Starspangled Heat may run in BC Turf on short rest

ARCADIA, Calif. – Starspangled Heat may not lack for recent racing experience when he starts as an outsider in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

Trainer Barry Abrams said last weekend that Starspangled Heat is a candidate for the BC Turf and might run in the $75,000 Lure Stakes over a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 26 as a prep race. The Lure Stakes is restricted to horses who have not won a stakes worth $55,000 or more to the winner in races at a mile or longer this year, other than statebred races.

Unfortunately for Abrams and the partnership that owns Starspangled Heat, the 6-year-old gelding is eligible for the Lure Stakes. Starspangled Heat is winless in six starts this year, with his best finish a second in the California Dreamin’ Handicap for statebreds at Del Mar in August.

Earlier this year, Starspangled Heat was third in the Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano Handicap over about 1 3/4 miles on turf here in June, a wide fourth in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap over 1 3/8 miles on turf Aug. 23, and fourth, beaten 3 3/4 lengths, in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship here Sept. 28.

The losses have not discouraged Abrams. He notes that three of Starspangled Heat’s five career wins have occurred after a layoff of a week or less. Starspangled Heat won an optional claimer last October, seven days after finishing sixth in the California Flag Handicap. At Del Mar in 2013, Starspangled Heat was fifth in an optional claimer Aug. 17 and won an optional claimer over 1 3/8 miles on turf Aug. 22.

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“This is as perfect as it gets,” he said of the proximity of the Lure and BC Turf.

Abrams said there is a chance that Starspangled Heat could skip the Lure Stakes and go straight for the BC Turf. He thought Starspangled Heat could have finished closer in the John Henry Turf Championship with a better trip.

“I think he’s at the top of his game,” he said.

The BC Turf will be Starspangled Heat’s first start in a Grade 1 race and will be a stern test. The field is expected to be led by European imports Flintshire and Telescope and the Maryland-based Main Sequence.

Flintshire was second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Oct. 5. Main Sequence, who was second in the 2012 English Derby, is unbeaten in three starts in this country, including the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park on Sept. 27.