Safety Belt latest Argentine to eye Wickerr
DEL MAR, Calif. – The Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar is becoming a proving ground for Argentine imports.
In 2012, Suggestive Boy won the Wickerr in his second American start, and won the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile in 2013. Last year, Indy Point won his American debut in the Wickerr, and later finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita.
Wednesday, Safety Belt will try to continue the streak of Argentine winners in the restricted $90,000 stakes at a mile on turf. Trained by Ron McAnally, Safety Belt arrived in California last fall. In his four races in this country, Safety Belt has won two optional claimers at Santa Anita in April and June, confirming McAnally’s opinion that the 5-year-old horse can be a stakes winner in this country.
The Wickerr Stakes will be Safety Belt’s American stakes debut. The race could lead to a start in the $250,000 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 24.
“We’ve been keeping him fit and pointing for this race,” McAnally said.
McAnally, who also trains Suggestive Boy, considers Safety Belt to be a prospect “up to a mile.”
The Wickerr is restricted to horses who have not won a stakes worth $50,000 or more to the winner since March 1. The race drew a field of nine, including four stakes winners – Barocci, Bright Thought, Dry Summer, and No Jet Lag.
KEY CONTENDERS
Safety Belt (Last 3 Beyers: 91-86-93)
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 No Jet Lag. Exits a strong race, where two runners had a Beyer Speed Figure over 100 in their following race, and three more had ones over 90. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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◗ Safety Belt was second or third in four group stakes in Argentina in 2012 and 2013.
◗ Owned by Jose Cerillo, who races as Pozo de Luna Inc., Safety Belt is best as a stalker but did close from 15 lengths off the pace to win an optional claimer at a mile on turf on June 21.
◗ McAnally expects jockey Joe Talamo to have Safety Belt in contention early. “I don’t think he’ll be back that far,” McAnally said.
No Jet Lag (Last 3 Beyers: 95-82-91)
◗ No Jet Lag has not raced since finishing sixth in the Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 1.
◗ He won the Grade 2 City of Hope Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita last October in his American stakes debut.
◗ “I’m looking forward to getting him back on track,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “This is a nice race to get him back going again. I think he’ll progress from it.
“I think last time he was a little flat. He puts a lot into his work and races. It was time to give him a break.”
Barocci (Last 3 Beyers: 101-89-94)
◗ Third in the City of Hope Stakes in his last start, this 6-year-old horse was sidelined by infection until earlier this year, trainer John Sadler said.
◗ Similar to many runners in the race, Barocci could return in the Del Mar Mile with a successful race on Wednesday.
◗ “He’s training well and I think this is a good fit,” Sadler said. “He had some issues so I sent him to the farm for a while.”
Bright Thought (Last 3 Beyers: 87-81-98)
◗ Winless in five starts since taking the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes in March 2013, Bright Thought was fifth in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita on May 24.
◗ Since the Whittingham, Bright Thought has undergone a procedure to have an undescended testicle removed, trainer Jorge Gutierrez said. “He seems happier and he seems quicker,” Gutierrez said. “His workout pattern has been unbelievable.”