Lightly raced Tony Ann steps up but can get the distance
ARCADIA, Calif. – Lone speed, or class of the field? The answer looks obvious in the featured sixth race Friday at Santa Anita.
Tony Ann, a lightly raced front-runner going up in class, faces Pulpit Rider, a veteran stakes winner whose style does not suit the nine-furlong turf race. Pulpit Rider enters the second-level allowance as the best horse, but up against disadvantageous circumstances.
“She needs pace to run at, and I’m not sure there’s enough in there,” Pulpit Rider’s trainer, Mike Puype, acknowledged. “Tony Ann is the controlling speed of a speedless field, and lone speed at Santa Anita is tough to beat.”
Favorites also are tough – they won 6 of 7 at this meet at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Tony Ann is expected to start favored over comeback stablemate Carpe Vinum, four-time California-bred stakes winner Pulpit Rider, Grade 3 dirt winner Beautiful Gift, East Coast stakes winner Hogans Holiday, and Sassyserb.
The race centers on Tony Ann, whose gate-to-wire win in a maiden turf sprint preceded an entry-level allowance route victory. Although she was ambitiously stretching from six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles last out, trainer Phil D’Amato did not blink.
“The way she broke her maiden, on the lead and comfortable, she acted like she’d run forever,” D’Amato said. “She gets in that comfortable pace scenario and has that competitive fight. Maybe the longer the better for her.”
Although Tony Ann won the entry-level allowance sitting third and rallying three wide, she could be loose on the lead Friday at the same distance, with Umberto Rispoli riding. Tony Ann has won 2 of 4 for owner-breeder Alex Venneri and co-owner Anthony Fanticola.
Expectations are high for Tony Ann.
“Hopefully, if we can get this condition, we’ll look for something a little more ambitious,” D’Amato said.
He also starts Carpe Vinum, unraced since April.
“We gave her time for a little issue, and she’s come back really good,” D’Amato said. “This will be a good starting point for her.”
Flavien Prat rides Carpe Vinum, who D’Amato plans to stretch to a longer distance following her nine-furlong comeback on Friday.
While the pace scenario may not suit Pulpit Rider, she is the most accomplished entrant, having won four California-bred turf stakes including the Solana Beach at Del Mar in 2020 and 2021. Puype said the 7-year-old mare will continue her racing career through 2022 for owner-breeders Larry and Marianne Williams.
“They want to try to win that race at Del Mar again,” Puype said.
Tyler Baze rides Pulpit Rider, who has won seven races and $564,177 from 31 starts. Pulpit Rider is the leading female earner by late California stallion Lucky Pulpit.
Beautiful Gift, winner of the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita last spring, will make her first start since May and first on turf. Sired by Medaglia d’Oro, her dam won on turf and produced Grade 3 dirt winner Chitu and turf allowance winner Curl the Pearl.