Powell stakes winners to stay on different paths
This winter at Santa Anita, trainer Leonard Powell has won graded stakes on turf with Air Force Red in a sprint and Dicey Mo Chara in a race at 1 1/8 miles. The two runners will have separate campaigns this year.
Air Force Red, who worked a half-mile in 48.60 seconds on Friday, has the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf on March 4 as a long-range goal, with a possible start in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf on Feb. 4.
“His energy will tell us whether he runs in the Thunder Road or waits for the Kilroe,” Powell said on Friday.
Air Force Red won the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes on the hillside turf course Dec. 31, leading throughout. A 5-year-old, Air Force Red won the restricted Lure Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita in late October.
Dicey Mo Chara, the winner of the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, was recently withdrawn from consideration for the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28 and will start instead in the Grade 3 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 5.
The $200,000 San Marcos Stakes is run at 1 1/4 miles on turf.
“We thought we had a better chance to run a very good race here than over there,” Powell said.
The Powell stable recently lost the graded stakes winner Avenue de France to a sale. Avenue de France was listed as bought back for $375,000 at the Keeneland horses of all ages sale this week. Powell said Avenue de France was sold privately to Shadai Farm of Japan.
Shadai made racing news earlier this week when they announced the acquisition of the multiple stakes winner Hot Rod Charlie as a stallion prospect.
Among other prominent works at Santa Anita on Friday, Havnameltdown, the two-time Grade 3 winner in 2022, worked five furlongs in 58.40 seconds for an expected start in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds on Jan. 29.
Queen Goddess, the winner of the Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes for fillies and mares on turf on Dec. 31, zipped a half-mile in 46.60 seconds for a scheduled start in the Grade 3 Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28.
Kimura has new agent
Jockey Kazushi Kimura, the leading rider at Woodbine in 2022, has hired agent Brandon O’Bryan to represent him this winter at Santa Anita, O’Bryan said on Friday.
Kimura arrived in California last month and had been represented by Jordan Miller. Through Thursday, Kimura was winless with 15 mounts at the current Santa Anita meeting, which began on Dec. 26.
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