Sabado Alegre cuts back distance, drops in class

In his most recent start, Sabado Alegre was sitting in third at the six-furlong mark in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile before fading to ninth. He will appreciate the cutback in distance and the substantially easier company when he runs in an optional $40,000 claiming race at Emerald Downs on Saturday.

The 6 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up drew seven horses and headlines an eight-race card that begins at 2 p.m. Pacific.

Trainer Craig MacPherson is realizing that Sabado Alegre is probably just a sprinter. He was hoping for more when the Chilean-bred 4-year-old arrived at Hastings this year, but after a couple of strong efforts going 6 1/2 furlongs, including a win in an optional $50,000 claiming race in his first start in Vancouver, he came up empty in three subsequent route attempts.

“It looks like seven furlongs might be his best distance,” MacPherson said. “He ran well for six furlongs in his last three routes, but he backed up each time.”

Following the Mile, Sabado Alegre returned to his home base at Hastings, and MacPherson is happy with how he has trained. He isn’t as positive about Bluegrass Angus, whom he also entered. Bluegrass Angus was the champion 3-year-old male at Hastings last year but has started only once in 2016.

“He had a decent work Wednesday, but he’s not really where I would like him to be yet,” MacPherson said.

In 2015, Bluegrass Angus won three stakes and was the runner-up in the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby.

Bluegrass Angus has excellent speed, and Sabado Alegre likely will be in a stalking position after breaking from post 5 with Juan Gutierrez aboard. Leslie Mawing will ride Bluegrass Angus, who drew post 6.

KEY CONTENDERS

Sabado Alegre, by Any Given Saturday
Last 3 Beyers: 79-82-81

◗ The 85 and 83 Beyer Speed Figures he earned in his two sprints this year stand out, and he should get a nice trip sitting just off what figures to be a fast and contested pace.

Algenon, by Aragorn
Last 3 Beyers: 78-75-81

◗ Trained by Len Kasmerski, he was coming off a six-month layoff when he won an optional $40,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds at Emerald on Aug. 14 and could take a big step forward with a race behind him.

◗ He will be facing older horses for the first time, but he’s finished in the top three in nine of his 10 starts and has placed in five stakes, including a third in the $100,000 California Derby.

◗ He also has the right running style for the race.