Sea Dub returns to his best distance

Sea Dub will cut back to the distance of his last two wins Saturday night in the $40,000 Buffalo Bayou Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park.

The 1 1/16-mile turf race drew a field of nine, including multiple stakes winner Crowned King and Late Expectations, who won the $50,000 Richard King Handicap last weekend at Sam Houston.

was set to run in the $50,000 Remington Green at Remington Park last Sunday, but rains forced the race to the main track and he was scratched. He turns up in the Buffalo Bayou, and will be shortening up a little in distance from the 1 1/8 miles he traveled last out in the $100,000 Texas Turf Stakes at Lone Star Park on Oct. 30.

Sea Dub finished 10th in the race, beaten 4 3/4 lengths by Royal Regalia, after being forced to steady at the quarter pole. Sea Dub has since worked a bullet five furlongs in 58.80 seconds, and gets back to the distance of his win in both an optional claimer in May and the $75,000 Independence Handicap in July.

Joe Petalino trains Sea Dub and has given the mount to Luis Quinonez.

Crowned King also exits the Texas Turf, where he finished ninth. Before that race he finished a good second to Mr. Jester in an optional claiming race on dirt at Louisiana Downs on Oct. 8. Crowned King has won more races on dirt than turf, but one of his richest wins came on the grass in the $200,000 USA Stakes last year at Lone Star. Chandra Rennie has the mount for trainer Billy McKeever.