Small but strong field in Arcadia Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – There is so much depth to Saturday’s Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes on the turf at Santa Anita that a horse could only hit the board and be considered to have run an excellent race.

“You could run fifth and only get beat a half-length,” said Kenny Black, who trains the Grade 1 winner What a View.

There are only five runners. What a View is joined in the lineup for the $200,000 race by the graded stakes winners Bolo, Conquest Enforcer, and Ring Weekend and the graded stakes-placed Ohio.

Conquest Enforcer is likely to be favored, but the other graded stakes winners will have ample support in the one-mile race. Ring Weekend won the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar in his last start on turf. Bolo won the 2016 Arcadia Mile. What a View won the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile last March and was a game second in the California Cup Turf Classic on Jan. 28.

KEY CONTENDERS

Conquest Enforcer, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 99-96-96

◗ Conquest Enforcer joined D’Amato’s stable last November after being purchased for $785,000 by Looch Racing Stable, Imaginary Racing, and Raquel Ritchie from the Conquest Stable dispersal at Keeneland earlier that month.

◗ Conquest Enforcer had a flashy debut in California, winning the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile for 3-year-olds on turf Dec. 26. Conquest Enforcer was in front throughout and won by 1 1/4 lengths as the 9-5 favorite.

“We’ve been on the right kind of pattern for him,” D’Amato said. “His last two breezes were perfect. I couldn’t have asked for more.”

◗ Conquest Enforcer worked six furlongs in 1:13.40 last Sunday. Jockey Flavien Prat was aboard for the Mathis Brothers Mile and rides Conquest Enforcer from the outside post in the Arcadia.

“It’s a small field but an accomplished field,” D’Amato said. “I like where we drew. He’s got tactical speed. I’ll let Flavien figure it out himself.”

What a View, by Vronsky
Last 3 Beyers: 99-98-89

◗ What a View will have his 17th start in the Arcadia Mile. The two-week turnaround from the Cal Cup Turf Classic is the shortest break between races of his career. Black is targeting the $400,000 Kilroe Mile on March 11 and said Saturday’s race serves the purpose of keeping the 6-year-old What a View on course for that race.

“He looks like he runs better with more time between races, but I’ve never wheeled him back in 14 days,” Black said. “We’d have to work him five times [for the Kilroe]. Why not have a workout in a $200,000 race, even though I’m not treating it like a work?”

◗ In the Cal Cup Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles, What a View led into the stretch and was beaten a half-length by the multiple graded stakes winner Ashleyluvssugar.

Ring Weekend, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 82-107-101

◗ Ring Weekend has had an eventful stay in California since early November. He was a troubled seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 5 before winning the Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles by a head.

◗ Ring Weekend was the 8-5 favorite in the Grade 3 San Gabriel Stakes on a sloppy track Jan. 7 but could finish only fifth of eighth. A return to turf could be vital for the gelding, who is trained by Graham Motion.