Redattore dangerous on any surface
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Now that the nagging hoof problems that plague many horses in winter are behind him, Redattore will put his best feet forward when he resumes his campaign Sunday in the Grade 3 Inglewood Handicap at Hollywood Park.
Seven older horses entered the $100,000 turf race at 1 1/16 miles, including Grade 2 winners Seinne and Sumitas; stakes winners Kerrygold and El Gran Papa; and longshots Night Patrol and Gallant. While the Inglewood is a prep race for the Grade 1 Shoemaker on May 27, Redattore will have more than one option regarding surface. Imported from Brazil, Redattore has won graded stakes on turf and dirt.
Redattore switched from turf to dirt in February at Santa Anita, and responded with a half-length victory in the Grade 2 San Antonio. The race was an experiment to measure Redattore's main-track efficiency vs. graded stakes runners and determine whether he would ship to the $6 million Dubai World Cup. Though he passed the test by winning the race, Redattore's feet had other ideas.
The 7-year-old Redattore shed a frog, then had a quarter crack, and Richard Mandella was unable to train him properly. Dubai was out, but the San Antonio win gives Mandella and owner Alfredo Luiz options for the remainder of the season. Redattore has won 10 races and $773,375 from 20 starts, and will be ridden by Alex Solis under high weight of 120 pounds. Redattore's tactical speed should allow for a good trip pushing modest fractions.
The Hollywood Park turf course has been kind to closers, however, and the profile plays in favor of Seinne. A 5-year-old imported from Chile by trainer Ron McAnally and owner Nelson Bunker Hunt, Seinne attempted a surface switch this winter at Santa Anita, but fell short on three occasions.
"We had to take a shot because the handicap [division] didn't look too tough this year," McAnally explained. "Most of his turf races in South America were good."
Following a ninth-place finish in the Santa Anita Handicap, McAnally put Seinne back on turf and he responded with a 12-1 upset in
the Grade 2 Arcadia Handicap. Benefiting by a premature move by favored Irish Prize, Seinne and jockey Chris McCarron wore down the leaders to win by a half-length.
It was Seinne's sixth win from 17 starts, and he has trained well since. "He's doing super, I'm very happy with him," McAnally said.
Night Patrol will duel for the lead with Gallant. Gallant is moving to two turns following back-to-back sprint wins at Santa Anita. Kerrygold is racing at a distance that is shorter than he prefers, but trainer Darrell Vienna has been hot lately.
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