Story to Tell a rebound candidate in Speakeasy

ARCADIA, Calif. – It was not long after Story to Tell finished last of six in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 3 that trainer Dan Hendricks regretted the start.

“It seemed like the right thing to do and it didn’t work out,” Hendricks said. “His first three starts were nice. To have him run that race was disappointing.”

After the Best Pal, Hendricks abandoned plans to start Story to Tell in the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 3 and focused on running him in sprints at the Santa Anita fall meeting. Monday, Story to Tell will try to win the second stakes of his career in the $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes for 2-year-olds over six furlongs.

The Speakeasy Stakes drew a solid field of 10, including the Canterbury Park Stakes winner Grand Full Moon; the Santa Rosa stakes winner Truely Quick; the impressive maiden race winners All Indians and Tizcano; and Lord Nelson, who was fourth in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes here on Sept. 27.

Speakeasy Stakes, race 7

KEY CONTENDERS

Story to Tell (Last 3 Beyers: 37-72-74)

◗ Story to Tell has earned $118,850, all for owner Cecil Peacock.

◗ Prior to the loss at Del Mar, Story to Tell beat maidens here in May, was second in the Santa Anita Juvenile in June, and won the Willard Proctor Memorial Stakes at Los Alamitos in July.

◗ Monday, Story to Tell will break from post 5 in a field of 10 and will be ridden by regular rider Joe Talamo.

◗ Talamo worked Story to Tell six furlongs in 1:12.60 on Sept. 27.

“We’ve got three three-quarter mile works in him,” Hendricks said. “Joe has been working him and thought he feels as good as ever. The post is good. We’ve got some speed inside of us to sit behind.”

All Indians (Beyers: 77-49)

◗ After an eighth-place finish against maidens on July 26, All Indians rebounded to win a maiden race over 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Sept. 3.

◗ All Indians is trained by Bob Hess, and is likely to show speed.

Lord Nelson (Beyers: 90-72)

◗ Lord Nelson was held out of the Del Mar Futurity in favor of the FrontRunner Stakes, where he was beaten 6 1/2 lengths by the impressive winner American Pharoah.

“I thought he got a lot out of his last race,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “He came back and worked well the other day.”

◗ Lord Nelson worked a half-mile in 46.60 seconds last Wednesday.

Tizcano (Beyer: N/A)

◗ By Tiznow, Tizcano won his debut at Gulfstream Park over 4 1/2 furlongs on June 22, leading throughout to win by 6 1/2 lengths.

◗ A month later, Tizcano was sold for $710,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July horses of racing age sale.

◗ Owned by Rockingham Ranch, Tizcano was with trainer David Jacobson at Saratoga until early August, when he was sent to current trainer Peter Miller.

◗ Tizcano has shown a series of quick works at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in recent weeks.