Slider tries turf in Speakeasy Stakes
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Coming into Saturday’s $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes at five furlongs on turf at Santa Anita, the closest Slider has gotten to a start on turf was the also-eligible list of a maiden race on Aug. 24 at Del Mar.
Slider failed to draw into the race, but won a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt by a convincing three lengths on Sept. 9.
The win has led to the Speakeasy Stakes, designed as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at five furlongs on turf Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.
Slider, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Hall Racing, and Pearl Racing and trained by John Sadler, is one of several contenders in the Speakeasy, which drew a field of 10.
“He’s a really good horse,” Sadler said. “It’s a matter of whether he takes to the turf.”
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Slider, who will be ridden by Hector Berrios, drew post 2 and will not be far from the front. Slider stalked a fast pace Sept. 9 before taking the lead in the final furlong. The style of that win told Sadler that Slider does not have to be in front.
“He’s shown versatility,” he said. “He’s got a lot of speed, but I don’t think he is one-dimensional.”
The field includes six winners of maiden races in their last starts; two stakes winners in Lord Prancealot and Tranche; and Bear River, a maiden, and Des Doigts, who were fifth and eighth in the Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 10.
Dark Vintage, a maiden race winner at five furlongs on turf Aug. 3, will start for the first time for trainer Peter Eurton and can be a factor from off the pace from an inside post.
Mysticism and April Vintage, maiden race winners in their last starts, are the two fillies in the field. April Vintage has a tough draw on the outside, but did win a five-furlong maiden race on turf at Del Mar from the outside in a field of eight on Sept. 1.
Mysticism won her debut from an outside post in a field of eight in a five-furlong maiden race Aug. 4 at Del Mar by leading throughout. She could be part of the pace from post 6 in the Speakeasy.
“She’s pretty excitable and quick,” trainer Richard Mandella said.
Mysticism will be joined near the front by Tranche, winner of the Fasig-Tipton Futurity at five furlongs at Santa Anita in June. Tranche was a well-beaten fourth of five in the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes on Aug. 13 at Del Mar with only one published work between those races.
Trained by Luis Mendez, Tranche has had a steady pattern of works in the last six weeks.
Lord Prancealot, by Sir Prancealot, won the Graduation Stakes for statebreds at 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 11 at Del Mar, but faded from the front to finish fifth in the I’m Smokin Stakes for statebreds at six furlongs there Sept. 8.
“He’s been training really sharp,” trainer Jeff Bonde said. “He’s a very basic colt. The Prancealots run well on turf.”
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