 0 for 17. Furthermore, four of the last five Bewitch editions that included a runner from the Grade 3 Orchid Stakes at Gulfstream Park were won by a starter from that race. Therefore, the “now” horse Friday is Family Way, the only Bewitch entrant from the Orchid, which she won convincingly.

Baby bombers shake up Keeneland

Keeneland 2-year-old maiden races at 4 1/2 furlongs in spring generally run to the betting action. Favorites have won at 55 percent the past decade, according to Daily Racing Form data. But results this spring are unusual.

As of Sunday, favorites were just 1 for 6 in such races at the Keeneland meet, and bettors would be in the black by betting every runner in every race. Payoffs include $44.20, $42.60, and $39.60.

Don’t you love handicapping systems that are fashioned in hindsight? Winning is guaranteed!

Friday at Keeneland, maiden 2-year-olds sprint on turf and the field includes the Wesley Ward-trained firsters Love Reigns and Rivka. “All,” anyone?