Lambeau a reluctant turf warrior in Lure

ARCADIA, Calif. – One of the most significant changes in California horse racing occurred this fall at Santa Anita with surprisingly little fanfare.

For the first time at a Southern California meet, Santa Anita will end its autumn season having run more races on turf than dirt. The history-making development is one reason two prominent dirt horses switch surfaces Saturday to run a mile on turf.

Front-runner Lambeau and graded stakes-placed Shooters Shoot will try to upset favorite Neptune’s Storm in the $70,000 Lure, a restricted stakes with six entrants. Turf was not the first preference for either dirt horse.

“Can’t find a [dirt] race for him,” said Lambeau’s trainer, John Shirreffs. “He’s a three-other-than, which would fill if they would write them.”

Peter Eurton trains Shooters Shoot, whose turf try also is due to limited opportunities on dirt. “He doesn’t have a lot of pedigree for grass, but we thought we’d give it a try and see how it goes,” Eurton said.

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The dirt-to-turf shift in California has been gradual, and this fall the pendulum reached the other side. Through Saturday, Santa Anita will have run 60 races on turf, and 51 on dirt. The autumn meet ends Oct. 31.

Turf is the preferred surface for graded winner Neptune’s Storm, a 7-for-23 gelding who won the Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar three back and is eligible to the Lure because his Wickerr earnings were $50,400. The Lure is restricted to horses that have not earned $60,000 winning a stakes this year.

Neptune’s Storm’s trainer is Peter Miller, who starts runners in seven races Saturday. The gelding could get a cozy trip positioned second under Flavien Prat. He is the class of the field, and most likely winner. But due to a potential odds discrepancy, the speed of the field might be the horse on which to bet.

Front-runner Lambeau finished 10th on turf in his career debut, then won three of six dirt routes before shortening to a sprint in the Grade 2 Triple Bend. Lambeau was hooked by sacrificial rabbit Eight Rings, whose tactics set it up for the come-from-behind winner, his stablemate Magic On Tap. Lambeau finished last; Eight Rings finished next to last.

Lambeau runs for the first time in nearly five months Saturday. “He runs good fresh,” Shirreffs said. “And the thing about turf is, it doesn’t require the same level of fitness as dirt. That’s why you see so many turf races, because guys don’t have to train as hard.”

Edwin Maldonado rides Lambeau, who is expected to set the pace. Shooters Shoot also will be forwardly placed. Shooters Shoot, runner-up in the Triple Bend, subsequently misfired twice including in a Charles Town stakes last out.

“He’s training so well, we’re not going to give up,” Eurton said, recognizing the surface challenge. Progeny of Competitive Edge typically underperform on turf. “Maybe he’ll like it. It’s hard to say without being able to work him on grass.”

Order and Law, Dubby Dubbie, and Majestic Eagle also were entered in the Lure, race 7.