Santa Anita: Mr. Commons will stick to turf for Arcadia

ARCADIA, Calif. – Mr. Commons, the winner of the Grade 2 Sir Beaufort Stakes on Dec. 26, will stay on turf for the $150,000 Arcadia Stakes over a mile on Feb. 4, trainer John Shirreffs said.

The winner of two turf stakes for 3-year-olds in 2011, Mr. Commons has yet to beat older horses on turf, but has raced in top company. Last year, he was second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile and Grade 2 Oak Tree Mile and fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile against older horses.

Friday at Hollywood Park, Mr. Commons worked five furlongs in 59 seconds, the fastest of 34 recorded works on the main track.

Shirreffs said staying on turf with Mr. Commons makes the most sense, considering the colt’s success on the surface in the last year for owner Ian Banwell. He said a surface switch “is something to consider, but he’s done this well,” referring to turf.

The Arcadia Mile may also feature Caracortado, the winner of the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes on the hillside turf course on Jan. 8.