Hopes are high for When We Met

ARCADIA, Calif. - The moment the 3-year-old colt When We Met develops the mental maturity to accompany his physical ability cannot come soon enough for trainer Mark Glatt.

"He'll win a stakes sometime, if he stays sound," Glatt said. "He sometimes doesn't concentrate on the task at hand. When he puts it all together, he's got a chance to be a decent horse."

When We Met, who has one victory in four starts, returns from a 10-week layoff in an optional claimer over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course on Friday at Santa Anita. The race will be When We Met's first start on turf. Jockey Mike Smith has the mount.

"Mike Smith said, 'If you run him on the grass, you might not take him off,'" Glatt said. "I think he has a good chance to be competitive."

When We Met was fifth in the Real Quiet Stakes at Hollywood Park on Nov. 8 in his last start. Glatt said that When We Met missed a start in late December because of illness.

"He was down a little bit, but never got really sick," he said. "I lost some training. I didn't want to train him up to running long. He has a good turn of foot, so think the grass should suit his style."

Owned by Plan B Stable, When We Met is one of four horses with stakes experience in the field of nine on Friday. Lordgivemealift is the only stakes winner; he won the Chris Christian Stakes at Les Bois Park last July. Lordgivemealift was unplaced in two stakes for California-breds last year. He starts for an $80,000 claiming price on Friday.

Preemo, a maiden winner at Hollywood Park last month, makes his first start on the hillside turf course. Preemo led throughout a six-furlong turf race at Hollywood Park, but trainer Jenine Sahadi said he is not one-dimensional.

"Absolutely not," she said when asked if Preemo needs the lead. "I think he's a nice horse."

Preemo is among four last-race maiden winners in the field. Leedstheway and Omega Minister each won a claiming race for maidens in his last start. Dream Now won a maiden special weight on the hillside turf course on Jan.o1. Trained by Julio Canani, Dream Now pulled away late to win by 5 1/4 lengths.