Free's preview: Third chance for juvenile maiden

Friday, June 27, preview

ARCADIA, Calif. – First post Friday is 3 p.m. Pacific as the six-month marathon meet at Santa Anita nears its Sunday finish. Anyone else miss Hollywood Park? Below are a few clues for the Friday card at Santa Anita.

FOOLED ONCE, TWICE, race 4

How many chances should a bettor give a low-odds runner before raising the white flag? That is the question facing horseplayers who backed the 2-year-old Sky Preacher in his first two starts – an odds-on runner-up debut and a disappointing fourth at 5-2 next out.

The answer to the question is one more chance. Sky Preacher has an even-paced style. He is not quick enough to sprint. It is obvious now, right? But that even-paced style often leads to improved efforts running long. Sky Preacher gets the chance racing a mile on turf against a soft bunch.

Sky Preacher was sired by 12 percent turf stallion Sky Mesa. He was produced by Group 2 (Argentina) turf winner My Dear Lady, whose first foal, Sky High Lady, was a turf winner. All that, and Sky Preacher is the 9-5 favorite.

He had a huge workout June 20, and word from the Doug O’Neill stable is that Sky Preacher has always wanted to go long on turf. Sky Preacher is this handicapper’s “best bet,” which really means “most probable winner.” It is his last chance.

You know the saying: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” As for the third time, well, maybe it will be the charm.

Skeptics might look at two alternatives making their second starts. Kenji’s Thunder was only in for a prep race in his sixth-place debut and is bred for grass. He was sired by Scat Daddy, whose progeny win at a 15 percent clip first time on turf, according to Thoro-Graph.

Then there is the speed of the field. C’mon Sister is one of three fillies, and she is quick enough to make the lead. By sprint sire Successful Appeal, she is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Iotapa. Come and catch her, which Sky Preacher probably will.

FOOLED ONLY ONCE, race 5

A similar dilemma presents itself with Lucky Logan, a 2-year-old second-time starter in race 5, for California-bred maidens. He was hammered to odds-on in his May 30 debut, pressed the pace, and then totally backed up.

“I think it was the whip,” trainer Peter Miller said. “I thought he was going to win for fun, and the whip spooked the heck out of him.”

It would not be the first time a 2-year-old quit after being hit. Although his 5-2 program odds hardly represent value, horizontal-wager bettors must give the son of Lucky Pulpit another chance. As for the jockey switch on Lucky Logan, there is nothing to it, according to Miller. Edwin Maldonado is off, and Martin Pedroza is on.

“Martin happened to be [at San Luis Rey Downs] and worked him. That’s the only reason for the change,” Miller said, emphasizing that Maldonado remains a rider he will employ regularly.

MILLER TIME, race 6

Reflecting on the spring-summer season that ends Sunday, Miller said, “It’s been a good meet.” Call it an understatement.

In fact, Miller has had an outstanding spring, winning 22 races from 92 starters, and is still in the hunt for leading trainer. He trails O’Neill by three winners. Miller has four entered Friday as he tries to narrow the gap. O’Neill has starters in two races.

Miller’s runners are Stormin Lute in race 2, Lucky Logan in race 5, Kukaluka in race 6, and Sensational Nikki in race 6. All four are contenders, including Kukaluka.

“She’s going to be pretty solid in there,” Miller said. The one-mile turf race for California-bred fillies and mares drew a competitive field of 10; Kukaluka is listed at 4-1.

Kukaluka is dropping from open company and facing female statebred allowance company for the first time in her nine-start career. Although also facing older for the first time, the rally she unleashed last out stamps her as a tepid choice in a competitive field.

CONTENDER SCRATCH, race 7

Class dropper Larocco is expected to scratch from race 7, a $20,000 claiming sprint for 3-year-old fillies. She is listed at 4-1. The program favorite is Time For Angie, first off the claim by Mike Puype.

SPOT PLAY, race 8

Grachus the Hunter just might post an upset in race 8, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for special weight maidens. He ran super last out, finishing as the runner-up by a length after engaging with eventual winner Public Interest in the final three furlongs.

Grachus the Hunter is moving up from $50,000 maiden-claiming to special weight, but he brings an improving pattern and showed last time he can stay 1 1/8 miles. The favorite is Clickjab, stretching out from a single sprint.
Stay tuned for a potential jockey switch on Grachus the Hunter. Kent Desormeaux was named to ride, but his Friday status is undetermined.

Horses to Watch

SOUL FLYER
Trainer: Julio Canani
Last race: June 26, 4th
Finish: 2nd by 4 1/4
This debuting 2-year-old filly was not quick, raced wide, split horses in the lane, and finished with run along the inside. She galloped out in front of the dominating winner and will be a contender next out in a similar maiden race at Del Mar for Cal-bred maiden fillies.