Surface switch shouldn't be hindrance for Master Merion

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Master Merion is set to make his first start on a synthetic surface when he faces nine foes Saturday at Arlington in the Grade 3, $100,000 Hanshin Cup, the first stakes of the 2018 racing season.

But to say Master Merion lacks synthetic surface experience would be incorrect. Trainer Wesley Ward regularly sends Master Merion to the Polytrack training track at Keeneland for daily exercise, and Master Merion breezed seven times earlier this year over the Polytrack surface at Turfway Park. “He loves the Poly,” said Ward, and if that’s correct, there’s plenty to like about Master Merion in the Hanshin, a one-turn mile, especially if his odds wind up close to the generous 5-1 listed on the morning line.

Among the entrants are Crewman, who won this race last year at odds of 25-1, and Ghost Hunter, who finished second by a neck in the 2017 Hanshin but probably was best after having stumbled at the start and running into homestretch traffic.

“We’re back to try and redeem ourselves after a troubled trip in the race last year,” said trainer Jamie Ness.

Wellabled and Goneghost should sail along at a strong pace up front in the Hanshin. Christian C and Harmac are worth a second look at long prices.

KEY CONTENDERS

Master Merion, by Quality Road
Last 3 Beyers: 97-92-91

◗ Model of consistency never has finished worse than third in his 10 starts, has been first or second in nine of them, and has won four of his last five, the lone recent defeat coming last month in a two-turn turf race over yielding ground at Keeneland.

◗ Went to the lead in four of his first five starts but has learned to rate behind other horses and seems ideally suited to a one-turn mile. “He’s a big horse, and I got a good, strong rider in Corey Nakatani,” Ward said. “I think the rider can do anything he wants with him. He’s a really smart horse, a cool guy. There seems to be a lot of speed in the race, and I’m hoping he can sit back and get a good run.”

Ghost Hunter, by Ghostzapper
Last 3 Beyers: 87-81-88

◗ He is based on the East Coast with trainer Jamie Ness but made three trips to Arlington last year, winning the Arlington Handicap on turf after his near miss in the Hanshin, then finishing 11th in the Arlington Million.

“All the traveling kind of got to him at the end of last year,” Ness said. “We gave him the winter off and he seems to be doing great.

◗ A cold, snowy winter and spring limited the work Ness could do with Ghost Hunter going into his 2018 debut, a fifth-place finish in the Henry Clark Stakes on April 21 at Laurel. “I didn’t have as much in him as I wanted, but he ran a creditable race,” Ness said.

Wellabled, by Shackleford
Last 3 Beyers: 85-107-93

◗ He has an excellent record on synthetics and is 2 for 2 at Arlington, including a blowout score in the 2016 Arlington-Washington Futurity.