Hammersly's preview: 2-year-olds get chance to shine

Looking to the future

After last Saturday’s wonderful gluttony of action, things are a lot quieter on the stakes front this weekend, but some ramifications remain. On Saturday, the Astoria for 2-year-old fillies going 5 1/2 furlongs is slated, while on Sunday, the boys’ version, the Tremont, is carded.

The Astoria was once a fixture on the circuit but was abandoned after the 2008 running won by Bold Union. It hasn’t been the strongest indicator of future success, particularly routing, but it’s worth noting way back in 1974 a filly by the name of Ruffian won this race.

There are plenty of maiden races around, so it’s interesting that Todd Pletcher, who has been king of the 2-year-olds on this circuit the past few years, opts to debut Fashion Alert in this spot.

The daughter of the very talented Old Fashioned has worked splendidly, and her only sibling is Renee’s Tital (two wins, Grade 2 winner, and twice stakes placed in SoCal). Liatris looked super romping in her debut at Pimlico May 30, not only winning easily but earning a smart 75 Beyer Speed Figure (the best in this field). She’s also kin to Moviesta (Group 2 winner in England).

Lindy, a daughter of War Front who cost a pretty penny ($250,000), came out smoking May 13 for Wesley Ward at Presque Isle Downs, which is no surprise. She went right to the lead and drew off to win with authority, earning a 70 Beyer. That win looks better when you note three she beat that day came right back to win. She isn’t dealing with synthetic footing this time, however.

The Tremont, the male version of this race, had suffered a similar fate as the Astoria (taken off the stakes list after the 2008 running) and was to be brought back Sunday. Alas, a race that has seen such historic winners as Hansel, Gulch, Track Barron, Alydar, Bold Forbes, Foolish Pleasure, and Buckpasser couldn’t fill. The race is rescheduled for June 20 to see if they can get it to fill then.

Stakes precursor

The day’s sixth race is highly interesting. It’s an allowance race on paper, but it’s a field full of stakes quality to be sure. The 1 1/8-mile event on the inner (should it stay on the turf) pits some runners who figure to get back into stakes ranks after this.

The most accomplished is Slim Shadey, a multiple graded stakes winner out West. Even as recently as January, he was second in the Grade 2 San Gabriel at Santa Anita. He came East this spring and was a decent third May 17 in the Grade 3 Red Bank at Monmouth. However, he then stalked the pace in the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes last Sunday (June 8) and badly gave way to finish eleventh. It is encouraging, though, that trainer David Jacobson wheels him right back just six days later.

Infinite Magic makes his first start of the year after being good enough last year to win the Grade 3 American Derby and run second in a division of the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby. His form tailed off afterward but after a lengthy break could be dangerous as he gets back into action. This race almost surely is a springboard to launch him back into stakes ranks should he run decently.

Swift Warrior is a two-time Grade 3 winner who’s trying to get back on track.

The most interesting entrant is one-time Aussie Manighar. This 8-year-old was good enough to run in 10 Group 1 races in his last 11 starts in Australia – and in the race that wasn’t a Group 1, it was still a Group 2. While he was winless in that stretch, he was more than respectable a few times in Group 1s, and his second in that Group 2 was when he was beaten by just a nose.

He came to the U.S. and in his first start here for the hot Christophe Clement faded to ninth May 3 in the Grade 3 Fort Marcy. But not only was that his first start in the U.S., it was his first action of any kind in nearly seven months. It’s most encouraging that there’s no layoff by Clement, and while there’s a class drop, it’s not as if he’s been dropped through the floor and offered for a tag, so it doesn’t appear Clement is throwing in the towel off just one not-so-hot outing.

Spot play

Race 8
ONE TIME ONLY (#8, 9-5) did some good work at Santa Anita this winter, beating maidens on the hillside course there and coming right back to beat some nice N1X foes (runner-up Baruta was Group 1 placed in South America). She then dueled and found the American Beauty (a route) waters too deep, pressed the pace against some toughies routing there May 1, and again was found wanting. She’s back to sprinting, her best game, and this is surely a drop as she goes from facing some tough open foes to facing statebreds only. She’s been working well in Chicago of late, and Proctor easily could have left her there and found a spot but instead opted to ship here, an encouraging move.