Memphis runs on short rest for new rider
ARCADIA, Calif. – A quick return to racing at a shorter distance will test the 7-year-old gelding Memphis in a first-level optional $20,000 claimer for California-breds on Sunday at Santa Anita.
Memphis will make his 34th career start without his recent rider, Kent Desormeaux, who has the mount on Head South, the likely favorite.
The $58,000 eighth race, run at six furlongs, is the top race on a nine-race program. Head South and Memphis are part of a field of seven.
KEY CONTENDERS
Memphis (Last 3 Beyers: 85-73-86)
◗ Memphis was claimed for $16,000 at Del Mar last November and has since been second twice and third once for owners Trudy Arrias, Robert Bayer, and George Sharp and trainer Bob Hess Jr. In those three races, all optional claimers for California-breds, Memphis has earned $30,160.
◗ On Feb. 16, Memphis finished second by 1 3/4 lengths to Luckbox Sam in a race at a mile.
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“I thought he ran super,” Hess said. “I thought he showed a lot of heart to be second. I think he was second-best that day.”
◗ Joe Talamo will have the mount on Memphis, who has won 3 of 31 starts and earned $198,760. Memphis has 2 wins in 12 starts at six furlongs in his career.
“Kent took off, and that’s a question mark,” Hess said. “It’s a shorter [break] than I’d like it to be.”
Head South (Last 3 Beyers: 86-56-78)
◗ Head South was claimed for $50,000 by BG Stable and trainer Hector Palma at Santa Anita in February 2014, the day the gelding beat California-bred maidens by 6 1/4 lengths. Head South finished 10th in a starter allowance last April, his final start of 2014.
◗ On Feb. 8, Head South returned to action and won a starter allowance at six furlongs under Desormeaux by 4 1/4 lengths at 11-1. He earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 86, which puts him at the front of the candidates for Sunday’s race.
◗ Palma, 77, is having a solid winter-spring meeting, having won with six of his first 23 starters.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Head South. Trainer Hector Palma is 17-1-3-2 with a $0.41 ROI over the past five years in dirt sprints with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Luckarack (Last 3 Beyers: 74-75-78)
◗ A four-time stakes winner, Luckarack has run primarily in claiming races in the last 15 months. He was claimed for $40,000 by Steve Moger and his brother, trainer Ed Moger Jr., here on Dec. 26, 2013. Luckarack is winless in five subsequent starts, earning $16,360 during that span.
◗ A 7-year-old gelding, Luckarack is a threat from off the pace. Edwin Maldonado has the mount, the gelding’s sixth different rider in as many races.
Frensham (Last 3 Beyers: 86-82-79)
◗ Trained by Doug O’Neill, Frensham was fifth behind Shared Belief in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26. This will be Frensham’s 14th career start and his first for a claiming price.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Frensham. Trainer Doug O’Neill is 23-4-4-2 with a $2.08 ROI over the past five years with horses running for a tag for the first time following a layoff of 61 days or more Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Missing Groom. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is 8-4-0-1 with a $3.97 ROI over the past five years going synthetic to dirt and route to sprint following a layoff of 45 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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