Santa Anita: Cherubim shortens up, gets class relief in Thursday allowance

ARCADIA, Calif. – Cherubim is nominated for this year’s Triple Crown, but that’s as close as he will get to starting in those prestigious races.

Trainer Simon Callaghan thinks Cherubim is best in sprints, leading to high hopes for the colt’s appearance in a $58,000 allowance race for 3-year-olds over six furlongs at Santa Anita on Thursday.

“We feel like he’s the horse to beat,” Callaghan said.

Owned by Jerry Frankel, Cherubim was second in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs Feb. 16. Cherubim led by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining but finished 5 1/4 lengths behind Kobe’s Back.

“He’s come out of the San Vicente in good shape,” Callaghan said. “I think this will be a better distance for him.”

Callaghan said sprints will be the long-term goal for Cherubim, who won a six-furlong maiden race in his second start at Santa Anita on Dec. 28.

“There are a couple of ideas [for races] where we could ship him,” Callaghan said. “We need to get through this race, and we’ll make a plan. I don’t think he will be getting more than seven furlongs.”

In Thursday’s race, Cherubim is part of a field of five that includes two Callaghan-trained runners, two colts trained by Bob Baffert in Beach Hut and Pimpernel, and Rum Point, unraced since finishing last of 10 in the Delta Downs Jackpot in Louisiana in November.

Callaghan also starts the maiden Footstepsinbronze, who has started twice.

Baffert’s runners are formidable. Beach Hut, who won a maiden race here in November, was third in the four-runner San Pedro Stakes over six furlongs Jan. 20. Pimpernel beat maidens in his fourth start in a six-furlong maiden race Feb. 8. Beach Hut and Pimpernel are owned by Juddmonte Farms. Pimpernel is by Elusive Quality out of Xtra Heat, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2001.

“They’ve come back to work well,” Baffert said of his runners. “I expect big races with them.”

Rum Point, trained by Doug O’Neill, beat maidens in his second start at Del Mar last August but was overmatched in four stakes through the fall. He was ninth in the Del Mar Futurity, fourth in the FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita in September, and 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 2 before the trip to Louisiana.