Rain throws turf races into the air
ARCADIA, Calif. – Stormy weather early this week was expected to make way for clear skies midweek. The trouble is that rainfall overstays its welcome on the soon-to-be-replaced Santa Anita turf. It is like a sponge that takes forever to dry.
Three turf races are scheduled for Thursday on the saturated course. More than an inch of rain fell Saturday night; a second storm began Monday. While expected to be brief, its effect will linger. A firm course is not likely Thursday.
Wet weather complicates an interesting card that includes three one-mile turf races – California-bred maiden fillies in race 1, starter-allowance fillies and mares in race 4, and a second-level optional $62,500 claiming race for fillies and mares, race 7.
Illuminant is the likely race-7 favorite, facing Evo Campo, Tiz a Kiss, Socialized, and Journey On.
While uncertain turf is one handicapping challenge, another is to decide which of the main-track runners in race 6 is likely to stay 1 1/4 miles. Grazen Sky figures as the favorite in the first-level optional $40,000 claiming race.
Other race-6 contenders include Dylan Ward, Generoso, and Doyouknowsomething. The main track should be fast Thursday.
KEY CONTENDERS
RACE 6
Grazen Sky, by Grazen
Last 3 Beyers: 89-83-90
◗ Steve Miyadi trains horse-for-course Grazen Sky, whose five starts on Santa Anita dirt have produced two wins and three seconds. Santiago Gonzalez rides.
◗ Grazen Sky finished fifth last out in the California Cup Turf Classic.
◗ Owned and bred by Nick Alexander, Grazen Sky has won 3 of 14 starts. He won the Silky Sullivan Stakes last April at Golden Gate.
Dylan Ward, by Artie Schiller
Last 3 Beyers: 79-84-82
◗ Sixth with trouble last out on turf, Dylan Ward won a maiden race two starts back over a pair of next-out winners.
◗ He is 1 for 13 and has finished off the board only twice. However, Dylan Ward’s ability on dirt is debatable. His only dirt start was a runner-up finish in a low-rated maiden race at Los Alamitos. The gelding’s pedigree leans to turf and synthetic.
Generoso, by T.H. Approval
Last 3 Beyers: 61-92-80
◗ He won a 1 1/4-mile, Group 2 race on dirt in Brazil, which was his second win at the distance and surface. He is 4 for 21 overall.
◗ Paulo Lobo trains Generoso, entered for the optional $40,000 claiming tag. He was noncompetitive in his first three U.S. starts, which came against better company.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Tale of Life. Trainer Graham Motion is 10-0-4-0 over the past five years in dirt races in Southern California. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Action Hero. Trainer Tim Yakteen is 15-5-2-2 with a $3.28 ROI over the past five years on dirt at Santa Anita with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
RACE 7
Illuminant, by Quality Road
Last 3 Beyers: 82-95-84
◗ She drops in class after a pair of fourths in Grade 2 races. Her two turf routes produced a romping allowance win and a nose loss in a maiden race.
◗ Her forwardly placed running style suits the profile of this kind of race. Nine of the 15 turf miles at this meet on “good” turf were won by a horse within one length of the lead after the first half-mile.
◗ Michael McCarthy trains Illuminant. Flavien Prat rides.
Evo Campo, by Approve
Last 3 Beyers: 83-80-82
◗ She will be one of the favorites after a close third last out to next-out winner Nancy From Nairobi.
◗ Evo Campo, trained by Paddy Gallagher, is 2 for 2 at one mile.