Margot's Boy gets distance test in Snow Chief Stakes

If he carries his speed one additional furlong, Margot’s Boy will be tough to beat in the $150,000 Snow Chief Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for California-bred 3-year-olds on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Although Margot’s Boy has won three straight races at one mile, his demeanor and running style suggest to trainer Craig Lewis that 1 1/8 miles is well within reach.

“I don’t think it’s going to affect him at all,” Lewis said. “He’s very smart, I think he’ll relax, and he just gives the appearance of a horse that will run from Maine to Spain.”

Yes, Lewis is confident. But he added an obligatory caveat regarding Margot’s Boy at nine furlongs: “He is going to have to do it in the afternoon. Nobody knows for sure, including me.”

What is relatively certain is Margot’s Boy is the best miler in the field, and he possesses a rare combination of early and late speed. Last out, Margot’s Boy scored his third straight gate-to-wire victory while sprinting his final quarter-mile in 23.26 seconds.

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“I think he was on the lead in those races just because he’s naturally fast,” Lewis said. “I’m not sure he needs the lead.”

The Snow Chief would be the right time to find out, because sprinter Bam Bam Again is quick enough to make the front. Margot’s Boy might be forced to concede the lead.

His main rivals are sharp Golden Gate shipper Sacred Rider, the filly California Kook, and closer Canyon Crest. The Snow Chief is race 10 on a 12-race card with two Grade 3’s – the Wilshire and Lazaro Barrera. The $100,000 Dream of Summer Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares was scrapped due to lack of entries.

Alfred Pais bred and owns Margot’s Boy, by Clubhouse Ride. Margot’s Boy was gelded before he ran.

“He was very, very tough,” Lewis said. Castration “settled him down very nicely.”

Margot’s Boy has made all four starts on turf, but Lewis may explore options.

“It’s not out of the question that we try him on dirt, he trains pretty forwardly on dirt,” Lewis said.

The $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes on the Del Mar main track Aug. 1 is a possibility.

But first, Margot’s Boy will try to win the Snow Chief and become the first horse to win four races at the Santa Anita winter-spring meet, which ends Sunday.

Sacred Rider arrives from Northern California in top form for trainer Steve Specht. His last three races, one-two finishes in allowance races on turf and synthetic, are the best of his career. In his only previous start at Santa Anita, on dirt, Sacred Rider finished second by a neck in the California Cup Derby on dirt.

California Kook, who also is nominated to the Melair Stakes for California-bred fillies on Sunday, would be the first filly to win the Snow Chief. The others in the field are Descartes and Indian Peak.