Sahara Sky a fresh danger in Kona Gold
ARCADIA, Calif. – Sahara Sky can be a dangerous horse after a rest. From 2011 to 2013, he returned to racing in the early months of each year after rests ranging from four months to seven months. Each time, he won.
Last year, Sahara Sky was out of action for 10 months, finished fifth in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes in his comeback, and then won the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes a month later.
Sahara Sky is now 7, and when he starts in Saturday’s $200,000 Kona Gold Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita, he will be racing for the first time since a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes in June.
Once again, he figures to be a danger in the Grade 2 Kona Gold, previously run as the Potrero Grande Stakes. Sahara Sky has won 8 of 21 starts and earned $1,145,578. He will be ready Saturday, according to Dan Ward, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s assistant.
“He had three six-furlong workouts,” Ward said. “He usually runs well fresh.”
Other conditions may work in his favor. Sahara Sky is a closer, and the Kona Gold Stakes includes several runners who race near the front. The race drew a field of seven. Sahara Sky, best known for winning the Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont Park in 2013, is the most accomplished.
KEY CONTENDERS
Sahara Sky (Last 3 Beyers: 82-85-101)
◗ In between his win in the San Carlos Stakes last March and the Triple Bend in June, Sahara Sky was second in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct in April and seventh in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes in May.
“Usually, he runs a few races and it’s time to give him a break,” Ward said.
◗ Leading rider Rafael Bejarano will ride Sahara Sky in a race for the first time Saturday. Bejarano, who rode Sahara Sky in a March workout, is likely to have Sahara Sky off the pace on the backstretch.
“It looks like Bejarano gets along good with him,” Ward said.
Masochistic (Last 3 Beyers: 99-80-97)
◗ Masochistic might be the quickest of the speed-oriented runners, a group that includes San Onofre, who was second in the California Cup Sprint behind Kona Gold entrant Spirit Rules, and Ankeny Hill, who won the Pirate’s Bounty Stakes at Del Mar last September.
◗ Masochistic won 4 of 6 starts and earned $223,850 while trained by A.C. Avila. Last month, Avila was suspended 60 days, through May 15, for a medication violation. Masochistic tested in excess of the permitted level of a tranquilizer when fifth in his career debut in March 2014.
◗ After the suspension was announced, a 50 percent share in the 5-year-old gelding was acquired by Samantha Siegel. Masochistic was transferred to trainer Ron Ellis. Ellis has had Masochistic since mid-May.
“He’s nicer to get along with than I thought he would be,” Ellis said. “He’s a talented horse.”
◗ Tyler Baze replaces Victor Espinoza on Masochistic. Espinoza rides top Kentucky Derby hopeful American Pharoah in the Arkansas Derby on Saturday.