Solid Wager may avoid facing Imperative
ARCADIA, Calif. – The lure of the $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita is having an effect on a third-level optional $80,000 claimer on Friday’s program.
Imperative, second in the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 28, is expected scratch from Friday’s race in favor of a start against California Chrome in the Grade 2 San Pasqual.
Solid Wager, the winner of the Cary Grant Stakes for California-breds at Del Mar on Nov. 22, is nominated for the San Pasqual, but trainer Peter Miller said the optional claimer has greater appeal, especially if Imperative is not in the gate.
“Imperative is the even-money shot on Friday,” Miller said. “If he goes in the San Pasqual, we’ll go in the opposite direction.”
Friday’s third race is run at a mile and drew a field of seven, including two prominent runners trained by Bob Baffert – Midnight Hawk, who won the Grade 3 Sham Stakes in 2014, and Cat Burglar, who was third in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special in Maryland last May.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer runs Cyrus Alexander, the winner of an optional claimer at Los Alamitos on Dec. 20, and Southern Freedom, the only runner in the field eligible to be claimed for $80,000.
Substantial rain fell in Southern California on Tuesday and Wednesday, and more was expected through the week, leading to the possibility of an off track Friday.
Race 3
KEY CONTENDERS
Solid Wager (Last 3 Beyers: 90-85-79)
◗ Solid Wager had a busy 2015 campaign, winning 4 of 12 starts and earning $242,506 for a partnership that includes Gary and Cecil Barber. Solid Wager ended the year with a win in the Cary Grant at seven furlongs Nov. 22, closing from last of seven after a slow start to win by a half-length.
◗ A 5-year-old gelding, Solid Wager won an optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles here Oct. 8.
“He’s a good horse,” Miller said. “He could like the mud.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Solid Wager. Trainer Peter Miller is 13-4-1-2 with a $4.41 ROI over the past two years going sprint to route on dirt with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Midnight Hawk (Last 3 Beyers: 105-86-72)
◗ Midnight Hawk, 5, has been limited to 11 starts in his career, with the Sham his only stakes win. He has been second in four other stakes, including the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park last March in his most recent start.
◗ Midnight Hawk drew the rail and is likely to show speed under jockey Victor Espinoza.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Midnight Hawk. Trainer Bob Baffert is 27-12-2-3 with a $3.94 ROI over the past five years in dirt routes following a layoff of 180 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Cyrus Alexander (Last 3 Beyers: 83-77-90)
◗ A $1.7 million yearling purchase in 2013, he needed the entire quarter-mile stretch at Los Alamitos to win an optional claimer Dec. 20. He closed from last of eight to win by three-quarters of a length, his third win in 10 starts.
◗ Cyrus Alexander won an optional claimer here at a mile last April and can be effective as a stalker.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Southern Freedom. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is 45-8-9-5 with a $3.89 ROI over the past two years going turf to dirt in routes in Southern California. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan