Tamarando returns sprinting on turf in California Flag
ARCADIA, Calif. – Tamarando was a tired horse when he made his turf debut in the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes for 3-year-old California-breds at Santa Anita in April.
Sent off as the 3-2 favorite, he could only finish fourth, beaten two lengths.
“He acted like he needed to be freshened,” said Dan Ward, assistant to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
Tamarando resumed workouts in late August. He was not ready for the Breeders’ Cup preps in late September and early October but runs in Saturday’s $100,000 California Flag Handicap for statebreds over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.
The California Flag will be Tamarando’s first start in a sprint since he won the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity in September 2013.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Tamarando. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is 47-6-6-11 with a $0.77 ROI over the past five years going from route to sprint at Santa Anita on the downhill turf. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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“He’s a Grade 1-winning sprinter,” Ward said. “He breezed better on turf than any other surface.”
The California Flag drew only six runners, including the undefeated 3-year-old stakes winner Red Outlaw and the Hollendorfer-trained stakes winner Ain’t No Other.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Red Outlaw. Trainer Peter Miller is 26-1-4-3 with a $0.10 ROI over the past five years going from route to sprint at Santa Anita on the downhill turf. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
California Flag, race 3
KEY CONTENDERS
Tamarando (Last 3 Beyers: 81-66-91)
◗ Tamarando was on the Triple Crown trail this year, winning the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields in February before finishing eighth as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park in March.
Tamarando is a closer. The Del Mar Futurity is his most prestigious win. He also won the Real Quiet Stakes over 1 1/16 miles at Hollywood Park last November.
In sprints, Tamarando has won 2 of 4 starts.
Red Outlaw (Last 3 Beyers: 94-93-85)
◗ Red Outlaw has won all five of his starts, including the Baffle Stakes for 3-year-olds on the hillside turf course in February. He was turned out following that race to undergo surgery for a bone chip in an ankle, trainer Peter Miller said.
At Del Mar, Red Outlaw won two stakes – the Real Good Deal for California-breds over seven furlongs Aug. 1 and the El Cajon over a mile against open company Aug. 29.
Miller said Thursday that Red Outlaw is only “50-50” to run in the California Flag and could start against 3-year-olds on Sunday in the $75,000 Uniformity Stakes on the hillside turf course.
Red Outlaw’s wins have ranged in distances from a five-furlong maiden race at Hollywood Park in June, 2013, to the El Cajon Stakes.
“His biggest asset is his heart,” Miller said. “He doesn’t want to get passed.”
Ain’t No Other (Last 3 Beyers: 76-91-91)
◗ Ain’t No Other will race near the front. He was second in the Jess Jackson Owners Handicap over five furlongs on turf at Santa Rosa in August but only fourth as the even-money favorite in the Harris Farms Stakes on dirt at Fresno on Oct. 5.
Boozer (Last 3 Beyers: 90-88-93)
◗ Boozer has won twice on the hillside turf course, a maiden race in 2013 and an optional claimer this year. A four-time winner, Boozer will be making his stakes debut.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Boozer. Trainer Mark Glatt is 17-3-3-1 with a $4.24 ROI over the past two years going from route to sprint at Santa Anita on the downhill turf. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Super Ability. Trainer Carla Gaines is 24-8-4-3 with a $2.21 ROI over the past five years going from route to sprint at Santa Anita on the downhill turf. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan