Sharp Samurai will race in City of Hope Mile, trainer says

ARCADIA, Calif. - Sharp Samurai, a five-time stakes winner on turf who was second to Maximum Security in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on the main track at Del Mar on Aug. 22, will start in Saturday’s Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Trainer Mark Glatt said plans were finalized Sunday. Glatt co-owns Sharp Samurai with Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal. The partners were also considering Saturday’s Grade 1 Shadwell Mile on turf at Keeneland.

Sharp Samurai won the City of Hope Mile in 2018.

“It’s a turf course he loves,” Glatt said. “If he has a big performance in the City of Hope, we could look at the Breeders’ Cup Mile. We thought this race was the conservative play and to give him a win would be what is most important.”

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The BC Mile is run at Keeneland on Nov. 7.

Aside from Sharp Samurai, the top contender for the $200,000 City of Hope Mile is Mo Forza, the impressive winner of the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf on Aug. 23 in his first start since January.

“We think the City of Hope Mile looks easier on paper, although Mo Forza is nothing to sneeze at,” Glatt said.

Sharp Samurai, a 6-year-old gelding by First Samurai, has won 8 of 21 starts and $981,270. He won four consecutive stakes for 3-year-olds on turf in 2017.

In the Pacific Classic, Sharp Samurai finished three lengths behind the heavily favored Maximum Security in his first stakes appearance on dirt.