Space Traveller looks for elusive win in Frank Kilroe Mile
The losses have mounted for Space Traveller since the English-bred horse arrived in the United States last summer. He has yet to win in five starts since then, all Grade 1 or Grade 2 stakes at four venues, despite some good performances.
On Saturday, Space Traveller tries to end the losing streak in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf at Santa Anita as one of several contenders in a field of 12.
Space Traveller was second in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile last September and a troubled third in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf on Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park.
“I think he’s had his excuses,” trainer Brendan Walsh reflected Thursday. “He’s been running in the very top rank. The fact that he hasn’t won is not a concern. We’re starting to get to know the horse.”
Other runners with strong credentials in the Kilroe Mile include Count Again and Subconscious, first and second in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf Feb. 5; Law Professor and Beyond Brilliant, the first two finishers of the Grade 2 Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on dirt on Dec. 26; and Tell Your Daddy, who won the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga last September.
Space Traveller is winless in seven starts since winning the Ganton Stakes at York Racecourse in England last June. In the Pegasus World Cup Turf at about 1 1/8 miles, Walsh watched Space Traveller close from last of 12 to finish 1 1/2 lengths behind the 8-5 winning favorite Colonel Liam after racing in traffic around the turn and into the stretch.
“The straight is so short at Gulfstream,” Walsh said. “It’s unforgiving. If we had a longer straight, who’s to say we wouldn’t have won.
“He’s got to improve a little bit to be right there.”
British rider Jamie Spencer rode Space Traveller at Gulfstream Park and has the mount Saturday.
“The whole key is we get a decent pace,” Walsh said. “He’s been doing well and working well. We just want a nice, honest gallop.”
Owned by Clipper Logistics, Space Traveller was eighth at 33-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita in 2019 when trained by Richard Fahey.
Richard Baltas will saddle four runners in the Kilroe – Whisper Not, who drew post 5, and Flavius, Bob and Jackie, and Vanzzy, who have the three outside post positions.
“I wish those horses had not drawn outside,” Baltas said.
Flavius makes his first start for Baltas. He was 12th in the Pegasus World Cup Turf when trained by Mike Maker, and made his previous 11 U.S. starts for Chad Brown.
This is the third start of the winter-spring meeting for Bob and Jackie, who won the Grade 3 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on dirt on Dec. 26 and was a well-beaten second to Friar’s Road in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf on Jan. 30.
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Count Again, trained by Phil D’Amato, rates as the leading locally based runner on the strength of his win in the Thunder Road, when he closed from fifth in a field of six to win by a half-length over Subconscious, the 3-5 favorite. Count Again was third in the 2021 Kilroe Mile, the gelding’s best result in a winless five-race campaign last year.
Flavien Prat, the leading rider at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, rode Count Again for the first time in the Thunder Road and is aboard on Saturday. He expects the 7-year-old to be a factor from off the pace.
“I thought he ran a good race that day,” Prat said of the Thunder Road. “I think he has a great turn of foot.”
The Kilroe could have a fast pace if Beyond Brilliant and Subconscious take their customary positions near the front.
Trained by John Shirreffs, Beyond Brilliant led throughout the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar in November and has not raced since running second to Law Professor in the Mathis Mile, which was transferred from turf to dirt because of rain.
“He likes to be on the lead,” Shirreffs said. “He relaxes best when he’s on the lead. Depending on how much speed there is, he’ll be on or near the lead.”
The concern is that a fast pace could take a toll on Beyond Brilliant.
“When you go a mile on the turf, it’s almost like sprinting,” Shirreffs said.
Subconscious stumbled at the start of the Thunder Road. He raced in second to the stretch, took the lead, and finished second in his first start since a fifth in the Hollywood Derby.
“He didn’t run badly last time,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “He stumbled at the start and it rattled his mind a little bit. It didn’t go his way.”