Mi Hermano Ramon eyes second straight stakes score in Cinema

Mi Hermano Ramon has won a sprint, at a mile, and at 1 1/8 miles since early December, all on turf in Southern California.

The next objective is the longest race of Mi Hermano Ramon’s career in Sunday’s $100,000 Cinema Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita.

Fresh from a win in the Singletary Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on grass on May 7, Mi Hermano Ramon approaches the Cinema in a condition that leaves trainer Mark Glatt confident that a fourth win is possible.

“I think it looks like it’s well within his reach,” Glatt said. “He’s done well since the last race.”

Owned by Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, Mi Hermano Ramon won his first stakes in the Singletary, closing from fifth in a field of six to win by a head over Wizard of Westwood, who is part of the Cinema field.

Mi Hermano Ramon was fourth in his first two starts in turf stakes at Santa Anita and Keeneland in March and April.

:: Get ready for Santa Anita racing with DRF Past Performances, Picks, and Clocker Reports.

In the Singletary, Mi Hermano Ramon trailed by 1 3/4 lengths with a furlong remaining and rallied for the win. Glatt expects jockey Umberto Rispoli to have Mi Hermano Ramon closer to the front in a field of six in the Cinema.

“He might be a little more forwardly placed based on the early pace,” Glatt said. “He’s pretty push button. I don’t think he’s a slow horse. He can be where the rider wants to put him, depending on the early fractions.”

Wizard of Westwood has been second twice and third once in three turf stakes since early March. Wizard of Westwood set a slow pace in the Singletary, but is not reliant on leading, according to trainer Michael McCarthy.

“I’d like to see him relaxed,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy described the loss in the Singletary as “a tough beat.”

“I thought he ran respectable,” McCarthy said.

Mi Hermano Ramon is the only stakes winner in the Cinema field, while Wizard of Westwood is the only stakes-placed runner on turf. Phosphorescence, second in the California Derby on the synthetic main track at Golden Gate Fields for McCarthy on April 29, and Worcester, third in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes on dirt in February, have stakes experience.

Phosphorescense was later fourth in the Alcatraz Stakes on turf on May 28 at Golden Gate Fields, a course McCarthy said the colt did not handle.

“He never got a hold of the turf,” he said.

Worcester, winless after five starts, was second at 3-10 in a maiden race at a mile on dirt May 26. He is quick enough to be part of the pace in the Cinema, his turf debut.

The Cinema will be the first start against winners for El Perfecto, a maiden race winner at Golden Gate Fields in his turf debut May 14.

:: Get ready for summer racing with a DRF Formulator Quarterly PP plan

Trainer Keith Desormeaux said the Cinema was chosen instead of a one-mile allowance race on turf earlier on the card because of the longer distance.

“I think the mile and a quarter in a smaller field gives him a better chance to settle and get in a rhythm,” Desormeaux said. “He’s physically made to get the distance.”

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.