Stubbins cruises in off-turf Pasadena Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Tyler Baze studied the brief racing history of the colt Stubbins before Saturday’s $100,000 Pasadena Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.

“I watched his replays,” Baze said. “He seemed like he was push-button.”

Baze put the theory to work in the one-mile race, which was originally carded for turf but run instead on a sealed and sloppy track. Stubbins, making his stakes debut, took the lead a few strides away from the gate and pulled clear in the final half-mile to win by eight lengths against four rivals.

“He’s very fast,” Baze said. “That was the plan – to open up a length at the start. I put them away on the turn.”

Stubbins was timed in 1:36.15 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 83. Neptune’s Storm closed from fourth to finish second and was followed by Mayor Cobb, Big Scott Daddy, and Eagle Song.

Big Scott Daddy, the 4-5 favorite, was third on the backstretch, but dropped back to fourth on the turn. Big Scott Daddy was beaten 12 lengths.

“He didn’t get a hold of it,” jockey Mike Smith said of the surface.

The race drew a field of nine, but lost four runners when the surface switch was announced – Colonial Creed, Much Better, Rijeka, and Shining Through.

Stubbins, who is owned by McShane Racing and trained by Doug O’Neill, has won three consecutive races. A colt by Morning Line, Stubbins won twice on the hillside turf course earlier this year – a maiden special weight race on Jan. 5 and an allowance race with an $80,000 claiming option on Feb. 10.

The Pasadena Stakes was the first start around two turns for Stubbins, who was purchased for $130,000 at a 2-year-olds in-training sale. Stubbins has won 3 of 5 starts and earned $146,400.