Red Outlaw tries two turns in El Cajon Stakes
DEL MAR, Calif. – Red Outlaw has raced four times at four different tracks on both turf and synthetic. He has yet to lose. He’s cleared every hurdle placed in his way. On Friday at Del Mar, he takes on a new challenge when he tries two turns for the first time in the $100,000 El Cajon Stakes for 3-year-olds.
Of benefit to Red Outlaw is that this will be the first time he’s raced at the same track twice. He comes off a win in the seven-furlong Real Good Deal Stakes for California-breds on Aug. 1.
But everything else is new. In addition to stretching out to a mile, the draw did him no favors. He landed post 10, which will be the outside post barring scratches. Eleven were entered, with one also-eligible. Indexical is in the main body of the race, but he just ran Sunday in the Pat O’Brien Stakes against older horses, finishing last of seven.
In the Real Good Deal, Red Outlaw used his sharp speed to lead from start to finish. It was his first start in more than five months. His tenacity gives trainer Peter Miller confidence that he can pass this latest test.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 10 Red Outlaw. Trainer Peter Miller is 4 for 10 with a $0.79 ROI over the past five years in synthetic routes following a winning effort. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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“He’s the poor man’s Shared Belief,” Miller said. “He’s 4 for 4, done everything asked on four different surfaces. The next step is two turns. Obviously, the 10 hole going a mile is not the best, but he has plenty of early speed and should overcome it.”
The El Cajon is race 6 on an abbreviated seven-race card that begins at 4 p.m. Pacific.
Key contenders
Red Outlaw (Last 3 Beyers: 93-85-71)
* The horses to his immediate inside do not have early speed, so he should be able to get over. The only horse who possibly could match him early is Indexical, but his status for this race is cloudy, having just run Sunday.
Diamond Bachelor (Last 3 Beyers: 87-78-82)
* After beginning his career on turf and showing keen early speed, he’s calmed down in recent starts and has learned to sit and finish.
* He was a good second on this surface two weeks ago in allowance company when going 6 1/2 furlongs, rallying from seventh in a field of eight.
* This will be his third start following a three-month layoff.
“He had a little issue back in the spring, a toe crack – a quarter crack in the middle of the toe, not on the quarter,” said trainer Patrick Biancone. “I didn’t want to run him on the firm turf coming back. I thought the Polytrack would be kinder. We’re teaching him to be kinder early in the race.”
Conquest Two Step (Last 3 Beyers: 96-82-73)
* As with Red Outlaw, this will be his first try around two turns. He earned the best figure of his career last time when racing at Del Mar for the first time, finishing second in a strong first-level allowance against older runners.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Indexical. Trainer Ben Cecil is 2 for 10 with a $6.20 ROI over the past five years going sprint to route at Del Mar. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Home School. Trainer Doug O’Neill is 1 for 22 over the past five years with blinkers on and moving from turf to synthetic. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan