Santa Anita: Blueskiesnrainbows looks to rebound in Tokyo City Cup
ARCADIA, Calif. – Some of Blueskiesnrainbows’s races are best forgotten.
A 5-year-old, Blueskiesnrainbows won the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes on Jan. 11 but followed with a disappointing sixth Feb. 8 in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes.
Blueskiesnrainbows won the Ralph Hinds Invitational at the Los Angeles County Fair in September but was fifth as a heavy favorite in the Bull Dog Handicap in Fresno three weeks later. Blueskiesnrainbows rebounded to finish second in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon over 1 3/4 miles in November.
“They don’t always run the same every time,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.
A game second in the BC Marathon makes Blueskiesnrainbows the favorite in Saturday’s $100,000 Tokyo City Cup over 1 1/2 miles on dirt at Santa Anita.[bc_video_id:319728:]
The Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup will be the first start for Blueskiesnrainbows since the San Antonio, where he engaged Game On Dude in a speed duel and finished sixth. Game On Dude faded to finish fifth but rebounded to win the Santa Anita Handicap on March 8.
Blueskiesnrainbows was a candidate for the Big Cap until Hollendorfer opted for the Tokyo City. The seven-week break between starts should work, Hollendorfer said.
“He’s got a good foundation,” Hollendorfer said. “Game On Dude ran a clunker and came back to run a good race.”
The Tokyo City will be the first start at 1 1/2 miles for Blueskiesnrainbows since a third in the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap on the Polytrack synthetic surface at Del Mar last July. In the BC Marathon, Blueskiesnrainbows was fourth early and took the lead in early stretch before losing by a length to London Bridge.
“He ran a pretty good race in the Breeders’ Cup,” Hollendorfer said.
Corey Nakatani has the mount on Blueskiesnrainbows in the Tokyo City, which drew a field of eight. Hollendorfer expects Blueskiesnrainbows to be on or near the lead.
“I’d like to see what everybody does,” he said. “He doesn’t have to be on the lead. I think some people think he does.”
Other notable runners are American Blend, who was third in the San Antonio but last of eight in the Santa Anita Handicap; Majestic Harbor, who was second in the San Pasqual and fourth in the San Antonio; and Segway, who was third in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup over 1 1/2 miles last December. Ever Rider was a Group 2 winner in Argentina last year but is winless in three starts in this country.
Segway finished fourth in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes over 1 1/4 miles on turf Feb. 8 but was disqualified and placed 10th in a field of 11 for causing interference in the stretch.
The Tokyo City will be Segway’s eighth career start but his first on dirt. Trainer Richard Mandella said that creates uncertain expectations.
“He acts like he wants to do something like that,” Mandella said.
The Tokyo City will be the stakes debut for Tiz Dynamic, who has won three of his last five starts in claiming races and an optional claimer. The tougher race and the distance are worth a gamble, according to trainer Richard Baltas.
“It’s a big step up,” Baltas said. “If he can relax, he’ll be tough.”
Tiz Dynamic races near the front and should have company with Blueskiesnrainbows. Hollendorfer considers the Tokyo City to be a prep for the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic on April 19 in West Virginia. An appearance by Blueskiesnrainbows in that race would set up an interesting reunion. Game On Dude is a probable starter in the Charles Town Classic, a race he won last year.