Jockey, owner want to try Verraco on dirt
ARCADIA, Calif. – Verraco will start in a first-level optional $80,000 claimer for 3-year-olds on dirt at Santa Anita on Friday after an impromptu election among owner Deron Pearson, trainer Jim Cassidy, and jockey Elvis Trujillo.
The tally was 2-1 in favor of a start on dirt instead of turf.
“I got outvoted,” Cassidy said. “I wanted to run on turf. My jockey said he’s better on dirt, and my owner wanted to try him on it. We have a very democratic style.”
They may have a very good horse. A former maiden claimer, Verraco was a game second in an optional claimer at a mile on turf here Jan. 23. Verraco was carried out in the stretch and beaten a half-length.
He will need to show improvement to win Friday’s sixth race in a field of six. The lineup for the race at 1 1/16 miles includes the maiden-race winners Battle of Evermore, Cyrus Alexander, and Eckersley; Harmonic, who was fourth in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 14; and Two Six Wins, who won an optional claimer/starter allowance at a mile Jan. 9.
KEY CONTENDERS
Verraco (Last 3 Beyers: 73-72-60)
◗ Verraco won a $50,000 claimer for maidens at a mile Dec. 28 in his first start around two turns. He was always near the front and won by a head. In the Jan. 23 turf race, Verraco closed from fourth in a field of eight. Trujillo rode Verraco in both races.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Verraco. Trainer James Cassidy is 12-1-1-1 with a $0.53 ROI over the past five years going turf to dirt in routes at Santa Anita. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Cyrus Alexander (Last 3 Beyers: 82-73-78)
◗ Purchased for $1.7 million at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale, Cyrus Alexander needed five races to beat maidens, doing so at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 7.
“We’re thinking we have a horse that is putting it all together,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “We’re looking for him to improve from last time.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Cyrus Alexander. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is 10-0-2-1 over the past five years in dirt routes at Santa Anita following a maiden win. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
◗ Hollendorfer said the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes on March 7 was considered for Cyrus Alexander, but that the optional claimer was deemed a better spot.
“We’d like to run him in a stakes,” Hollendorfer said. “I’m not sure he wouldn’t have run great in the stakes that’s coming up. I don’t want to throw him in there just yet.”
Battle of Evermore (Last 3 Beyers: 77-75-60)
◗ Battle of Evermore won a maiden race on the hillside turf course Feb. 7 in his sixth start. Friday’s race may determine Battle of Evermore’s preferred surface.
“He’s been in with some nice horses and run well,” trainer John Sadler said. “I’m not 100 percent sure which surface to go with.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Battle of Evermore. Trainer John Sadler is 6-4-0-0 with a $5.00 ROI over the past five years going turf to dirt with last-out maiden winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan