Smokey Image could run next in San Felipe
ARCADIA, Calif. - Four of the five winners of California Cup stakes for statebreds at Santa Anita on Saturday are likely to run in graded stakes in their next start, with some under consideration for seven-figure and Breeders’ Cup races later this year.
Smokey Image, who extended his unbeaten record to six races with an easy win in the $245,000 California Cup Derby at 1 1/16 miles, is a candidate for the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on March 12. The Grade 2 San Felipe is a key prep for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 9.
Owned by Irvin Racing, Smokey Image, a colt by Southern Image, led throughout the Cal Cup Derby to win by 8 1/2 lengths.
Sunday, trainer Carla Gaines was still amazed at the way Smokey Image won.
“Look at the way he did it,” she said, reflecting on the race.
California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year, won the California Cup Derby in 2014, the first of his five consecutive stakes wins in the first five months of that year. The span of wins included the San Felipe, Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby, and Preakness Stakes.
What a View won his first stakes in the $251,000 California Cup Turf Classic for older horses at 1 1/8 miles. Trained by Kenny Black for a partnership, What a View was always near the front and pulled clear through the stretch to win by 3 1/4 lengths.
What a View, a 5-year-old gelding by Vronsky, did not show sign of fatigue on Sunday, Black said.
“He looked like he never ran,” Black said. “It was something pretty cool.”
Black said the $400,000 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf on March 12 is a goal. The Kilroe Mile is a Grade 1 and would be What a View’s first start in a graded stakes.
Pacific Heat, who won her turf debut in the $200,000 California Cup Oaks at a mile, does not have a defined next start. Trainer Peter Eurton said on Sunday that the $1 million Belmont Oaks at Belmont Park on July 9 is a long-range goal.
“I’m going to recommend we stay on the grass,” Eurton said. “The plan is the Belmont Oaks and we can work back from that.”
Pacific Heat, a 3-year-old filly by Unusual Heat, has won 3 of 4 starts for a partnership.
Sunday Rules won her debut against males in the $150,500 California Cup Sprint at six furlongs, a win that has given trainer Phil D’Amato plans to move toward graded stakes with the 5-year-old mare. The $100,000 Las Flores Stakes, a Grade 3 for fillies and mares on March 20, is likely.
“We’d like to get a graded stakes win,” D’Amato said.
Sunday Rules, by Tribal Rule, is owned by breeder Nick Alexander and has won 8 of 9 starts. D’Amato said he is hopeful Sunday Rules can progress enough for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint here in November to be part of her schedule.
Velvet Mesquite ended a nine-race losing streak with her second stakes win in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint on the hillside turf course. Owned by Harris Farms, Velvet Mesquite, a 6-year-old mare by In Excess, has finished in the first three in eight of her 11 career starts on the hillside and could have her 12th start on the course in the $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares on March 19.
“I was glad to see her back,” trainer Blake Heap said.