Spirit of Makena, Forbidden Kingdom hope to put best feet forward in Triple Bend

ARCADIA, Calif. – Given the fluidity of the California sprint division, the lasting significance of the Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita is entirely uncertain.

It also is uncertain how long the campaigns of Spirit of Makena and his Triple Bend rival Forbidden Kingdom will last, though it will be at least a minute and 22 seconds. That is enough time to run seven furlongs and provide temporary clarity to the sprint division.

Nagging foot issues prevented Spirit of Makena and Forbidden Kingdom from starting since early March, when they ran one-two in the Grade 3, seven-furlong San Carlos. The feet of both sprinters are good now, and the graded stakes winners enter the Triple Bend as the main contenders.

Seven entered the Triple Bend, race 8 on a card that includes the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes, a turf sprint that is race 7. Spirit of Makena and recently claimed Howbeit give trainer George Papaprodomou a one-two punch in the Triple Bend. Speedster Forbidden Kingdom is likely to set the pace. Midnight Mammoth, Desmond Doss, Positivity, and C Z Rocket also are entered.

The rematch between Spirit of Makena and Forbidden Kingdom is welcome, because Santa Anita’s top sprint winners this season rarely stay in one place. Here today, gone tomorrow.

Taiba and Hopkins won graded sprints, then finished off the board in the Middle East. California-based Straight No Chaser shipped to Pimlico and popped a 107 Beyer winning a Grade 3 last week. Dr. Schivel earned a 105 Beyer winning a Santa Anita allowance two weeks ago and runs next at Belmont Park in the True North. Brickyard Ride won a Grade 3 on April 22, and faces statebred rivals Sunday at Santa Anita. Grade 1 winner American Theorem is nearing his comeback.

Spirit of Makena, Dr. Schivel, Brickyard Ride, and American Theorem all are possible for the circuit’s next major sprint, the Grade 1 Bing Crosby on July 29 at Del Mar. Meantime, the second tier of the sprint division runs Saturday in the Triple Bend. Spirit of Makena gets a chance to validate his convincing San Carlos victory 11 weeks ago. The 5-year-old has won three of four starts for Papaprodomou and owner-breeder Bruce Chandler.

“He’s always dealing with quarter cracks,” Papaprodomou said, explaining Spirit of Makena’s abbreviated campaign. “He’s doing good now. We’re going to find out how good he is in the Triple Bend.”

Joe Bravo rides Spirit of Makena, whose tactical speed suggests he could get the same pace-pressing trip he benefited from in winning the San Carlos.

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Papaprodomou also starts Howbeit, a Grade 2 sprint winner recently claimed for $100,000 by a partnership that includes David Bernsen, Weijland Holdings, Omar Aldabbagh, and Jeff Lambert. The first thing Papaprodomou did after claiming Howbeit was geld him. Early indications are positive.

“He’s lighter on his feet, and he’s tightened up a little bit,” Papaprodomou said. “He looked like he had some potential, so we took a shot [claiming him] and thought maybe gelding him would help.”

Mike Smith rides Howbeit, fourth in both recent starts, including the San Carlos. Howbeit, 7 for 29, will rally from behind in the Triple Bend.

Forbidden Kingdom is the speed of the field, aiming for his first victory since the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds in March 2022. After a tiring fifth in the Santa Anita Derby, trainer Richard Mandella stopped on Forbidden Kingdom and brought him back as a sprinter.

Owned by MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm, Forbidden Kingdom ran well in both starts this winter, finishing second in the Malibu and San Carlos.

“He ran good but not quite good enough,” Mandella said. “We’re hoping to keep turning the notch up.”

Forbidden Kingdom worked five furlongs last weekend under rider Juan Hernandez, and is expected to set the pace. Forbidden Kingdom has won three of 10 starts.

C Z Rocket, a 9-year-old with 12 wins and earnings of more than $2 million, finished second in the 2020 and 2022 Breeders’ Cup Sprints, and will wheel back two weeks after finishing second to Dr. Schivel in an allowance. Peter Miller trains C Z Rocket, whose rider is Ramon Vazquez.

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