Pincheck auditions for possible stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Pincheck had his 2019 warmup race on Jan. 20, finishing sixth in an allowance with a $62,500 claiming option at Santa Anita. On Sunday, Pincheck starts in a similar race at a mile on turf, and a good performance could lead to a stakes appearance.

“I think he should be better this time,” trainer Richard Mandella said Friday. “I don’t think I had him quite ready.”

A group stakes winner in Ireland last year, Pincheck will need to be ready to win Sunday’s allowance race, which has drawn a competitive field. He will face Risky Proposition, who won the restricted Let It Ride Stakes at Del Mar in November and was seventh in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on Dec. 1. Fight On, who was sixth in the Hollywood Derby, is part of Sunday’s field.

Accountability was third in the Unusual Heat Turf Classic for California-breds on Jan. 26, while Keep Quiet, Count Alexander, Kazan, and Morse Code were the first four finishers of the Jan. 20 race in which Pincheck was sixth.

The optional claimer is the seventh race on a program that begins at 12:30 p.m.

KEY CONTENDERS

Pincheck, by Invincible Spirit
Beyers: 86-85-NA

◗ Sunday’s race will be the third start in the United States for Pincheck, who was eighth in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar on Nov. 24. Owned by Jon Kelly, Pincheck won the Group 3 Desmond Stakes at a mile on turf at Leopardstown, Ireland, last August when trained by Jessica Harrington.

◗ Pincheck closed ground and was beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Keep Quiet on Jan. 20.

“I think he ran along on fumes,” Mandella said. “I think he was out of gas, but he didn’t give up.”

◗ Pincheck raced near the front in Ireland, and could be handy for jockey Mike Smith with runners such as Dreams of Valor and Keep Quiet likely to set the pace Sunday.

Risky Proposition, by Bodemeister
Last 3 Beyers: 86-88-86

◗ The one-mile distance of Sunday’s race may be too short for Risky Proposition, trainer Bill Spawr said Friday.

“I know the horse will be better going longer, but we need to start somewhere,” Spawr said.

◗ Risky Proposition is a closer. His late kick carried him to the front in the Let It Ride Stakes at a mile for 3-year-olds in November. This will be Risky Proposition’s first start since the Hollywood Derby.

Morse Code, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 86-91-90

◗ Morse Code had only three starts last year, highlighted by a win in an optional claimer on turf at Del Mar in August. He was fourth in the optional claimer here Jan. 20, losing by three-quarters of a length to Keep Quiet.

◗ Kent Desormeaux will ride Morse Code for the first time Sunday. Desormeaux, who replaces Andrea Atzeni, will be the sixth different rider on Morse Code in as many starts.

“Maybe he’ll get along with Kent,” trainer Richard Baltas said. “The horse is strong and Kent is strong. He wants to sit just behind the speed.”