Om gets new rider for Thunder Road Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Om made his mark as a 3-year-old in 2015, winning three graded stakes on turf at Del Mar and Santa Anita. Since then, Om is winless in 12 starts, including a nose loss in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita in 2016.

While there are no recent wins, there are no plans to give up on the 6-year-old, who could go past the seven-figure mark in earnings with a win in Saturday’s Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes for turf milers at Santa Anita.

“I’m not going to make any excuses for him,” trainer Dan Hendricks said on Wednesday. “He’s been close all the time. We need a little luck.”

Owned by K.B. Sareen, Om was fourth in the Joe Hernandez Stakes on the hillside turf course Jan. 1 after racing in traffic early. Last summer, Om was second in the Grade 3 American Stakes at Santa Anita and third in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile, two of his best results in 2017.

For the $100,000 Thunder Road, Hendricks is switching riders. Flavien Prat will ride Om for the first time, replacing Drayden Van Dyke.

“We’re trying something different,” Hendricks said of the change.

The Thunder Road will be a formidable test for Om, who has won 5 of 22 starts and earned $941,645. Blackjackcat, third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 4, will be favored in a field expected to include Bowies Hero, who won the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile for 3-year-olds here Dec. 26, a race Om won in 2015.

Pee Wee Reese, who won the Hernandez Stakes, will not start, trainer Phil D’Amato said. Pee Wee Reese could run in the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes on the hillside turf course Feb. 24.

“I’m either going to run him in the Daytona or give him some time,” D’Amato said.

The Thunder Road is one of three stakes on Saturday’s program.

Ax Man, the brilliant winner of a maiden race at six furlongs by 9 1/4 lengths in his debut Jan. 1, will have his stakes debut in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds. He is expected to face All Out Blitz, Kanthaka, Kris’ Rocket Kat, Mr. Jagermeister, and Nero.

All Out Blitz was second to McKinzie in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at a mile here Jan. 6 in his stakes debut. Trained by Simon Callaghan, All Out Blitz was briefly considered for the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 19 before the decision was made to remain at Santa Anita.

“I think he can get a mile, but he got beat by a better horse,” Callaghan said of the recent loss.

Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes is expected to be led by Unique Bella, the champion female sprinter of 2017, who will be a heavy favorite in her second start of the meeting. Unique Bella won the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs on Dec. 26, the opening day of the season.

Unique Bella is likely to race against Majestic Heat, Mopotism, and Shenandoah Queen.

The field will not include Mended, who was second by a head to Mopotism in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes on Jan. 13, ending a 10-race winning streak. Trainer John Martin said on Wednesday that Mended will be pointed for the $100,000 Harry Henson Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile at Sunland Park on March 25.

“We chose not to run,” Martin said. “It’s a salty field. We’re going easy with her right now.”

Specifically, Martin said he wanted to avoid a matchup with Unique Bella.

“That horse is a monster,” he said.