Rye likely to target San Luis Rey Stakes again

ARCADIA, Calif. – Rye may have a familiar campaign in the coming months following his win in the $200,702 Unusual Heat Turf Classic at Santa Anita on Saturday for the second consecutive year.

Last spring, Rye was fifth in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles in March and third in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano at about 1 3/4 miles on turf in April in his first two starts after the Turf Classic. On Sunday, trainer William Morey said the $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes on March 23 is a likely destination for Rye.

“He could run there,” Morey said. “I’d like put together a plan to attack one of those races.”

Other turf-distance races to be considered are the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf May 25 and the San Juan Capistrano on June 23.

Rye won the Unusual Heat Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles for California-breds by 2 1/4 lengths in his second start after a layoff of more than eight months. Rye was fourth in an allowance race at six furlongs at Golden Gate Fields on Jan.10.

“It’s nice to see him do it two years in a row,” Morey said. “He’s a fun horse to train and watch run.”

Rye has won 9 of 21 starts and $436,118. Owned by Joseph Morey, no relation to the trainer, Rye is a 6-year-old by English Channel. Rye was claimed by his current owner and trainer for $20,000 from a maiden race at Golden Gate Fields in February 2016. Rye has since earned $426,188.

Rye was jockey Kent Desormeaux’s 5,999th career win in North America. Desormeaux became the 19th rider based in North America to win 6,000 races when X S Gold prevailed by a head in Sunday’s first race.

Rye had the flashiest win of the four stakes for California-breds on Saturday, an afternoon in which trainer Phil D’Amato won two stakes.

D’Amato won the $150,351 California Cup Sprint with Touching Rainbows and the $151,053 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint with S Y Sky. Listing, trained by Ben Cecil, won the $100,351 California Cup Turf Sprint on the hillside course for 3-year-olds.

D’Amato said he has plans to start his stakes winners in graded stakes and against statebred company in March.

Touching Rainbows is a candidate for the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 9. In the Cal Cup Sprint at six furlongs, Touching Rainbows closed from third to win by 1 1/4 lengths over pacesetter Richard’s Boy. Owned by Slam Dunk Racing, KM Racing, and Madaket Stables, Touching Rainbows ended a five-race losing streak by winning his first stakes in the Cal Cup Sprint.

“He showed he’s back in form,” D’Amato said. “That was the will I wanted to see.”

S Y Sky won her third stakes in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, leading throughout the race at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside course. Saturday’s race was S Y Sky’s first stakes win since she missed 15 months of racing from July 2017 to last October because of a tendon injury. She won two stakes in 2017. A winner of 5 of 9 starts, S Y Sky races for owner and breeder Nick Alexander.

“We didn’t think she would make it back,” Alexander said in the winner’s circle.

Alexander indicated the 5-year-old S Y Sky will remain in training this year. S Y Sky is likely to run in the $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares on the hillside turf course on March 17, D’Amato said.

Listing will be considered for the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at 1 1/8 miles on the synthetic main track at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 16, Cecil said.

Listing, who races for owners and breeders Paul and Zillah Reddam, won his second stakes in the California Cup Turf Sprint. He won the I’m Smokin Stakes in his debut at Del Mar last August.