Skeleton crew assembled for Siren Lure Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – The $75,000 Siren Lure Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita is down to four starters, but it’s always a good show when the veteran Ambitious Brew is in the field.

The 7-year-old gelding is expected to start favored over Coastline, Stormy Liberal, and Eddie Haskell. A fifth entrant, Richard’s Boy, will scratch and run May 5 at Churchill Downs in the Grade 3 Twin Spires Turf Sprint, according to trainer Peter Miller.

Ambitious Brew has been trained throughout his career by Marty Jones. “He’s been a pretty special horse,” Jones said. “We’ve had him five years. He loves his job; he loves running. He’s just been a fun horse to have around. I wish they were all like him.”

They don’t come around that often. Ambitious Brew, owned by his breeder, Pam Ziebarth, has won eight races and $559,225 from 22 starts. He has seven seconds.

Ambitious Brew won the Sensational Star Stakes on Feb. 25. “We gave him a little extra time after that race. It was kind of a hard race off a little bit of a layoff,” Jones said. “He seems like he runs a little better with a little more time between races.”

From the outside post, Ambitious Brew and jockey Mike Smith should get a comfortable trip pressing the pace. Their main rival could be Coastline, a downhill-stakes winner returning to grass after a fourth-place comeback in a fast-paced dirt allowance.

“We used that race as a prep for this race,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “The screws are tightened, and he’s doing what he really wants to do, which is run down the hill.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Ambitious Brew, by Tizbud
Last 3 Beyers: 98-84-96

He has won six of 11 turf sprints at Santa Anita, including four stakes.

Ambitious Brew finished 13th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last year at Santa Anita but is unlikely to target that race this fall at Del Mar. “He’s not really a five-furlong horse,” Jones said.

Coastline, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 84-87-98

His two starts on the hill resulted in a runner-up finish in a Grade 3 race and a win in a restricted stakes. He has won five races and $413,051 from 23 starts.

Tyler Baze is Coastline’s regular rider. D’Amato said, “Tyler was up for his last breeze, and he really liked it.”

Stormy Liberal, by Stormy Atlantic
Last 3 Beyers: 103-100-97

Claimed last fall for $40,000 by trainer Peter Miller and Rockingham Ranch, Stormy Liberal has earned $126,100 in four starts since then, including back-to-back stakes on the hill.