Majestic Eagle takes American Stakes on his terms

ARCADIA, Calif. – With less than a furlong remaining in Sunday’s Grade 3 American Stakes at Santa Anita, jockey Rafael Bejarano put away his whip and went to vigorously hand-riding Majestic Eagle.

The 4-year-old Majestic Eagle responded to take the lead in the final strides of the $100,351 American Stakes at a mile on turf. The less Majestic Eagle feels the whip, the better he responds.

“He doesn’t like to be hit,” trainer Neil Drysdale said. “He’s a bit of a thinker.”

The calmer riding method gave Majestic Eagle ($20) a neck win over 6-1 Law Abidin Citizen in the American Stakes. Law Abidin Citizen finished a nose in front of 1-2 favorite Sharp Samurai, who had every chance in the stretch but failed to take command.

Tartini finished fourth, followed by Snazzy Dresser and Bombard.

The complexion of the race changed substantially when the five-time stakes winner River Boyne was scratched on Sunday morning. Trainer Jeff Mullins said last Friday that River Boyne would be rested for a summer break.

Majestic Eagle and Law Abidin Citizen had unconventional prep races for a turf stakes. They finished fifth and seventh in the Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs on dirt on May 25.

Majestic Eagle was timed in 1:34.57 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90, which equals his career best.

Bejarano had Majestic Eagle in fifth for the first six furlongs of the race, stalking pacesetter Snazzy Dresser through slow fractions of 23.65 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.09 for a half-mile.

“That was really slow and he got up to win,” Drysdale said.

Majestic Eagle reached contention with a three-wide rally. He trailed leader Snazzy Dresser by 2 1/2 lengths in the stretch.

Owned by John Lindley and Ray Morton, Majestic Eagle has won 3 of 17 starts and earned $240,410. He was fourth in both the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby last September and Grade 2 Twilight Derby last November.

Siren Lure goes to Eddie Haskell

Eddie Haskell ($2.60) overcame trouble on the turn to win his second consecutive stakes in the $93,700 Siren Lure Stakes at five furlongs on turf on Sunday.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Eddie Haskell was in a tight position on the turn behind pacesetter What’sontheagenda. In the stretch, Eddie Haskell had clear room and caught What’sontheagenda to win by three-quarters of a length.

Eddie Haskell was timed in 55.45 seconds and earned a Beyer Figure of 88.

Eddie Haskell and What’sontheagenda were first and second in the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes at five furlongs on turf on May 25.

Brandothebartender, the winner of the California Flag Handicap at five furlongs on turf last October, finished third, beaten four lengths, and was followed by Tina’s Exchange and Oiseau de Guerre in the small field.

Eddie Haskell, a 6-year-old California-bred gelding by Square Eddie, races for Philip Wood and Jim Hailey and trainer Mark Glatt. Eddie Haskell has won 9 of 21 starts and earned $513,107.

Eddie Haskell was claimed for $50,000 in April 2018. In 10 subsequent starts, Eddie Haskell has won six times and earned $364,484.