Sammy Mandeville might need to tweak strategy
ARCADIA, Calif. – It was always a reach that Sammy Mandeville might give his stable a shot at winning the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile for a third straight year.
Maybe next season. “We’ll call off the Breeders’ Cup dreams this year,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. Instead, the graded stakes-placed colt will seek a confidence-building win in a second-level optional claimer that goes as race 2 on Thursday at Santa Anita.
It is an easier spot for Sammy Mandeville, owned by the W C Racing of Glenn Sorgenstein and Josh Kaplan. W C Racing won the 2013 and 2014 BC Dirt Mile with Goldencents, and for a brief time this fall, Sammy Mandeville looked like a Dirt Mile candidate.
The runner-up in the Grade 3 Precisionist in May at Santa Anita, Sammy Mandeville returned to form in August by finishing second in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs. But the 4-year-old colt subsequently finished seventh in the Grade 1 Awesome Again. Wait until next year.
Sammy Mandeville gets class relief Thursday while dropping into an allowance following six graded stakes. His rivals include the lone speed Home School, the closer Solid Wager, and the lightly raced 3-year-old Ground Rules. The allowance is the co-feature Thursday, along with a first-level optional claimer at a mile on turf for California-bred fillies and mares that is race 7.
Rafael Bejarano rides Sammy Mandeville, a closer facing an obvious pace challenge in the 1 1/16-mile race. O’Neill and Bejarano may need to revise strategy. As O’Neill noted, “The race looks like it is void of speed.”
Sammy Mandeville has won 2 of 17 starts with an off-the-pace style that might put him at a disadvantage Thursday – unless O’Neill is right that Sammy Mandeville “does not have to be as far back.”
KEY CONTENDERS
Sammy Mandeville (Last 3 Beyers: 88-97-92)
◗ A 4-year-old colt sired by Rock Hard Ten, Sammy Mandeville finished seventh last out in the Awesome Again. While Sammy Mandeville might have been outclassed, the slow fractions negated any chance.
◗ The last time Sammy Mandeville ran in a race that wasn’t a graded stakes was March at Santa Anita. He won an optional claimer by 6 1/2 lengths while benefitting from a fast early pace.
Home School (Last 3 Beyers: 81-86-87)
◗ The pace scenario benefits Home School, who could shake loose on a lonely lead. He finished third last out in his first try on dirt, an optional-claiming race at Los Alamitos.
◗ Home School is trained by Paulo Lobo, who is stuck in an uncharacteristic slump. Lobo, who trained 2002 champion 3-year-old filly Farda Amiga and 2004 Metropolitan Handicap winner Pico Central, is 1 for 47 this year.
Solid Wager (Last 3 Beyers: 79-90-85)
◗ Solid Wager is a closer who also is facing a problematic pace scenario. However, Solid Wager is returning to his favorite track. Trained by Peter Miller, Solid Wager has won 3 of 10 at Santa Anita.
Ground Rules (Last 3 Beyers: 88-NA-85)
◗ The only 3-year-old in the field, Ground Rules could get a cozy trip positioned second behind the speed. Cliff Sise trains the Smart Strike colt, a last-out optional-claiming winner.