Shift to turf a question mark for Thirsty Rebel

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Doug O’Neill acknowledged the challenge facing Thirsty Rebel when he moves to turf Sunday at Santa Anita: “It might not be his ideal surface, but he’s the best in the field.”

Bettors will agree. Thirsty Rebel is expected to be favored in the first of two California-bred allowance sprints on a quiet Sunday card that does not include a stakes race. Thirsty Rebel races six furlongs on turf in race 3 for 3-year-olds, while Thirsty Trickster and Miss Practical race six furlongs on dirt in race 8 for fillies and mares.

O’Neill will be busy Sunday. He has entered runners in five races, including starter-allowance standout Proudly Hailed in race 5 and maiden contender Angelica Bay in race 7. Both are running over the same surface they ran well on last out. It’s a different story with Thirsty Rebel.

Thirsty Rebel is a dirt horse whose five dirt sprints include a runner-up finish last summer in a California-bred stakes, a romp in a California-bred allowance two back, and a creditable fourth last out in the Grade 2 San Vicente. The dilemma Sunday is turf. Progeny of Stay Thirsty typically prefer dirt.

“You’d like to think the best horse, no matter what surface, has a big chance to win,” O’Neill said.

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Thirsty Rebel’s workouts give O’Neill confidence he will handle turf.

“I have breezed him on synthetic, and he gets over just about everything well,” O’Neill said.

Thirsty Rebel finished ninth in his only previous turf start, an unrestricted 2-year-old stakes last fall. O’Neill gives him a pass.

“I think you can excuse that because it was just a bunch of real nice young prospects,” he said. “It was a tough race.”

The statebred company is easier.

Mark Green owns Thirsty Rebel, who adds Lasix on Sunday. If he reproduces his dirt form with jockey Abel Lezcano, his five rivals will be running for second money. Last-out maiden winner Romantic Ride and potential pacesetter Arkadelphia are the main challengers.

O’Neill’s best chance Sunday is Proudly Hailed in race 5, a nonwinners-of-two starter turf sprint. Last time out, racing over his eligibility in a nonwinners-of-three contest, Proudly Hailed had trouble and missed by a neck. With a slight drop Sunday, Proudly Hailed stands out. O’Neil and jockey Emisael Jaramillo have teamed this winter with eight favorites, earning six wins, one second, and one third.

The co-feature Sunday is race 8 for California-bred fillies and mares on dirt. The top three contenders are last-out winner Thirsty Trickster, late-runner Miss Practical, and comeback speedster Gold Currency.

Thirsty Trickster moves up in class after a starter-allowance romp. Jeff Mullins trains the filly, who breaks from the advantageous outside post. This winter at Santa Anita, the outside post has been dynamite at six furlongs, winning 10 of 42 irrespective of field size.

Thirsty Trickster figures to be positioned second behind comebacker Gold Currency. If and when that speedster tires, Thirsty Trickster would get first run. To win the race, she must hold off the rally of Miss Practical, runner-up in both starts this winter.

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