Joe Hernandez rematches Beer Can Man, Commander

The closest Beer Can Man and Commander came to starting in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar in November was making the also-eligible list.

The day after the Breeders’ Cup, Beer Can Man and Commander finished first and second in an allowance race at five furlongs on turf. They meet for the second time for a much greater prize in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita.

Racing officials said on Thursday that the Hernandez might be moved to 6 1/2 furlongs on the main turf course because of significant rain this week. If the race is moved, the Hernandez would start in the backstretch turf chute.

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Beer Can Man, a winner of 5 of 10 starts, drew the rail in a field of seven and is expected to be favored for trainer Mark Glatt and the partnership of Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, and Madaket Stables.

In the allowance race on Nov. 7, Beer Can Man stalked the pace, took the lead in early stretch, and was fully extended to hold off Commander, who closed well to miss by a head. Flavien Prat retains the ride on Beer Can Man, while Juan Hernandez rides Commander, replacing Umberto Rispoli.

Commander is trained by Ruben Alvarado, who took control of trainer Peter Miller’s stable in late November after Miller announced he was taking a break from training. Alvarado also starts Cupid’s Claws, a $5,000 supplemental entry who has been running in distance races.

The eight-week gap between starts has been a benefit to Commander, Alvarado said.

“I think he has good energy,” Alvarado said. “He’s working super. He should run big.”

The Hernandez is the first stakes appearance for Beer Can Man since a second-place finish by 1 1/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Turf Monster Stakes at five furlongs on turf at Parx Racing on Sept. 25.

The Hernandez Stakes is the American debut for Bran, a 4-year-old gelding who won four turf sprints in France in 2021. Now owned by Hronis Racing, Bran recently joined trainer John Sadler’s stable.

Chewing Gum, Delaware, and Momos are starting in stakes in California for the first time in the Hernandez.

Chewing Gum, trained by Bill Mott, was winless in six turf sprint stakes last year, including a second in the Grade 1 Jaipur Stakes at Belmont Park in June. Rispoli rides Chewing Gum for the first time.

Momos, trained by Michael Trombetta, is quick enough to set the pace, which is what he did finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Nearctic at Woodbine in October and second in the Allied Forces at Belmont Park in September.

Delaware recently was sent to California trainer Paddy Gallagher after being trained by Chad Brown. Last summer, Delaware was third in the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple Stakes at a mile on turf at Saratoga.