Restrainedvengence must overcome wide draw in Lure Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – One ran the best race of his career to narrowly lose, while the other trailed home last of 11.

The contrast between a second-place finish by Restrainedvengence and an 11th by River Boyne in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on Oct. 5 at Santa Anita will be heavily scrutinized by bettors in advance of Thursday’s $70,000 Lure Stakes at a mile on turf.

Trainer Val Brinkerhoff is hopeful Restrainedvengence can repeat his game performance, while trainer Jeff Mullins says River Boyne had a minor illness that did not reflect the colt’s ability.

Restrainedvengence and River Boyne will need top efforts to win the Lure Stakes, which is restricted to horses that have not won a stakes worth $55,000 or more to the winner this year, other than statebred races.

They face a diverse field that includes the stakes winners Brown Storm, Declarationofpeace, Double Touch, and Ritzy A. P.

Restrainedvengence, best known for winning the restricted Oceanside Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar in July 2018, drew the outside post in a field of 10 in the Lure Stakes.

“I not too happy about the post,” Brinkerhoff said. “I don’t think there is too much speed. We can save ground. He doesn’t have to be on the lead.”

In the City of Hope Mile, Restrainedvengence stalked the pace and was beaten a head by True Valour, who has been pre-entered for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita. Brinkerhoff said Restrainedvengence rebounded quickly from the City of Hope Mile. He owns the gelding with Bobby Grayson Jr.

“He’s as good as he’s ever been,” Brinkerhoff said. “He seemed to bounce back from that.”

River Boyne, a five-time stakes winner in 2018, is winless in five starts this year. He was second in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile here in May and was rested through the summer. In the City of Hope Mile, River Boyne was at the back of the field throughout. Mullins found an excuse for the loss in the days after the race.

“His blood was a little off,” Mullins said. “It was a little funky. We took blood [Saturday] and it’s perfect. We’re hoping he’s turned the corner and is back to his old form.”

River Boyne will be ridden for the first time by Frankie Dettori, who is in California this week for the Breeders’ Cup races. Flavien Prat rode River Boyne to four of his stakes wins last year and is booked to ride Ritzy A. P.

The field includes Andesh, who raced in traffic on the turn and was seventh by a length at 31-1 in the City of Hope Mile. Andesh was the sharp winner of an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option at a mile on turf Aug. 10 at Del Mar in his 2019 debut.

Thursday is the first day of the final week of the Santa Anita autumn meeting. The Breeders’ Cup will be held on Friday and Saturday followed by closing day on Sunday. Del Mar opens its autumn meeting Nov. 8.