Timing of Siren Lure is right for Oliver’s Tale
ARCADIA, Calif. – When rested, Oliver’s Tale has thrived on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.
On March 20, in his first start in more than nine months, Oliver’s Tale won an optional claimer at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside course, his third win in eight career starts. The victory has led to Oliver’s Tale’s stakes debut in Sunday’s $75,000 Siren Lure Stakes on the hillside, a race that fits well in the 6-year-old’s schedule, according to owner and trainer Mark Tsagalakis.
“He’s really good,” Tsagalakis said. “He likes spacing between races.”
The recent win has given Tsagalakis confidence that Oliver’s Tale can play a leading role in the Siren Lure, which drew a field of five. The field includes the stakes winners Holy Lute and Pure Tactics, who were second and sixth in the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes on the hillside turf course April 19. Pure Tactics won the 2014 Siren Lure.
Siren Lure, race 3
KEY CONTENDERS
Oliver’s Tale (Last 3 Beyers: 99-72-93)
◗ The Siren Lure Stakes is a far cry from the start of Oliver’s Tale’s career. In May 2012, Oliver’s Tale, by E Dubai, was second in a $62,500 claiming race for maidens at Hollywood Park.
◗ Oliver’s Tale has been lightly raced. He has never had more than three starts in a season. Last year, he was eighth in an allowance on dirt, won on the hillside a month later, and was fifth in an allowance at a mile on turf. After that, Tsagalakis abandoned the 2014 campaign.
“He was quiet, and he wasn’t eating as well,” Tsagalakis said. “We gave him a break and started him back, and he went off his feed again. I turned him out for three months in the sun, and he came back super.”
◗ In his comeback March 20, Oliver’s Tale led throughout and pulled away to win by 3 1/2 lengths under jockey Tyler Baze, who has the mount Sunday.
◗ Oliver’s Tale has shown speed in several starts and could face early pressure from Pure Tactics, who set the pace in the San Simeon but faded in the final furlong.
Pure Tactics (Last 3 Beyers: 91-95-96)
◗ Pure Tactics won the restricted Clocker’s Corner Stakes on the hillside turf course in January, closing from off the pace. He was third in the Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf April 4 before the disappointing run in the San Simeon Stakes two weeks later.
Holy Lute (Last 3 Beyers: 99-95-98)
◗ Holy Lute was second to Colorado shipper Get Happy Mister in the San Simeon, closing well to miss by a length. In his previous races this year, Holy Lute raced on or near the pace, with mixed results.
◗ Trained by Jim Cassidy, Holy Lute won an optional claimer on the hillside turf course Jan. 17 but was disqualified and placed second for causing interference. Holy Lute won a similar race Feb. 12 and was later seventh in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on March 7 after setting the pace.