Miller sends out three in Daytona Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Grade 3 Daytona Stakes goes through trainer Peter Miller on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Miller entered three of the seven starters in the turf sprint – Stormy Liberal, Calculator, and Conquest Tsunami. All three are intended starters, and each has a shot, even Stormy Liberal, the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner whose 11th-place misfire in Hong Kong last out is forgiven by Miller.

“It was a lackluster performance, we’re just putting a line through it,” Miller said. “The way he’s training and acting, he should run big on Saturday.”

Stormy Liberal usually does run big. Since he was claimed for $40,000 in 2016, Stormy Liberal has won five races, including the Breeders’ Cup, and earned more than $800,000.

Calculator and Conquest Tsunami enter the Daytona following impressive downhill wins against easier. Calculator broke like a shot last time, which is unusual for him, and wired a restricted stakes after the fastest opening quarter of the meet – 20.85 seconds.

“He broke really sharp, which he never does,” Miller said. “I’ve never seen him show that kind of speed.”

Calculator is 3 for 3 on the downhill course, and if his improved speed is an indication of improved form, Calculator could be tough to beat Saturday.

Conquest Tsunami won a second-level allowance last out in 1:12.03, the fastest turf sprint of the meet.

“It’s obviously a big step up in class, but he’s got past class and a likeness for the hill,” Miller said.

While Miller’s three runners are the main threats in the $150,000 Daytona, four others have a look including Florida shipper Tombelaine, Grade 1 winner What a View, late-runner Perfectly Majestic, and comebacker Fabozzi.

The Daytona is race 4 on Saturday.

The 10th and final race Saturday is the Wishing Well Stakes, a $70,000 turf sprint for fillies and mares that marks the U.S. debut of Samba Inc. A Group 1 winner in Argentina, Samba Inc has been working well, in blinkers, for Bob Baffert. Blinkers are on Saturday.

“She’s pretty fit, she has a lot of speed,” Baffert said.

Daytona Stakes

KEY CONTENDERS

Stormy Liberal, by Stormy Atlantic
Last 3 Beyers: NA-103-84

◗ East Coast-based jockey Joel Rosario, who rode Stormy Liberal to victory in the BC Turf Sprint, is reunited with the gelding.

◗ Stormy Liberal won four turf sprint stakes at Santa Anita last year; the Daytona is a prep for a possible start in the Group 1, $1 million Al Quoz on March 31 in Dubai.

Calculator, by In Summation
Last 3 Beyers: 96-94-88

◗ His front-running victory in a restricted stakes last out was one of the best efforts of his career. What was the difference? “He broke sharp, which he doesn’t usually,” Miller said.

◗ Calculator can either set the pace, or press, under Flavien Prat. Calculator also is under consideration for the Al Quoz.

Tombelaine, by First Defence
Last 3 Beyers: 90-75-96

◗ Catherine Day Phillips trains Tombelaine, whose fourth-place finish last out in a five-furlong turf stakes at Gulfstream Park was better than it looks. He was void of speed, finished willingly between horses, and galloped out strongly past the wire.

◗ Tombelaine benefits from the extra distance of the 6 1/2-furlong Daytona. Mike Smith rode Tombelaine at Gulfstream and is back aboard Saturday.

What a View, by Vronsky
Last 3 Beyers: 80-102-96

◗ He won the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile in 2016; the Daytona is his first start since June. Trainer Kenny Black is using the Daytona to prep for the 2018 Kilroe on March 10.