Twentytwentyvision finds softer spot in Lure Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Twentytwentyvision has sights set on the Breeders’ Cup Turf, which might come as a surprise considering he was not pre-entered.

“I’m calling it next year,” trainer Richard Mandella said.

As for this year, the trainer said Twentytwentyvision is “not quite that established.”

“I’ve always thought he will be,” Mandella said. “I thought he would be this year.”

Twentytwentyvision came close. He missed by only a half-length while finishing third in the Grade 2 John Henry, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race that would have earned him an all-fees-paid berth to the $2 million BC Turf. Absent victory in a Win You’re In, entry fees to the Turf are steep.

“It’s a big bet, $100,000 to enter there,” Mandella said. “So I’ll run in the Lure and hope to get that.”

He was referring to the $70,000 Lure Stakes, a mile turf stakes Sunday at Santa Anita in which Twentytwentyvision is the class of the field. Nine were entered and eight can run with the turf rails at 30 feet. The field includes A Red Tie Day, Perfectly Majestic, Patriots Rule, Clever Royal, and Express Himself.

Twentytwentyvision, a gelding owned by breeders Ellen and Peter Johnson, has won five races and $391,830 from 13 starts. His third-place finish in the John Henry was not the first time he almost made it to the Breeders’ Cup.

One year ago in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita, a prep race for the 2015 BC Mile, he lunged inside the starting gate, got his lip caught in the gate, ripped it open, and scratched. Twentytwentyvision went to the sidelines, returned in spring, placed in three graded stakes, and won a minor stakes prior to his third in the 1 1/4-mile John Henry.

A class drop Sunday into a non-graded stakes stamps him as the horse to beat, even at the shorter distance.

KEY CONTENDERS

Twentytwentyvision, by Pollard’s Vision
(Last 3 Beyers: 101-93-100)

◗ The new Santa Anita turf course has produced blazingly fast times, yet plays fair. Closers such as Twentytwentyvision have won 13 of the 23 turf races at one mile by rallying from 2 1/2 lengths or more behind the leader at the quarter pole.

◗ Flavien Prat rides Twentytwentyvision, who has finished in the money in all 13 starts.

A Red Tie Day, by Indygo Shiner
(Last 3 Beyers: 98-97-87)

◗ He has improved since being gelded this summer. He won a third-level allowance as a first-time gelding Aug. 26 and finished fifth last out in the John Henry.

◗ Richard Baltas trains A Red Tie Day; Norberto Arroyo is his rider.

Perfectly Majestic, by Majesticperfection
(Last 3 Beyers: 95-95-95)

◗ A deep closer, he finished fourth in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile last time out. The 1-2-3 finishers – Vyjack, Om, and Obviously – are pre-entered in Breeders’ Cup races.

◗ Perfectly Majestic is trained by Bob Hess Jr.; Gary Stevens is his rider.

Clever Royal, by Leading the Parade
(Last 3 Beyers: 87-86-93)

◗ He stretches out from a sprint and is likely to set the pace.