Santa Anita: The Admiral gets distance test

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Admiral can hit the Triple Crown trail if he wins a $58,000 allowance race at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Trained by Bob Baffert, The Admiral won a maiden special weight race over seven furlongs on Feb. 15 in his last race, his fourth career start. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

In his preceding race, The Admiral ran seventh in a maiden race over 1 1/16 miles, the distance of Sunday’s race.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

“Throw that out,” Baffert said. “It wasn’t him. We’ll find out more if he wants one turn or two turns.”

The Admiral, by Giant’s Causeway, races for Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith. The Admiral drew the rail in a field of eight, five of whom are nominated for the Triple Crown.

Cool Samurai, a First Samurai gelding trained by John Shirreffs, beat The Admiral by a half-length in a one-mile maiden race on Dec. 27. Cool Samurai returned to finish sixth of seven in the Grade 2 Robert Lewis Stakes on Feb. 8, the gelding’s stakes debut.

“I would say he was a little flat for the race,” Shirreffs said.

Shirreffs said that Cool Samurai has been brighter in recent weeks. Cool Samurai races for Jerry and Ann Moss and drew the outside post in Sunday’s race.

Baffert also starts Roger Rocket, who won his debut over 5 1/2 furlongs, but was fifth of sixth in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs on Feb. 16.

“Roger Rocket needs two turns,” Baffert said.

Papa Turf, fourth in the San Vicente, and El Nino Terrible, last in the Lewis Stakes, are entered in the allowance race. The Admiral, Cool Samurai, El Nino Terrible, Papa Turf, and Roger Rocket are nominated for the Triple Crown.

The maiden race winner True Ten and the former maiden claimers Friendswith K Mill and The Mad Hungarian are not nominated for the Triple Crown.

True Ten won a maiden race for California-breds over six furlongs in his debut on Feb. 16 for Mercedes Stable. Vladimir Cerin trains True Ten, who is by Rock Hard Ten. Cerin said he would have preferred a California-bred race at a later date for True Ten.

“I wish I had more seasoning and wish that the Cal-bred race had gone,” Cerin said. “I think he’s a nice horse. We’ll know more about him after this race.”