Undefeated Encoder seeks third win in Zuma Beach

ARCADIA, Calif. – Encoder is an undefeated stakes winner after two races, fine credentials for the start of his career. On Sunday at Santa Anita – and perhaps on Nov. 1 – Encoder must continue to prove his relevance in the 2-year-old turf division.

Encoder will be favored to win Sunday’s $100,000 Zuma Beach Stakes at a mile on turf, the leading prep in Southern California for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at a mile here on Nov. 1. For now, Encoder is the local division leader, a status trainer John Sadler does not expect will change this weekend.

“He’s a really nice horse,” Sadler said on Friday. “We hope we can win again and go for the big race. We’ll see where he takes us on Sunday.”

There are two $100,000 races for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf on Sunday. The eight-race program ends with the Surfer Girl Stakes for fillies.

The Zuma Beach Stakes, the fourth race on the program, drew seven, including five winners on turf. Encoder is the lone stakes winner in the field, having won the Del Mar Juvenile Turf at a mile on Sept. 1 over Billy Batts, another runner in the Zuma Beach.

Encoder closed from fourth in a field of five in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf to take the lead in the final strides.

“They went a good last quarter,” Sadler said. “Billy Batts had a good easy lead.”

Billy Batts, who won a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 10, is not committed to setting the pace, trainer Peter Miller said. Billy Batts closed from third in his maiden win, and could race behind runners such as Club Aspen or War Beast on Sunday.

“We’d like to see him off the pace,” Miller said. “I think he’s better with a target. One or two have some speed in there.”

War Beast and Hit the Road will make their first start in a stakes in the Zuma Beach, each having won a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf at Del Mar.

Billy Batts could be in a tracking position along with the English import Hariboux, who arrived at trainer Jeff Mullins’s stable on Thursday at lunchtime. Hariboux has won 3 of 5 starts, including a four-length win in a minor handicap at seven furlongs on turf at Newmarket on Aug. 24. Hariboux was second in a minor handicap at seven furlongs at Doncaster’s St. Leger meeting on Sept. 11.

“He was pretty highly regarded over there,” Mullins said.

Mullins has an attractive prospect in the Surfer Girl Stakes with Croughavouke, second by a length to Yesterdayoncemore in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf at a mile on Sept. 2 in her American debut.

“She ran off the plane, too,” Mullins said. “She’s had time to settle in and she’s training well. We think she’ll run a little bit better this time.”

Croughavouke, a maiden race winner in Ireland in July, closed from eighth of 11 in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Yesterdayoncemore, another Irish import, won for the first time in her sixth start in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, overcoming trouble on the backstretch to take the lead in early stretch under jockey Victor Espinoza.

“She has a lot of talent for a young filly,” Espinoza said. “I was impressed with the way she ran. She ran a huge race. After that race, I was like, Wow.”

European imports swept the top three spots in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf, with the former English runner Applecross finishing third in her first start for trainer Richard Baltas. Applecross closed from off the pace to finish 4 1/4 lengths behind Yesterdayoncemore.

“I think she can improve a little bit,” Baltas said. “It’s a tougher race than the last one.”

Baltas also starts Savvy Gal, who won a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf in her debut on Aug. 11, racing near the front throughout.

The Surfer Girl Stakes will be the stakes debut for Mind Out, the winner of a five-furlong maiden race on turf on Aug. 21 at Del Mar. Also in the field are Cholula Lips and Smiling Shirlee, who were second and third in the Generous Portion Stakes for California-bred fillies at six furlongs on Aug. 28.