Roy H, Ransom the Moon to bypass Triple Bend Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Last year’s sprint champion Roy H likely is bound for Dubai, and the Grade 1 winner Ransom the Moon has been sidelined by a foot abscess, developments that will cost Saturday’s Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita two of its leading nominees.

Roy H worked three furlongs in 36.60 seconds at Santa Anita on Wednesday and is scheduled to start in the $2 million Golden Shaheen Sprint at Meydan Racecourse on March 31. Roy H will not start in the Triple Bend.

Roy H won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar last November and his first start of 2018, the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes on Feb. 3.

Ransom the Moon, fifth in the BC Sprint, was diagnosed with a foot abscess earlier this week. He was being treated on Wednesday, trainer Phil D’Amato said.

“I was going to breeze him on Monday, but couldn’t,” D’Amato said. “I’ll have to get him right.”

Ransom the Moon won the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar last July.

Without Roy H and Ransom the Moon, the list of probable starters for the $400,000 Triple Bend is led by City of Light and Edwards Going Left, the first two finishers in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds here on Dec. 26.

Giant Expectations has been entered in the seven-furlong Triple Bend and Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles after trainer Peter Eurton was granted permission from track stewards to enter him in both races. Eurton said a final decision on Giant Expectations will depend on post positions and competition.

“I know he can do both,” Eurton said.

World Approval, the champion turf male of 2017, will be favored to win his fifth consecutive stakes in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf on Saturday.

Trained by Mark Casse for Live Oak Plantation, World Approval won the BC Mile at Del Mar last November and his first start of 2018, the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 10.

The expected field for the $400,000 Kilroe Mile also includes the stakes winners Bowies Hero, Channel Maker, Om, and What a View. Next Shares, third to Om in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes on Feb. 10, has yet to win a stakes, but has run well enough for trainer Richard Baltas to expected him to be competitive in the Kilroe Mile.

“He’s doing everything right,” Baltas said. “He’s a closer and I think he has a good chance.”

Baltas is quick to mention World Approval is the runner to beat.

“Other than that, I don’t think it’s that tough,” he said. “I’m optimistic.”