Method in claim of 'Madness'
ALBANY, Calif. - Full Moon Madness is now 10 years old, but trainer Mark Glatt didn't consider it that big of a gamble when he outshook two other trainers to claim him for $16,000 at Santa Anita on April 30.
"You really have to pick through the horses a lot to find a good one in the $10,000-to-$25,000 claiming class in Southern California," he said.
But as he and others watched , they did not see a millionaire, or even a 10-year-old - just a good racehorse.
"Obviously, he's lost a step or two," Glatt said, "but he's still racing sound. At the levels he's currently racing at, he's still very tough, especially for what I gave for him."
Glatt looks as if he can get a good portion of that claiming price back in Friday's Golden Gate Fields feature, a $32,000 claimer at five furlongs on the turf.
Glatt liked this race, in part, because it was on the turf, but also because he felt he would be entering the best horse.
"In his last race, he ran into one of the sharpest claimers in the country," Glatt said, referring to a second-place finish behind Razik, who has won seven races in a row. "You're just unlucky to run into a horse like that.
"The turf was attractive, and, for what was coming up down here at Hollywood Park, I don't know if he could run for $40,000 or $50,000 down south," he added. "There is a race in the book for $20,000, but he'd probably have to face the horse that just beat him. Why run back against that one?"
Full Moon Madness will have to catch P Town John in Friday's race. The Jeff Bonde-trained colt has the best early speed, and he has turned in two straight strong efforts since being tried in a turf route.
will also be a factor after just failing to hold off Havana, who is also in the field. Tonco, though, loves the turf and should appreciate the chance to sprint on it. Havana, a game winner off an eight-month layoff, will make his turf debut.
has a longshot's chance as he makes a big step up here. Carlos Silva, who is off to a hot start with four wins the first week here, including three last Thursday, will ride him.