Imperious One, Mr Notorious seeking first U.S. win in Eddie Logan
ARCADIA, Calif. – Imperious One and Mr Notorious arrived from Europe in the second half of the year and were expected to make an impression in California’s juvenile turf division.
After losses in their first starts in this country, they have one more chance to win as 2-year-olds in Thursday’s $75,000 Eddie Logan Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.
Path of David and Trust Your Gut are two of their main challengers. They lost on dirt during the summer before making the successful transition to turf racing in the fall. The Logan, the featured race on an eight-race New Year’s Eve program, will be their first starts in a stakes.
The race drew 11 runners and will have a safety limit of 10 starters. Bully Pulpit, third in the Zuma Beach Stakes on turf here in October, is the only two-time winner in the field. The other nine runners in the main field are maiden-race winners.
KEY CONTENDERS
Imperious One (Beyer: 69)
◗ Imperious One won his debut at Windsor, England, in July but lost his next three starts in that country. In his American debut, Imperious One was ninth in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 29. Imperious One, who will wear blinkers Thursday, raced wide throughout the race under Rafael Bejarano, who retains the mount. Imperious One broke from post 11 in a field of 12 in the DeMille.
“Rafael has come back to work him and is riding him,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “That’s telling. He’ll be more forwardly placed. I think the 11 hole was tough the first time out.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Imperious One. Trainer Doug O’Neill is 38-2-6-6 with a $0.48 ROI over the past five years on turf when adding blinkers. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Mr Notorious (Beyer: 46)
◗ Mr Notorious was ninth of 11 in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 5, his first start since arriving from France in early July.
◗ Owned by Deron Pearson and trained by Jim Cassidy, Mr Notorious will be fitted with blinkers.
“He’s training forwardly,” Cassidy said. “I hope I see a better performance. I thought he was good going into the last race, but he didn’t take to it. Mentally, he seems fine. I’ve added blinkers to get him to be more focused.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 9 Mr Notorious. Trainer James Cassidy is 22-1-2-1 with a $0.72 ROI over the past five years on turf when adding blinkers. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Trust Your Gut (Last 3 Beyers: 61-70-46)
◗ Trust Your Gut was claimed for $62,500 from a third-place finish in a maiden race at Del Mar in August. Two starts later, he won a maiden race at a mile on turf there Nov. 8.
◗ Trust Your Gut breaks from the rail, which trainer Mark Glatt said could work in the gelding’s favor.
“He’s run a couple of nice grass races, and I think he can make the next step,” Glatt said. “Starting from the rail is not a bad place to be. Hopefully, he’ll have some racing room.”
Path of David (Last 3 Beyers: 80-69-62)
◗ Path of David won his debut for trainer Kristin Mulhall in a maiden race at a mile on turf Nov. 28, closing from the back to win by a convincing 2 1/4 lengths.
“He was very professional,” said jockey Joe Talamo, who has the mount Thursday. “He had a nice turn of foot.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Path of David. Trainer Kristin Mulhall is 8-2-1-0 with a $3.22 ROI over the past five years in turf routes with last-out maiden winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Arabian Leopard. Trainer Bob Baffert is 18-1-5-2 with a $0.28 ROI over the past five years going dirt to turf and sprint to route. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan