Harbored Memories stretches in easier spot

ARCADIA, Calif. – When he stretches to a mile Friday at Santa Anita, maiden 3-year-old Harbored Memories is racing at the same class level as his first two starts. Or is he?

One could argue Harbored Memories, runner-up in both special-weight sprints, actually is dropping in class. Not that Fenway is a pushover Friday, but trainer Mike Puype figures Harbored Memories is due for an easier spot after chasing superior rivals in both starts.

“He’s run against two beasts,” Puype said, referring to Rock Your World and Dream Shake. It was not an exaggeration.

Rock Your World followed his maiden victory with a flashy score last Saturday in the Pasadena Stakes. Dream Shake earned a lofty 96 Beyer Speed Figure in his maiden victory and is scheduled to run Saturday in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes.

So yes, Harbored Memories faced good company. When he meets Fenway in the third race Friday at Santa Anita – for maiden special-weight 3-year-olds – not only will Harbored Memories be facing easier, he also will be running a two-turn distance he should love.

“If you watch his [last-start] gallop-out, it was sensational,” Puype said. “He’s very steady, like a distance horse.”

He also is bred for a route, having been sired by Harbor the Gold ($5,500 stud fee) and a sibling to multiple California-bred route stakes winner Galilean.

Harbored Memories goes long with a classic pattern – two sprints and a route.

“He’s perfectly developed – six [furlongs], six and a half,” Puype said. “He can do turf and dirt. We’ll see where he goes.”

The 86 Beyer earned by Harbored Memories makes him the high-figure horse in the race and will shed light on the form of Dream Shake, the San Felipe probable who finished more than four lengths in front of Harbored Memories last out.

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Fenway, who earned an 81 Beyer finishing second last out, is not as fast as Harbored Memories. What he does have is experience around two turns. Sired by Into Mischief ($225,000 stud fee), Fenway is trained by Bob Baffert and also is making his third start.

His debut was an even-money flop.

“His first race, he wasn’t ready and he bottomed out,” Baffert said. “He got a lot out of the race. Sometimes you have to let them run. A race is like working four times.”

Second time out, Fenway set slower fractions, opened up in deep stretch, and got collared by a stablemate.

Fenway “got beat by Hozier, but Hozier is a good horse,” Baffert said. That race was Feb. 15, giving Fenway just 17 days.

“He’s coming back a little quick, but he’s doing really well,” Baffert said.

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Baffert also entered Hudson Ridge, a pace factor stretching out from a sixth-place sprint debut.

“The jury’s still out on him,” Baffert said.

The maiden race Friday is the third, and best, race on an eight-race Friday card. Other starters include blinkers-on Star Sailor and second-time starters Law Bridge, There Goes Harvard, and Lone Scout. Mucho Del Oro is making his career debut.