Parsimony could add to O'Neill's 2-year-old tally

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 2-year-old colt Parsimony, who starts in Friday’s fourth race, has six stablemates of his age that won a maiden race at the spring-summer meeting at Santa Anita.

The success of those 2-year-olds is a main reason why Doug O’Neill led all trainers through Sunday with 29 wins at the meeting.

Parsimony, owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam, was second in his debut on June 9, closing from fifth in a field of eight to finish a half-length behind Sparky Ville. Six of the eight runners in Friday’s field are first-time starters, and Parsimony’s start was the better of the two horses with race experience.

O’Neill does not expect jockey Mario Gutierrez to have Parsimony near the front in Friday’s maiden special weight race at five furlongs.

“Everything suggests he’s a distance horse,” O’Neill said. “To watch him train, you don’t think he will Quarter Horse out of there.”

Asked if Parsimony can win, O’Neill was optimistic. “I think he can,” he said.

Parsimony, by Dominus, was purchased for $400,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in training in March.

King of Speed is the other runner in the field with race experience, having finished fourth behind the O’Neill-trained Toothless Wonder in a maiden race at 4 1/2 furlongs on May 27. Trained by Jeff Bonde, King of Speed, by Jimmy Creed, will be fitted with blinkers at the suggestion of jockey Gary Stevens.

“Gary thought he needed blinkers,” Bonde said. “He’s trained well since the race. No excuse. We have to see better this time.”

Of the first-time starters, Hartel, a City Zip colt, and Pirate’s Punch a Shanghai Bobby colt, have good workouts. Hartel is trained by Peter Miller and is one of two mounts on the eight-race program for Mike Smith. Pirate’s Punch has worked steadily since he was transferred from Golden Gate Fields to Santa Anita by trainer William Morey.

Keith Desormeaux starts Jefe, a Curlin colt purchased for $220,000 as a yearling last September. Desormeaux was cautious about Jefe’s chances for his career debut.

“He’s a big, rangy Curlin,” Desormeaux said. “At five-eighths, he’ll be getting wound up.”

The Desormeaux-trained filly Reflect was an impressive winner of her debut at five furlongs by 5 3/4 lengths on June 7. She will be pointed for the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 5.

“She’s a natural,” Desormeaux said.