Switch to turf should suit Iconic Sky in Friday allowance
ARCADIA, Calif. – While the drawn-out Santa Anita meet which lasts nearly six months winds toward closing day on Sunday, the 11-race marathon card Friday offers at least a hint of novelty.
The top contenders in both Cal-bred allowance sprints on the card will jump surfaces – first-time turf for Iconic Sky in race 5 and for Bolden in race 9. In race 7, a turf allowance, Brazilian Group 1 winner Macadamia makes her U.S. debut. She is trained by Santa Anita’s leading trainer, Phil D’Amato, who entered runners in six races Friday.
Race 5 is a turf-pedigree test for Iconic Sky. She has won 2 of 4, all on the Tapeta at Golden Gate, including a relatively fast main-track allowance last out. As for the switch from synthetic to turf, even trainer Andy Mathis admits it’s about time.
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“That’s all I’ve been talking about for three or four months – I honestly think she’s going to love the turf,” Mathis said. “I’ve always thought that by the way she moves. And she’s got these huge feet, and I know she’s got a little bit of turf pedigree.”
Sired by Vronsky and produced by an Unusual Heat dam, Iconic Sky should like turf. She enters off a career-best gate-to-wire allowance win that was her first race in blinkers. She produced more speed than in previous races, cleared the field, and was gone. Runner-up Rose Maddox returned with a better-than-looked runner-up finish in the Melair Stakes.
Ricky Gonzalez rides Iconic Sky, whose main rival cuts back to a sprint after a troubled trip last out. Queen of Pompeii reared at start of a Cal-bred turf mile, was away last, and stayed there in a throwout race. Last-out maiden winners Miss O’Brien and She’s a Joker also are entered.
Race 7 is a turf mile allowance in which D’Amato-trained Carpe Vinum would be a proper favorite based on her runner-up finish two starts back in a similar allowance. Last time out, Carpe Vinum finished fourth in a Grade 3.
However, D’Amato starts two, including newcomer Macadamia, an import from Brazil whose two wins from five starts came in Group 1’s. The filly she beat by nearly two lengths last out returned to win Group 1 and Group 2 races. Fine and dandy, but every South American import faces a challenge acclimating from one hemisphere to another.
“She’s done everything right, I’ve gotten her as fit as I could,” D’Amato said. “She’s really a 3-year-old. I wanted to take my time with her so she could kind of catch up and have a chance against older horses.”
Macadamia, foaled August 2018 in Brazil, has kept good company in morning workouts. She worked with graded-placed Gold Phoenix on June 11 and graded winner Gregorian Chant on Jan. 4.
Gonzalez has worked Macadamia, and rides her Friday. Carpe Vinum will be ridden by Ramon Vazquez. Other entrants include Miss Louna, Javanica, and Super Game.
Race 9 includes the most probable winner on the card. D’Amato-trained Bolden scored a runaway comeback victory last month on dirt and has worked super since.
“I thought I had him about 90 percent fit the other day, and he did what he did on class and ability,” D’Amato said. “His last two breezes have been very impressive. This horse acts pretty freaky.”
He ran like it. Making his first start since his winning debut as a 2-year-old in 2020, Bolden pressed the pace, rallied outside and won the dirt race by six lengths. Sired by Square Eddie and a full sibling to a maiden turf winner, Bolden will be ridden by Abel Cedillo.
“He’s bred to love the grass,” D’Amato said. “We’re just going to try to explore our options to see if down the road [turf] is something that we can add to his potential race schedule.”
The main rival for Bolden is Johnny Podres, who shortens to a sprint after setting a slow pace and winning a starter-allowance turf mile. Caerulean has finished in the money all four of his starts this meet in similar Cal-bred allowance turf sprints, and therefore merits a chance.
The field also includes siblings meeting for the first time. Rocky Gibraltar and Brix, both produced by Koukla, are outsiders. First-time gelding Rocky Gibraltar, by Shaman Ghost, won a maiden turf sprint three starts back. Brix, by Twirling Candy, has won 2 of 21 and will make his first start since transferring from Richard Baltas to Librado Barocio.
Race 8 is an entry-level allowance/optional $50,000 claiming sprint in which Law Abidin Citizen seeks his second straight. A 10-time winner including two Grade 3 races, Law Abidin Citizen runs for the optional claim tag in his first start since being claimed by Eddie Truman. The 8-year-old looks like the speed of the field.