Macro Access brings strong form from Argentina
ARCADIA, Calif. – Macro Access, the winner of a Group 2 stakes in Argentina last August, is trainer Paulo Lobo’s best hope for a prominent runner in graded stakes for older horses this year.
“I think he’s one of the best horses in the barn,” Lobo said last weekend.
Macro Access has not raced since September and will have his American debut in a tough optional claimer at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Thursday.
The race drew a field of eight, including Five Palms, a two-time winner in 2013 for trainer Bob Baffert; Pulling G’s and Solid Wager, who won optional claimers this year; Raised a Secret, unraced since winning an optional claimer at Del Mar last August; and Crimson Giant, who was last of 13 in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 7.
KEY CONTENDERS
Macro Access
◗ Thursday’s race will be the shortest of Macro Access’s career. He beat maidens in his debut at 7 1/2 furlongs last April and won the Group 2 Miguel Cane Stakes at about a mile.
◗ Macro Access bled in his most recent start, the Group 1 Polla de Potrillos in Argentina in September.
◗ Joe Talamo will ride Macro Access.
“He has a couple of good seven-furlong workouts,” Lobo said. “He’s been training very well. I think he’ll be a two-turn horse. That’s the idea.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Macro Access. Trainer Paulo Lobo is 12-0-0-2 over the past five years with all horses in their first start following a trainer switch. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Five Palms (Last 3 Beyers: 99-96-89)
◗ A closer, Five Palms was impressive in late 2013, winning two of three starts. He has not raced since winning an optional claimer at six furlongs in December 2013, closing from last of nine to beat Big Macher, who runs in Saturday’s $2 million Golden Shaheen in Dubai.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Five Palms. Trainer Bob Baffert is 16-8-2-1 with a $3.23 ROI over the past five years in dirt sprints following a layoff of 365 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Solid Wager (Last 3 Beyers: 90-80-87)
◗ This will be the fourth start of the winter-spring meeting for Solid Wager, who is trained by Peter Miller. Solid Wager was sixth in an optional claimer at a mile Jan. 19 after a wide trip but rebounded to score a 68-1 upset in an optional claimer at seven furlongs Feb. 7.
Raised a Secret (Last 3 Beyers: 97-93-78)
◗ Raised a Secret finished in the top three in six consecutive starts from March to August last year. His only win during that span was at Del Mar in August against Conquest Two Step, who won the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes on Jan. 31.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Raised a Secret. Trainer Mark Glatt is 12-4-1-1 with a $3.71 ROI over the past five years in dirt sprints following a layoff of 180 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan