River Boyne could have coming-out party in Pasadena Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Back-to-back stakes victories propelled Pubilius Syrus to the head of the local 3-year-old turf class, at least for the time being. On Saturday at Santa Anita, he faces a formidable rival whose maiden and allowance wins suggest he could be any type.

River Boyne, a small but mighty import who won both of his starts at this meet by open lengths, will be tough to beat in the $200,000 Pasadena Stakes if he reproduces his most recent start, a first-level allowance he won by nearly three lengths.

“He looks like a little Quarter Horse,” trainer Jeff Mullins said. “To watch him move, even on the dirt, he’s such a good mover, well balanced.”

River Boyne arrived last fall from England after he was purchased at the Tattersalls autumn horses in training sale by Red Baron’s Stable and Rancho Temescal. The colt was a maiden at the time, but according to Mullins, his former connections believed he was special.

“After they bought him, they left him with the guy over there, and they told them this horse is a serious horse,” Mullins said. “We expected him to win first out at Del Mar.”

River Boyne broke slowly in the Nov. 24 maiden race at Del Mar and flew home to finish second. Jockey Flavien Prat told Mullins after the race, “This is a racehorse.”

River Boyne won a Santa Anita maiden race by five lengths on Dec. 26 and followed with a decisive first-level allowance win Feb. 8, running his final quarter-mile in 23 seconds.

With Prat riding Solomini on Saturday at Oaklawn Park, Mullins reached out to Joel Rosario’s agent, Ron Anderson, to inquire if Rosario was available for the Pasadena. The answer was yes.

Pubilius Syrus won the Eddie Logan Stakes at a mile on turf Dec. 29, followed by a downhill sprint victory in the Baffle Stakes on Feb. 18. Vladimir Cerin trains Pubilius Syrus, whose rider Saturday is Corey Nakatani.

Others in the Pasadena include Afleet Ascent, the runner-up in the Baffle; Heck Yeah, 3 for 3 against Cal-breds, including two stakes; and Inscom, the runner-up in the Eddie Logan. The field also includes Platinum Equity, Buckstopper Kit, Ax Man, and La La Land.