Papacoolpapacool auditions for Penn Mile
ARCADIA, Calif.- Papacoolpapacool will be a heavy favorite in Saturday’s $75,000 La Puente Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf at Santa Anita. The race could be his ticket out of town.
Trainer Phil D’Amato said on Thursday that Papacoolpapacool could be sent to Penn National for the $500,000 Penn Mile for 3-year-olds on turf May 30 if he wins Saturday.
“If he runs well, we’ll take a look at that race,” he said. “It’s one step at a time.”
So far this year, Papacoolpapacool has been perfect for D’Amato, winning two starts at a mile on turf – an optional claimer Feb. 22 and the Pasadena Stakes on March 21. In both races, Papacoolpapacool stalked the pace and took the lead in the final furlong.
“After his last race, when he was standing there getting his picture taken, he wasn’t blowing a bit,” D’Amato said. “It was like a workout.”
The La Puente at 1 1/8 miles will be the longest race of Papacoolpapacool’s career. He races for Cellist Racing Stable and Ali Nilforushan.
“He gives me every indication that the mile and an eighth will be right up his alley,” D’Amato said.
The La Puente drew a field of eight, including Anytime Anyplace, who was second in the Pasadena; Hero Ten All, who was a well-beaten
fourth behind Kentucky Derby hopeful Dortmund in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes on Feb. 7; and Ride Hard Kowboy, who won the minor Tempe Handicap on turf at Turf Paradise on March 14.
Hero Ten All will have his turf debut in the La Puente. He is trained by Jeff Mullins, who trained Papacoolpapacool until the gelding was transferred to D’Amato in mid-January.