Touching Rainbows fully cranked for San Carlos

ARCADIA, Calif. – A jumbled California sprint division is about to gain clarity, starting Saturday at Santa Anita and continuing next month in the first Grade 1 of the Del Mar summer season.

Touching Rainbows and American Anthem race seven furlongs Saturday in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita, while champion sprinter Roy H is two workouts into preparation for a July 28 comeback in the Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar.

As for the $250,000 San Carlos, all eight entrants are up from allowance races, including favorites Touching Rainbows and American Anthem. Each won a third-level allowance last out – Touching Rainbows at Santa Anita and American Anthem at Churchill Downs.

Other entrants include sharp last-out winner Stone Hands, El Huerfano, Dabster, Top of the Game, and first-off-the-claim stablemates St. Joe Bay and Horse Greedy. The field is mostly undistinguished, but that could change if Touching Rainbows runs as expected.

Though he is racing for the first time in a graded race, Touching Rainbows established his legitimacy last out by defeating multiple graded stakes-placed Moe Candy.

“That was the first time he faced a horse that had some class to him,” trainer Phil D’Amato said.

Touching Rainbows and Moe Candy hooked up at the top of the stretch and raced head-and-head to the finish. Touching Rainbows won by a nose in a race D’Amato said was a means to an end.

“I really just used it as a workout to have him fully cranked for this race,” D’Amato said. “He was 90 percent. After that race, I think he put on a little bit more weight and is just training up a storm. To me, he is getting more confident with each race.”

Touching Rainbows, who won four straight races after joining the D’Amato stable last summer, is the 5-2 second favorite on the morning line of Santa Anita’s Jon White. The program favorite at 9-5 is American Anthem.

Bob Baffert trains American Anthem, whose stablemate Justify will parade Saturday between the fourth and fifth races.

KEY CONTENDERS

Touching Rainbows, by Aragorn
Last 3 Beyers: 95-99-95

◗ He was claimed by trainer Ricky Agarie in fall 2016, later transferred to D’Amato, and ridden to victory in his last four starts by Flavien Prat.

◗ Touching Rainbows benefits from tactical speed, a versatile running style, proven ability at seven furlongs, and an outside post (No. 6 of 8).

American Anthem, by Bodemeister
Last 3 Beyers: 97-99-98

◗ He won two graded stakes for 3-year-olds last year at seven furlongs – the Grade 2 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park and Grade 3 Laz Barrera at Santa Anita.

◗ American Anthem is expected to be forwardly placed under jockey Mike Smith.

St. Joe Bay, by Saint Anddan
Last 3 Beyers: 87-76-85

◗ He was claimed last out for $62,500 from a third-place finish behind winner Stone Hands. St. Joe Bay’s new trainer, John Sadler, said, “I’m taking a bit of a shot.”

◗ St. Joe Bay won the Grade 3 Midnight Lute in 2016 and the Grade 2 Palos Verdes in 2017.

Stone Hands, by Tapizar
Last 3 Beyers: 92-93-91

◗ Trainer Doug O’Neill and jockey Mario Gutierrez team with Stone Hands, whose decisive second-level allowance win last out was his third victory from his last five starts.