Santa Anita: Texas Ryano a pleasant surprise

ARCADIA, Calif. – There were low expectations for Texas Ryano when he made his debut in a one-mile turf race Jan. 20 at Santa Anita.
“He’s a big, backward horse,” trainer Carla Gaines said. “He wasn’t working well on dirt. I was hoping he’d sit and pass some horses.”

Texas Ryano did more than that. He closed from last of nine to score a half-length win at 24-1.

“I’m happy he did,” Gaines said.

Friday, Texas Ryano makes his second start, and he is staying on turf. He is a part of a field of five in an allowance race over a mile. Texas Ryano, by Curlin, is nominated for the Triple Crown, but Gaines said Wednesday that the short-term focus is on turf races.

“He’s been training like he wants the grass,” she said. “Curlin’s horses run well on grass. We might try the dirt later, but I don’t want to do it at this stage.”

Owned by breeder Warren Williamson, Texas Ryano will be ridden by Mike Smith in Friday’s race. Texas Ryano has drawn the outside.
Three runners in Friday’s race were unplaced in the $250,000 California Cup Derby on Jan. 25. Awesome Return finished fourth, while Better Bet was fifth and Lucky Views ran seventh.

Neverwherecauseway also starts Friday, his first race since a 19-1 upset in a maiden race over 1 1/8 miles on turf here last October.

The California Cup Derby was the first start on dirt for Lucky Views, who was beaten 28 1/4 lengths by winner California Chrome. Tamarando, who finished second, returned to win the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 15.

Lucky Views was third in the Eddie Logan Stakes over a mile on turf Dec. 28, leading to the final furlong before losing by a length. Trainer Mike Machowsky said Lucky View will stay on turf this spring.

“I wanted to try the dirt for $250,000,” Machowsky said. “I always thought he was a synthetic or turf horse and I wanted to see how he handed the dirt. He’s come back and trained well. I think he’ll be a useful California-bred.”

Awesome Return made his stakes debut in the Cal Cup Derby. Better Bet, likely to be part of the pace Friday, won the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile over a mile last November. Friday’s race will be his turf debut.