Improvement projected for first-time gelding

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Mike Machowsky expects Wanstead Gardens to race with more focus when he makes his first start as a gelding in an optional claimer at Santa Anita on Thursday.

“We gelded him after his last race, and he’s trained better,” Machowsky said. “He’s more collected, and he’s more all-together.”

Wanstead Gardens, who is part of a field of eight in a race at 1 1/4 miles on turf, must beat Little Curlin, who was third in an optional claimer Feb. 15, and Unusual Fleet, who won twice in February and was fourth in an optional claimer March 14.

KEY CONTENDERS

Wanstead Gardens (Last 3 Beyers: 87-83-88)

◗ Wanstead Gardens has run at 1 1/4 miles twice in optional claimers, finishing fourth on dirt last October and third on turf Feb. 6. In the latter race, he closed from sixth in a field of eight to miss by 1 1/4 lengths.

“He didn’t have a real clean run,” Machowsky said. “He would run in spots. I think gelding him will line him out.”

◗ Wanstead Gardens beat maidens in a one-mile race at Del Mar last September when trained by Neil French. He joined Machowsky’s stable last fall. Machowsky hopes Wanstead Gardens will improve sufficiently to run in turf-distance stakes this year.

“I think we can go in that direction,” Machowsky said. “He’s got the talent, too, for sure.”

Little Curlin (Last 3 Beyers: 86-78-84)

◗ Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Little Curlin beat maidens on dirt at 1 1/16 miles in December in his sixth start and has since finished seventh and third in optional claimers.

◗ The Feb. 15 race was Little Curlin’s turf debut. He raced near the front and faded in the final furlong to lose by two lengths.

◗ For Thursday’s race, Little Curlin will race at 1 1/4 miles for the first time and will have leading rider Rafael Bejarano aboard.

Unusual Fleet (Last 3 Beyers: 83-81-74)

◗ The distance of Thursday’s race will be new for Unusual Fleet. A 4-year-old gelding trained by Richard Baltas, Unusual Fleet has won three times since late November in races at a mile to 1 1/8 miles. On Feb. 14, Unusual Fleet won an optional claimer for California-breds at 1 1/8 miles on turf. He was fourth in an optional claimer on the hillside turf course March 14 but closed with interest.