Rye seeks repeat in Unusual Heat Turf Classic

ARCADIA, Calif. – A year after Rye won his first stakes in the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic at Santa Anita, the 6-year-old horse starts in the same race Saturday.

A win this weekend would be more significant. Rye faces three rivals from the 2017 field – Camino Del Paraiso, Accountability, and He Will, who were second through fourth – as well as Marckie’s Water and Ashleyluvssugar, who were fourth and fifth in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup on Nov. 23 at Del Mar.

The Unusual Heat Turf Classic, run at 1 1/8 miles, will be the stakes debut for the improving King Abner, who has won two of his last three starts.

“I think it’s a deeper race,” said William Morey, who trains Rye.

“I think we’ve got a shot to win it. It’s a full field and it will be about who will fire on race day and who will have the right trip.”

The Turf Classic drew a field of 11 and is the last of 11 races on a program that begins at 11:30 a.m. Pacific.

There are two intriguing runners from stables based at Golden Gate Fields – Camino Del Paraiso and Unusually Green.

Camino Del Paraiso was second by a neck in the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap on Nov. 24 at Golden Gate. Unusually Green, an 8-year-old gelding, won an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option at 1 1/16 miles on turf Dec. 31 at Golden Gate.

KEY CONTENDERS

Rye, by English Channel
Last 3 Beyers: 80-72-92

◗ Owned by Joseph Morey, who is no relation to the trainer, Rye is a threat from off the pace. Kent Desormeaux, who was aboard for the win in the 2018 Turf Classic, retains the mount.

◗ After the win in the Turf Classic last January, Rye was winless in three stakes through late May. He was turned out for the rest of 2018 and finished fourth in an allowance race at six furlongs on Jan. 10 at Golden Gate Fields in his comeback.

“That was the best thing we could do, time-wise, to get a prep into him,” William Morey said.

“He’s doing well. I would have liked to have gotten one more prep race in him. We’re doing our best in morning training. There is only one Cal Cup Classic each year.”

Ashleyluvssugar, by Game Plan
Last 3 Beyers: 93-98-94

◗ Ashleyluvssugar won the California Cup Turf Classic in 2017, and later won the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles that year.

◗ Trained by Peter Eurton, Ashleyluvssugar, 8, was winless in six starts in 2018, including a second in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita in September.

◗ In the Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles, Ashleyluvssugar led to the eighth pole and finished 2 1/4 lengths behind Chicago Style.

“It was a little farther than he wants,” Eurton said.

◗ Eurton is banking on a quick pace from runners such as King Abner to help Ashleyluvssugar’s chances for a rally.

“He doesn’t have to be on the front,” he said. “Usually at a mile and an eighth, you can catch some other speed.”

King Abner, by Hansen
Last 3 Beyers: 89-90-92

◗ King Abner was the easy winner of allowance races with claiming options at a mile on dirt at Del Mar and Los Alamitos in November and early December. He was beaten a nose in an allowance race for California-breds at a mile on turf here Dec. 31, losing to the stakes winner Brandothebartender.

“That was a tough beat,” trainer Phil D’Amato said.

“He’s got speed. I think we’re going to be on or near the lead. The horse continues to thrive.”