Synthesis using allowance as springboard back to stakes ranks

ARCADIA, Calif. – At this time last year, Synthesis was on the fringe of the 3-year-old stakes division in Southern California. He finished fourth in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes in February 2019, and fifth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby two months later.

To return to the stakes level, Synthesis must run well in his second start of the year in Friday’s eighth race at Santa Anita, an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at 1 1/16 miles. If Synthesis performs to expectation, there will be plenty of stakes to choose from in coming months.

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Synthesis was an encouraging second in an optional claimer at a mile on Feb. 7, leading in the stretch before finishing 1 1/4 lengths behind Royal Insider.

“He ran huge, I thought,” trainer George Papaprodromou said. “The horse that beat us ran a big race.”

Synthesis may have a favorable trip in Friday’s eighth race. Lambeau and perhaps Dreams of Valor should set a strong pace.

“We’ll let him break and get comfortable,” Papaprodromou said.

Synthesis was purchased privately after the 2019 San Vicente Stakes and is winless in six starts for the partnership of Decker Racing, Kretz Racing, and Jay Selby. A 4-year-old gelding by First Samurai, Synthesis was given a 60-day rest after he finished last of seven in a productive optional claimer last August at Del Mar. Midcourt, who won the Aug. 18 race, has since won two stakes and is a leading contender for Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap.

Lambeau is trained by John Shirreffs, who also has Midcourt in his stable. Lambeau led throughout a maiden special weight race at a mile on Nov. 29 at Del Mar in his second career start and was third behind Royal Insider and Synthesis on Feb. 7 after setting the pace.

“He got tired in his last race,” Shirreffs said. “He didn’t transition well to Santa Anita. I hope’s he’s fitter.”

Shirreffs said Lambeau is naturally quick and will set the pace Friday.

“He’ll go, that’s his way,” Shirreffs said. “If anyone wants to get in front of him, they’ll have to be hauling the mail.”

Dreams of Valor may not be as quick as Lambeau, but he did lead throughout a $50,000 claimer at a mile on turf on Jan. 24, ending a 10-race losing streak. Dreams of Valor has raced primarily on turf in the last year.

The race drew a competitive field, with five of the 10 runners having won their last starts.

Trained by Mark Glatt, Sash won a first-condition optional claimer on turf on Jan. 25 in his second start in the United States.

Sash is eligible to this first-condition optional claimer through a new rule implemented by Santa Anita earlier this year that allows horses who won have won first-condition races on turf to remain eligible for a similar race on dirt.