Synthesis back with Papaprodromou as one to beat
The veteran gelding Synthesis, who starts in an allowance race/optional claimer on Sunday at Los Alamitos, keeps finding his way back to trainer George Papaprodromou.
Synthesis was part of Papaprodromou’s barn for 16 starts from April 2019 to early 2021 before being claimed for $32,000. A 6-year-old, Synthesis rejoined Papaprodromou’s stable after an owner transfer earlier this year and had one start before being claimed away for $25,000 in February.
Two races later, Papaprodromou claimed Synthesis for $32,000 on May 13 at Santa Anita at the urging of a client.
“Since I knew the horse, we went for it,” Papaprodromou said Friday.
Synthesis has won 7 of 36 starts, and 2 of 4 races this year. On Sunday, Synthesis is part of a field of six in a one-mile race, the seventh on a nine-race program. Synthesis is one of four runners entered to be claimed for $40,000.
Synthesis was unbeaten in two starts at seven furlongs for trainer Tim Yakteen in the spring at Santa Anita, winning a starter allowance for former $25,000 claimers on March 26 and a $32,000 claimer on May 13, the day he was claimed by current owners Biggleague Racing and Papaprodromou.
In both wins, Synthesis closed from midpack to reach the front in the final furlong. Synthesis was beaten a nose in a $25,000 claimer at a mile in February, the day he was claimed by Yakteen from Papaprodromou. Last September at Los Alamitos, Synthesis was beaten a nose in a starter allowance at a mile.
“He’s a good seven-eighths to a miler,” Papaprodromou said. “He’s doing great since we claimed him.
“I think he should win the race. It doesn’t look that tough, but you never know. Things have to go his way, too.”
Synthesis will be ridden by Tyler Baze, who has ridden the gelding in 13 races, winning five times.
Secret Touch, unraced since he led throughout a $25,000 claimer in February and beat Synthesis by a nose, and the former turf runner Echosmith are likely to contribute to the pace.
Echosmith, trained by Jonathan Wong, drew the rail and will be ridden for the first time by Jessica Pyfer. A 3-year-old gelding, Echosmith won an allowance race at seven furlongs on the synthetic track at Kempton Park in England last October in his final start in that country.
Echosmith is winless in five starts in California, including a second by a half-length in an allowance race at a mile on turf in April in which he led to the final furlong.
“If he makes a clear lead, he can win,” Wong said. “He has to handle the dirt.”
Echosmith and Luvluv are not entered to be claimed. Luvluv was third in the Bertrando Stakes for statebred milers at Los Alamitos in June 2021 for trainer John Sadler. Winless in his last nine starts, Luvluv had a troubled start in an allowance race on turf May 7 at Santa Anita. He closed from 10th in a field of 12 to finish sixth.