Ohio can establish bona fides in American Stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. – Ohio earned his way into Friday’s $100,000 American Stakes at Santa Anita with a convincing win in an optional claimer March 5 in his American debut. How he runs in the Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf will tell trainer Paulo Lobo whether the 5-year-old Brazilian-bred deserves to stay in graded stakes through the Santa Anita spring-summer meeting.
The American Stakes will be the first start in a graded stakes for Ohio, who has won 5 of 8 stars in his 18-month career. Ohio is part of a field of nine older horses in the American Stakes, led by Twentytwentyvision, who was second in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes on April 9.
The American Stakes is the sixth race on a nine-race program that begins at 2 p.m. Pacific.
KEY CONTENDERS
Ohio, by Elusive Quality
Beyer: 97
◗ Ohio’s win on March 5 was his first start since a victory in an allowance race in Argentina last September. Sent off at 11-1, Ohio led throughout under Gary Stevens and repelled a challenge in early stretch to win by 2 3/4 lengths.
“The way he was training before that race was amazing,” Lobo said, adding that Ohio also has trained well since the win.
◗ Owned by Bonne Chance Farm and Stud RDI, Ohio raced as a stalker in Brazil and Argentina, and Lobo said he will advise jockey Brice Blanc to be flexible Friday.
“I think there are two or three horses that have shown speed,” Lobo said. “I think I’ll tell Brice to play it by ear.”
Twentytwentyvision, by Pollard’s Vision
Last 3 Beyers: 98-98-97
◗ There are high expectations in 2016 for Twentytwentyvision, who was second in the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar last July. In his lone start this year, in the Thunder Road Stakes, Twentytwentyvision was second by a length on a yielding turf course. The winner was What A View, the dominant turf miler of the winter-spring meeting at Santa Anita.
“It was fabulous,” trainer Richard Mandella said of the comeback. “I was very excited. I’m excited to see how the next one goes.”
◗ The Thunder Road Stakes was the first start for Twentytwentyvision since he suffered a severe lip injury in the starting gate of the City of Hope Mile last October and was scratched. Twentytwentyvision became agitated in the gate and caught his lips in the bars at the front of the gate. Twentytwentyvision needed stitches to mend the damage.
Cape Wolfe, by Piccolo
Last 3 Beyers: 95-93-91
◗ Cape Wolfe, a three-time winner in Ireland last year, is winless in three starts in the United States. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Cape Wolfe finished well for second, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Guns Loaded, in the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes on the hillside turf course April 2.