Hunt makes one last run on hillside in Siren Lure
ARCADIA, Calif. – Hunt is going to miss the Santa Anita hillside turf course. A three-time winner from four downhill starts, Hunt is spotted for his first stakes victory Sunday in the $75,000 Siren Lure, the final turf-sprint stakes of the meet.
Santa Anita is replacing its entire turf course, starting with the hill. Following four turf sprints Sunday, the hillside portion will be closed and replaced for the fall meet that begins Sept. 30. The main turf oval will close after racing on June 19. There is no grass racing during the final three weeks of the spring meet, which ends July 10.
Hunt will get it while he can. He has won three allowance races and finished third in a stakes since switching to the hill.
“He loves it,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “Flavien [Prat] has ridden him in all his wins and says he’s just getting better and better.”
Hunt faces four rivals in the Siren Lure, including stablemate Toowindytohaulrox, who makes his first start since winning the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes on Dec. 26.
“I gave him time off because he had a long campaign last year,” D’Amato said. “The ultimate goal with him is the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Hunt … probably the same goal with him.”
The three others in the Siren Lure are the stakes-winning filly Miss Double d’Oro, potential pacesetter Act, and $1,500 supplemental entry Opsec.
Toowindytohaulrox is the most accomplished, having won the Daytona in December before going to the sidelines. When he went out, Hunt went on a roll by going 3 for 4.
“Hunt has the recency edge, I would say that,” D’Amato said. “Toowindy is training good, but it’s his first race off a five-month layoff.”
Act, eligible to a first-level allowance, seems outclassed. However, he could be loose on the lead in a race short on speed.
Siren Lure, Race 1
KEY CONTENDERS
Hunt, by Dark Angel
Last 3 Beyers: 94-89-89
◗ An import from Europe, Hunt began his career 1 for 11. Since switching to the hill and changing to Prat, he has won 3 of 4.
◗ Prat is 28 for 131 (21 percent) lifetime in Santa Anita turf sprints. D’Amato is 21 for 103 (20 percent) lifetime in Santa Anita turf sprints, including 14 for 50 in the past year.
Miss Double d’Oro, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 91-88-88
◗ Neil Drysdale trains the filly; Santiago Gonzalez rode her to victory in a filly-and-mare turf-sprint stakes in March at Santa Anita. She subsequently placed in stakes at Keeneland and Santa Anita.
Toowindytohaulrox, by Harlan’s Holiday
Last 3 Beyers: 93-95-90
◗ Tiago Pereira rides the deep closer, whose challenges include a five-month layoff and a tepid pace scenario.
Act, by War Front
Last 3 Beyers: 79-87-77
◗ Trained by Peter Eurton, he could be loose on the lead under Gary Stevens.