Moment Is Right makes first start for Callaghan in Surfside
CYPRESS, Calif. – The speedy Moment Is Right raced sparingly as a 2-year-old in 2015, a season highlighted by a win in the $225,000 Astoria Stakes at Belmont Park last June.
Moment Is Right was trained by juvenile impresario Wesley Ward for her four starts last year but was moved to trainer Simon Callaghan’s California stable this year. On Sunday, Moment Is Right will have her 3-year-old debut in the $75,000 Surfside Stakes for fillies at six furlongs. So far, Callaghan said he has gained a favorable impression of Moment Is Right, who races for Ten Broeck Farm.
“She’s a nice filly to be around,” he said. “Her works have been solid.”
Moment Is Right has drawn the outside post in a field of five that includes the first two finishers of the Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita last October – Surfside Tiara and Uptown Twirl – and the outsiders Code Warrior and My Dynamo.
Code Warrior and My Dynamo were first and third in the Golden Gate Debutante at six furlongs last November. Code Warrior was later second in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita in January, but both horses were well beaten by the champion Songbird in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 5.
Surfside, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Moment Is Right, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 80-58-70
◗ Moment Is Right was fourth against males in the Juvenile Dirt Sprint Stakes at six furlongs at Keeneland last October. She set the pace and faded through the stretch to finish two lengths behind the Ward-trained Sheikh of Sheikhs.
◗ In her four starts, Moment Is Right has set the pace. She wore blinkers last year, but Callaghan has removed them for this race.
“She appears to be fast,” he said. “We didn’t feel she needs the blinkers.”
◗ The Surfside could lead to a start in the $75,000 Angels Flight Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on May 15 for Moment Is Right and the other fillies in Sunday’s field.
“This will tell us a lot of which direction to go,” Callaghan said.
Uptown Twirl, by Twirling Candy
Last 3 Beyers: 74-73-62
◗ Uptown Twirl was fifth in the minor Sweet Life Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita in February, her only start on turf in six starts.
“We tried the turf, but she didn’t handle it very well,” trainer John Sadler said. “This is what she knows.”
◗ Owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis, Uptown Twirl has won twice on dirt, both times at Santa Anita – a maiden race in her debut last June and an optional claimer Jan. 18. She is likely to be near the front under jockey Tyler Baze.
Surfside Tiara, by Scat Daddy
Last 3 Beyers: 64-76-75
◗ Surfside Tiara has not raced since finishing seventh in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at 1 1/16 miles here last December. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Surfside Tiara could get a favorable trip as a stalker if the pace is quick.