A Red Tie Day earns shot at $200,000 Seabiscuit by winning Lure Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif.- Gelded in the summer, A Red Tie Day became a stakes winner at Santa Anita on the last racing day of October in Sunday’s $73,435 Lure Stakes at a mile on turf.

The win left trainer Richard Baltas planning a start for A Red Tie Day in the $200,000 Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 26.

“We’ll be there,” Baltas said.

A Red Tie Day ($11.60) closed from sixth in the final quarter-mile to win the Lure Stakes by a half-length over a fast-closing Perfectly Majestic, a 7-1 shot. Twentytwentyvision, the even-money favorite, led with a furlong to go, but could not sustain the effort and was beaten three-quarters of a length.

A Red Tie Day, who was ridden by Norberto Arroyo Jr., was timed in 1:34.82 over a firm turf course that sustained light rain earlier in the day.

A Red Tie Day was patiently ridden by Arroyo, who guided his mount to the lead in the final sixteenth.

“I really credit Norberto for sitting behind the speed,” Baltas said. “I didn’t think he could outrun those horses.”

Little Curlin finished fourth, followed by Clever Royal, Patriots Rule, Express Himself, and Drummer.

A Red Tie Day has won 5 of 18 starts and earned $251,308 for Bloom Racing Stable. A 6-year-old, A Red Tie Day was gelded after finishing fifth in the Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar in July. He won an optional claimer there on Aug. 26 and was fifth in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship behind Ashleyluvssugar, Texas Ryano, and Twentytwentyvision on Oct. 2.

Ashleyluvssugar and Texas Ryano have been pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Saturday.