Irideo's late run dangerous in Shoemaker Mile
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ARCADIA, Calif. - Nearly three months later than hoped, Irideo will start in a Grade 1 for the first time in the United States in Monday’s $500,000 Shoemaker Mile on turf at Santa Anita.
The 7-year-old gelding will be largely overlooked in the betting against graded stakes winners such as Balnikhov, Cabo Spirit, Exaulted and Hong Kong Harry, but has an intriguing chance as a closer.
Trainer Marcelo Polanco hoped to display Irideo’s ability in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 4. Irideo missed the race because of a minor foot issue.
“I couldn’t run him like that,” trainer Marcelo Polanco said on Thursday.
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Polanco regrouped and ran Irideo in the Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf on April 2. Sent off as the 13-1 fifth choice in a field of six, Irideo closed from last to finish second by 1 1/2 lengths to Exaulted.
The closing style Irideo displayed in the American Stakes is reflective on how the gelding has raced since his first start in the United States in April 2022. Last July, Irideo closed from 10th of 11 to record a 31-1 upset in the restricted Wickerr Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar, his lone win in 10 starts in this country.
“That’s what he does best,” Polanco said of Irideo’s late run.
Irideo won a Group 1 race at 30-1 at a mile on turf in Argentina in December 2020 in his final start in that country. He has won 5 of 16 starts in a career that began in 2019.
The Shoemaker Mile winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4. Irideo is not nominated to the program, but can be made eligible for $50,000 by July 15.
A top two finish in the Shoemaker would make that hefty fee easier to justify. A win is worth $300,000, while a second is worth $100,000. Irideo is owned by Jose Cerillo of Mexico, who races as Pozo de Luna, Inc.
Polanco, 62, may have a small stable, but he can be dangerous in major stakes. Last year, Polanco won the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita and the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes with Blue Stripe, owned by Cerillo. Blue Stripe was beaten a nose at 24-1 by Malathaat in the BC Distaff at Keeneland last November.
In the Shoemaker Mile, Hector Berrios will ride Irideo, who on Sunday worked a half-mile in 47.80 seconds on the infield training track. Berrios was aboard for the workout, and has ridden Irideo in six of his last seven starts, including the Wickerr and American stakes.
“I really like the way he’s training,” Polanco said. “It looks like he’s ready for something. I don’t know if he’s ready for the Grade 1.
“I’m going to put him against the lions.”
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