Red Outlaw tries to stay unbeaten in Real Good Deal
DEL MAR, Calif. – He has won on Cushion Track. He has won on Tapeta. He has won on turf. All Red Outlaw knows how to do is win. He has raced three times, at three different tracks, and won three times. On Friday at Del Mar, he will seek to remain unbeaten, and, befitting his career to date, will try yet another new surface at another track.
Red Outlaw will compete for the first time on Del Mar’s Polytrack surface when he takes on 13 rivals in a compelling edition of the $200,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for 3-year-old California-breds. The seven-furlong sprint is probably the best betting race on the 4 p.m. Pacific Friday program, as several others look to have solid chances, most notably the consistent Alert Bay, never out of the money in eight starts.
This will be the first start for Red Outlaw since February, when he won the Baffle Stakes on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.
“He had a chip in an ankle, and we removed it,” said trainer Peter Miller, who leads the standings after nine days with seven victories. “He’s been training well. He runs well fresh, and he fires every time.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Red Outlaw. Trainer Peter Miller is 1 for 14 with a $0.22 ROI over the past five years with horses returning from a layoff of between 61 and 180 days, following a winning effort in their previous start.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Eddie’s First, drawn in post 2, inexplicably collapsed on the track just past the finish line during a routine gallop Tuesday. Though he was down for several minutes, pinning jockey Amir Cedeno under him, he was walking soundly on all four legs afterward and later was said to be fine back at the barn of trainer Doug O’Neill, according to assistant Jack Sisterson.
Real Good Deal Stakes, Race 7
KEY CONTENDERS
Red Outlaw (Last 3 Beyers: 85-71-65)
◗ He won his debut in June 2013, then returned from a seven-month layoff to win in January, so there’s no doubt he can come off the bench with his best effort.
◗ In two of his three races, the runner-up was Real Good Deal rival Gangnum Guy, who has won once in 11 starts but has finished second four times.
◗ Red Outlaw is one of two runners sent out by Miller, who also has Solid Wager, a starter-allowance winner last time out.
Alert Bay (Last 3 Beyers: 87-82-84)
◗ A consistent performer, he is effective anywhere from sprints on dirt or synthetic to middle-distance grass races.
◗ This will be his first start on Polytrack, but he owns a win and three seconds in four tries on Tapeta at Golden Gate, and good form at that track often translates into similar form on Polytrack here.
◗ His best attribute is that he can sit and finish, so pace is not a hindrance, and an outside draw should afford him a clean trip.
Patriots Rule (Last 3 Beyers: 83-87-83)
◗ Finished right behind Alert Bay in the Silky Sullivan on turf at Golden Gate on June 8, then had a rough trip in the opening-day Oceanside on turf here. This will be his first start on synthetic.
True Ten (Last 3 Beyers: 84-87-71)
◗ Showed an ability to fire fresh when winning his debut in February sprinting at Santa Anita.
◗ He was not disgraced when fourth in a two-turn, open allowance in March and now has been off since facing open company in a sprint at Santa Anita in April. With an outside draw and Rafael Bejarano signed on to ride, he should be set for a sharp effort.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 14 True Ten. Trainer Vladimir Cerin is 3 for 8 with a $3.22 ROI over the past two years with horses on synthetic surfaces following a layoff of between 61 and 180 days.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan