Glatt considering a change for Sharp Samurai
Sharp Samurai is a five-time stakes winner on turf at distances ranging from a mile to 1 1/8 miles. At the age of 6, he could start in a stakes at a different distance, or even surface.
Trainer Mark Glatt said on Wednesday that the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf on Aug. 23 is under consideration for Sharp Samurai, along with two races on Aug. 22 – the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf and the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on dirt.
A decision is likely this weekend.
“I think it’s going to boil down to what the competition in each of those races will be,” Glatt said. “The Del Mar Mile is the conservative, easy way and the race that makes the most sense. We’re thinking pretty hard about switching things up a little bit.”
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Owned by Red Barons Barn, Rancho Temescal, and Glatt, Sharp Samurai was second by a half-length in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on July 26, losing to United, the Del Mar Handicap favorite. Sharp Samurai started on dirt in his first three races, and won once on the surface, in a $75,000 maiden claimer at Santa Anita in 2017.
The $500,000 Pacific Classic is the richest race of the summer meeting and is expected to be led by Maximum Security, the champion 3-year-old male of 2019 who won his California debut in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on July 25.