Irish import Panic Alarm makes U.S. debut in La Jolla

The timing of the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar on July 21 did not fit the summertime race plans for the recent Irish import Panic Alarm.

The Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar is another matter. The $150,000 La Jolla Handicap will be run about a month after Panic Alarm’s arrival at trainer John Sadler’s stable, and the extra few weeks of training in California has made a difference.

“He’s acclimatized to America,” Sadler said. “We thought he need a little bit more time coming off of Royal Ascot.”

Panic Alarm finished 17th of 29 in the $135,200 Britannia Stakes, a one-mile handicap for 3-year-olds on a straightaway course at Royal Ascot in June. Panic Alarm closed from off the pace and raced in traffic with a quarter-mile remaining before fading to lose by 10 1/4 lengths.

In the La Jolla, Panic Alarm is part of a field of eight in the 10th race on an 11-race program. The $125,000 CTBA Stakes for statebred 2-year-old fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs is the ninth race.

The La Jolla field includes one stakes winner in Henry Q, who will have his turf debut Sunday. Henry Q won the Mine That Bird Stakes at Sunland Park in February and was later third in two Grade 3 stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles – the Sunland Park Derby in March and the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park in May.

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In the Peter Pan, Henry Q was beaten 8 3/4 lengths by Arcangelo, who won the Belmont Stakes on June 10.

Henry Q is expected to set the pace in the La Jolla.

Panic Alarm, owned by Hronis Racing, won 2 of 8 starts for Ireland-based trainer Jessica Harrington. The wins came in modest races last September and October, but Panic Alarm kept very good company earlier this year. He finished third by 2 1/4 lengths to Paddington in a minor seven-furlong handicap in Ireland in his first start of the year in March.

Paddington has since developed into Europe’s leading flat runner, winning four consecutive Group 1 races since late May.

The Britannia Stakes was the first time Panic Alarm finished worse than fourth.

“They really liked him going into Royal Ascot,” Sadler said. “Those can be super tough races.”

Trainer Leonard Powell has two starters in the La Jolla – the maiden Maltese Falcon and Zalamo, a troubled ninth in the Oceanside in his American debut.

Maltese Falcon, winless in six starts, finished second in the Cinema Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on June 11, closing from last of seven.

“He’s really improved in every race,” Powell said. “We entered him in a maiden race last week. This is plan B, but we think he’s good enough to be in there.”

Zalamo was last in the Oceanside Stakes at a mile with a quarter-mile remaining, and closed some ground in the stretch in his American debut.

“He only ran the last quarter-mile,” Powell said. “It was a good introduction to U.S. racing.

“I think he needs more distance. He’s more of a mile and an eighth to a mile and a quarter kind of horse.”

Powell said Zalamo will be fitted with blinkers in an effort to keep the colt closer to the pace. Zalamo has won 2 of 7 starts. He won consecutive races on all-weather surfaces in France in January and February before finishing seventh and fourth in two Group 3 races on turf in the spring.

CTBA Stakes

Grand Slam Smile is unbeaten in two starts since mid-May by leading or disputing the pace in two sprints.

For her Del Mar debut in the CTBA Stakes, trainer Steve Specht took a slightly different approach to Grand Slam Smile’s recent training. On a few occasions, Grand Slam Smile has worked behind a rival under jockey Frank Alvarado in the event she does not set the pace in the CTBA Stakes.

“I’ve sat her in behind horses a time or two,” Specht said. “Alvarado said it didn’t bother her.”

In a field of eight in the CTBA Stakes, Grand Slam Smile may race close enough to the front to be part of the pace in her first start since a win in the Fasig-Tipton Debutante at Santa Anita on June 17.

“She’s training super,” Specht said. “It’s been a while since she ran, but she hasn’t missed a lick. I’m expecting her to run good.”

Grand Slam Smile is the only stakes winner in a CTBA field that includes the striking maiden race winner Pushiness, and Crazy Hot, who was a well-beaten third after a slow start and a wide trip as the 3-5 favorite in the Fasig-Tipton Debutante.

Pushiness won her debut by 6 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita on June 9, leading throughout.

“I don’t know if she needs the lead or not,” trainer Michael McCarthy said earlier this week. “It seems like this is the right spot to go on.”

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