Hammersly's review: Xuang Feng handles class hike

Staying hot

Xuang Feng ($3.80) made it two straight smart wins, taking the day’s opener despite a two-level class hike for hot trainer Peter Miller. The 5-year-old gelding easily defeated $8,000 foes here May 4 under Drayden Van Dyke. Miller wheeled him back for $12,500, and the horse validated his judgment on the class hike as again under Van Dyke he used his speed to dog pacesetter Hamiltonian from the start, kept after that foe throughout, and got the better of him in the final furlong, pushing past to a three-quarter-length win in the 5 1/2-furlong event.

Miller won’t get the chance for the hat trick with this guy, however – he was claimed by Bob Hess Jr. Miller didn’t go away empty-handed, however, as he claimed third-place finisher Close to the Edge. Miller continued his roll as he won another race later on the card with Big Cazanova (race 6, $13.20). Jeff Bonde claimed Double Image, who finished last in the field of six.

Upset time

Royal F J ($27.20) was fifth, well behind Saturday foes Rangi and Stormberg April 20 and third behind Saturday foe Big Note here May 8. In Saturday’s second down the hill, a tough optional claimer, he had to deal with those three again as well as one-time classy import Snowday, who was sent off the heavy 6-5 favorite.

Well, nobody told Royal F J as the 7-year-old gelding sat last early in the field of six, swung out coming over the dirt crossing and finished gamely to win a close one. This race was topsy-turvy as it wasn’t one of those four aforementioned protagonists he had to beat – it was 3-year-old Guns Loaded, who was making his first start on turf. Obviously, he handled the hill well as he likewise sat back with the eventual winner, moved earlier, and actually grabbed the lead in the deep stretch, but couldn’t quite fend off the winner, just missing by a head at 11-1. They were the two longest-priced runners in the field of six.

Apparently, what sent Snowday to the sidelines since last Sept. 27 when he was vanned off after running fifth in the Grade 3 Eddie D Stakes on the hill took some of the run out of him. He appeared in a great spot throughout, stalking the pace before taking over in mid-stretch as if he would go on to win, but then he fell apart, fading to be a well-beaten fourth (3 3/4 lengths).

As a side note, the effect of heavier watering of the turf course recently was evident as the times have certainly slowed. A couple weeks after maiden Eddie’s First set a course record for the hill, a dizzying 1:10.73, this solid pro required 1:14.23 for the trip.

There was a sad addendum to this race. Big Note, a tough 5-year-old gelding, finished last in the race. The pro, who had won 6 of 28 starts including a win over this course April 6, died of an apparent heart attack when walking back to the stable area.

Make room at the top

The absence of Indy Point (injury) and Vagabond Shoes (fatal injury) has left a gaping hole at the top of the turf distance division out West. Well, veteran Fire With Fire is doing his best to move into that vacuum.

The 6-year-old gelding didn’t appear to fit with these for a while but appears to have a new lease on life. He won the mile Cotton Fitzsimmons Handicap at Turf Paradise Jan. 18 but seemed overmatched when he came here to try the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Handicap March 22 (sent off at 10-1). Well, he got away with murder up front and won that race (favorite Vagabond Shoes suffered a fatal injury in that race) and nearly led all the way to win the Grade 3 Last Tycoon Stakes (beaten a head by today’s foe Quick Casablanca) here April 25.

He moved to this longer trip and showed his versatility, as instead of being on the pace, he lagged back, bided his time, and came with a smart, sustained rally that just got him up over a stubborn Segway in the final strides.

The Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano Handicap at about 1 3/4 miles figures next, and he looks as good as any. After all, the turf distance races here this year have been won by Jeranimo (Grade 2 San Gabriel), Vagabond Shoes (Grade 2 San Marcos), Fire With Fire (Grade 2 San Luis Rey), Quick Casablanca (Grade 3 Last Tycoon), and Fire With Fire (this race).

Segway certainly showed he belongs. After a smart win going 1 1/8 miles on this course over optional claimers May 10, he stepped back up in class, prompted the pace, took over into the lane looking like the winner, but got nailed late. His speed can have him in a good spot from the start at these distances.

Quick Casablanca can certainly be scary in the San Juan Capistrano. The South American import finished strongly but just ran out of ground. Judging by this effort, he’ll have no trouble with the longer San Juan Capistrano trip.

Horse to watch

STORMBERG
Trainer: Jeff Bonde
Last race: May 24, 2nd
Finish: 3rd by 2 3/4 lengths

He bided his time early in this tough optional claimer down the hill, looked poised to make a run coming off the hill, but found himself in a box as he lacked room and had to steady off horses’ heels. He actually was shuffled back to last at that point but found a seam, moved out, and finished nicely. He would have been right there if not for the traffic troubles.