Rock N Rye seeking redemption in Royal Owl
There was a simple explanation for Rock N Rye’s second-place finish in the I’m Smokin Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds on Sept. 4 at Del Mar.
“We just got beat,” trainer Walther Solis said Friday. “He ran his race.”
Rock N Rye won the Graduation Stakes for statebreds at 5 1/2 furlongs in his stakes debut Aug. 8 at Del Mar and lost the I’m Smokin Stakes by 3 1/2 lengths to Joker Boy. Rock N Rye has an outstanding chance for a second stakes win in Sunday’s $75,000 Royal Owl Stakes for statebreds at 5 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos.
The Royal Owl is part of a 10-race program on the final day of the Los Angeles County Fair meeting at Los Alamitos. Santa Anita begins its five-week autumn meeting Friday.
The Royal Owl drew a field of five – three colts by Stay Thirsty trained by Solis for owner and breeder Terry Lovingier and his partners; and two fillies – Carmen Miranda and Drizella.
Solis rates Rock N Rye as “the best of the three” runners from his stable.
Rock N Rye has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $119,920. Tiago Pereira rode Rock N Rye to a win in a maiden special weight race on May 30 at Santa Anita and regains the mount for the Royal Owl.
Rock N Rye drew the outside post, which should give the colt an ideal trip stalking stablemate Mr. T’s Thirsty, who has repeatedly shown speed.
“I love the draw,” Solis said in reference to Rock N Rye.
Solis said the Royal Owl is a prep for the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile for California-breds at seven furlongs on Nov. 5 at Del Mar.
Solis also starts Thirsty Always, a well-beaten third in the I’m Smokin Stakes.
Drizella had mixed results in two stakes for statebred fillies at Del Mar – a second by a neck in the CTBA Stakes on Aug. 5, but ninth of 10 in the Generous Portion Stakes on Sept. 3.
In the Royal Owl, Carmen Miranda drew the rail, a position trainer Phil D’Amato said is not ideal for a filly who tends to run from off the pace. In the Generous Portion Stakes, Carmen Miranda closed from sixth in a field of 10 under jockey Flavien Prat, who positioned his mount on the inside in the stretch. Carmen Miranda finished second by 3 1/2 lengths to stablemate Connie Swingle.
“I thought she ran very well,” D’Amato said. “Flavien was bottled up on the turn. He thought if he would have been outside he would have had a chance.”
Carmen Miranda won her debut in a maiden special weight on July 2 at Los Alamitos and was later fifth after a poor start in the CTBA Stakes.
“I’ve always been high on this filly since she broke her maiden,” D’Amato said.
In the Royal Owl, a quick pace will help Carmen Miranda, who will be ridden for the first time by Juan Hernandez.