Richard's Boy prepping for BC Turf Sprint in California Flag

ARCADIA, Calif. – A little more than two weeks before the Breeders’ Cup races at Churchill Downs, trainer Peter Miller hopes to have four runners in the BC Turf Sprint on Nov. 3.

Miller will know more about his team by the end of the weekend.

On Saturday at Santa Anita, Richard’s Boy is scheduled to start in the $100,000 California Flag Stakes for California-breds at five furlongs on turf as a prep for the BC Turf Sprint. Richard’s Boy was second by a head in the 2017 BC Turf Sprint at Del Mar last November, two weeks after finishing second in the California Flag.

Miller also plans to start Stormy Liberal, Conquest Tsunami, and Belvoir Bay in the BC Turf Sprint. Stormy Liberal, who won the 2017 Turf Sprint, won his third consecutive start in the Grade 3 Eddie D Stakes on the hillside turf course Sept. 28 at Santa Anita, beating runner-up Conquest Tsunami by a head.

Belvoir Bay, a 5-year-old mare who won three stakes on the hillside turf course this year, was second in the Grade 3 Franklin County Stakes on Oct. 12 at Keeneland. Despite the loss, Miller wants Belvoir Bay in the BC Turf Sprint.

“We’ll take a shot at the Breeders’ Cup if we can get in,” Miller said. “I think she deserves it. She’s right there with the best sprinters.”

Richard’s Boy is expected to face a small field in the California Flag. Other candidates are Brandothebartender, Eddie Haskell, P Club, Mason B, and Tribalist.

The California Flag is the richest race at Santa Anita this weekend. Sunday’s main race is the $75,000 Sunny Slope Stakes at seven furlongs for 2-year-olds who have not won a graded stakes. The next graded stakes at the Santa Anita autumn meeting is the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes on Oct. 27, a $100,000 race for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf.