Maglev seeks a better trip in Baffle Stakes

The final three furlongs of the $102,000 Eddie Logan Stakes was a mess for the European import Maglev, who overcame traffic on the turn to finish second after closing along the inside.

Cabo Spirit won the race by 1 1/4 lengths, benefiting from a trouble-free wide trip. Trainer Mark Glatt was left to wonder what Maglev would have done with a better journey.

Asked Thursday if Maglev could have won, Glatt was quick with a response.

“I’m a little biased,” he said. “I think so.”

Maglev has his second start in the United States in Sunday’s $75,000 Baffle Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf, a chance to prove Glatt’s point of view correct. Maglev was the 2-1 favorite in the Logan Stakes at a mile and will again be the choice in a field of eight in the Baffle.

The Baffle Stakes is the last of nine races on a program that begins at 12:30 p.m. Pacific. The $75,000 Lady of Shamrock Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf is the fifth race.

Maglev, who races for Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, had five starts in England last year, winning once. He was fifth in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at six furlongs at Newbury in September in his final start in that country.

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To be successful in the Baffle, Maglev must be patient for jockey Umberto Rispoli, Glatt said. The Irish-bred colt has displayed more energy than necessary at times.

“I think he’s a very talented horse,” Glatt said. “He’s got to learn to take a deep breath and drop the bit and relax a bit.

“He’s a young horse, and I think he’ll get there. We’re hopeful that they run away from him and he’ll drop that bit and come with a nice potent move.”

Maglev starts from the outside in a race that should have a solid pace. The recent maiden race winners Don’t Swear Dave, Franklin One Star, and Smuggler’s Run led or disputed the pace in their last starts, all wins.

Smuggler’s Run won his debut in a maiden special weight race for statebreds at six furlongs on dirt Jan. 1 when trained by Ruben Alvarado. The gelding has since been transferred by owner Kevin Nish to Richard Baltas.

“I think he looks like he’ll handle the turf,” Baltas said. “I think the horse has a shot.”

The Baffle will be the stakes debut of the promising Irish-bred gelding Shut Up Michael, who won his second start in the United States in a maiden special weight race at six furlongs on turf on Jan. 9 at Santa Anita. Shut Up Michael closed from fourth of six to win by a half-length as the 2-1 favorite.

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“He’s a high-energy horse,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “The confidence-booster win last time, I think, helped him mentally.

“He’s a high-energy kid is how I would describe him. He’s a handy horse that can put himself in a good position.”

Leading rider Flavien Prat was aboard Shut Up Michael for the maiden win and has the mount in the Baffle.

Prat rides the European import Island of Love for D’Amato in the six-runner Lady of Shamrock. An Irish-bred, Island of Love was unbeaten in two starts in Italy last September, including a minor stakes at six furlongs. She joined the stable in the fall and has worked steadily since early December.

The Lady of Shamrock field lacks depth. Shoppingforpharoah, an American Pharoah filly, was second in the Blue Norther Stakes at a mile on turf Jan. 2 in her first start at the distance for trainer Jonathan Wong. Shoppingforpharoah set the pace, but finished 2 1/4 lengths behind Bellabel, who is not part of this field.

Travel Smart, trained by Alvarado, is a threat from off the pace. She won a $50,000 claimer for maidens at a mile on turf Oct. 30 and was sixth in her stakes debut in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at a mile on turf on Nov. 27 at Del Mar, losing by 2 1/4 lengths but running well through the stretch.