One-mile distance right in Boozer's wheelhouse
ARCADIA, Calif. – He’s won down the hill, and he’s won going 1 1/16 miles, but the sweet spot for Boozer, trainer Mark Glatt believes, is a mile. That, not coincidentally, is the distance he will be asked to travel on turf in Thursday’s featured seventh race at Santa Anita. His consistency and versatility make Boozer the one to beat in the optional claimer.
Boozer has lost his last three starts, but he’s been facing tougher company than he will on Thursday. He dead-heated for third in the Sensational Star last time out behind downhill turf-sprint specialist Betty’s Bambino and before that was beaten a neck in the California Cup Turf Classic when trying to negotiate 1 1/8 miles.
“He just got beat going a mile and an eighth, and that’s probably pushing it for him,” Glatt said. “He’s a pretty tough little horse.”
Boozer has won 3 of 9 on Santa Anita’s turf course and has finished in the money eight times. Gary Stevens, who has ridden him in his last two starts, is back aboard.
“Gary gets along well with him,” Glatt said. “When he routes, he wants to get a little keen, but Gary got him to relax. He was close, but he was a relaxed close.”
A field of eight is entered in the race, including a pair of European invaders, Pound Piece and Raise Your Gaze, as well as Talco and Jules Journey, who finished second and third at this condition going 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 5.
KEY CONTENDERS
Boozer (Last 3 Beyers: 92-93-81)
◗ He’s not a rocket ship away from the gate, but he does have the speed to make the top or at least lay close, and since this race doesn’t come up with a whole lot of pace, he could make the running.
◗ A forward position might be paramount in this race since the rails are scheduled to be set 24 feet from their innermost position, a situation that often favors horses near the lead.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Boozer. Trainer Mark Glatt is 23-3-3-2 with a $0.67 ROI over the past two years going sprint to route on turf at Santa Anita. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Pound Piece
◗ This will be his first race in more than 15 months and will be the first time he has gone farther than six furlongs. Between being fresh and being a sprinter, he’s the most likely horse to try to go with Boozer in the early going.
Raise Your Gaze
◗ He ran in some of the better British handicaps during the second half of last year, so he should fit well class-wise against this group.
◗ The concern, though, is the distance. He’s cutting back to a mile after competing largely in 10- and 12-furlong races last year.
Talco (Last 3 Beyers: 87-88-89)
◗ Like Raise Your Gaze, he is trained by John Sadler and owned by Kosta Hronis. He is winless in five starts since being imported from his native France and has been prone to spotting his rivals a head start by breaking poorly.
Jules Journey (Last 3 Beyers: 87-79-77)
◗ He’s become more of a trial horse, settling for minor awards and failing to finish off his races. He has won 3 of 22 starts but has finished second twice and third 11 times.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Home School. Trainer Doug O’Neill is 13-4-2-1 with a $2.50 ROI over the past five years in turf starts at Santa Anita following a win and a layoff of 45 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan