Friday allowance could have impact on Del Mar stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – The focus of Friday’s seventh race at Santa Anita is as much on the forthcoming Del Mar season as it is the race itself, an allowance over 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-olds.

Some runners in the field of six could easily start in the three turf stakes for the division at Del Mar – the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes on July 17, the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap on Aug. 9, or the $300,000 Del Mar Derby on Aug. 31.

Quotient, third in the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 2, is likely to be favored Friday in his third start for Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler. A gelding by Stormy Atlantic, Quotient was purchased privately by Hronis Racing in late winter, following a maiden-race win on turf in February. Quotient was second by a nose in the Pasadena Stakes on turf March 22, his first start for Sadler.

In the allowance race, Quotient must beat Texas Ryano and I’ll Wrap It Up.

Texas Ryano won his debut in a one-mile turf race for maidens in January and was fourth as the 6-5 favorite here in an allowance race Feb. 21. Trainer Carla Gaines said she gave Texas Ryano a brief rest following that race.

“He had niggling things,” Gaines said. “He had a cold, and he had a bruised foot.”

Gaines said the distance of Friday’s race works for Texas Ryano, a colt by Curlin who is a half-brother to four stakes winners – Excessive Blend, Holladay Road, Tiz a Blend, and Tiz Elemental. Warren Williamson owns and bred Texas Ryano.

“The mile and an eighth is going to be in his favor,” she said. “I’ve seen a lot more mental maturity. Before, he was goofing off.”

I’ll Wrap It Up, trained by Doug O’Neill, is winless in four starts on turf but was third in a similar field May 18.

The other runners are Brother Soldier, Life’s Journey, and Sheila’s Footsteps.

Brother Soldier has not raced since finishing third behind the stakes winner Bayern in an allowance race in January. Life’s Journey was fifth in the La Puente Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf in April and sixth in the same race as I’ll Wrap It Up in May.

Sheila’s Footsteps was a maiden-race winner in England last year and fifth behind I’ll Wrap It Up in May.