Weewinnin 'ready to run' in second start off layoff
ARCADIA, Calif. – Weewinnin seldom strings many races together.
The 5-year-old gelding has made seven starts, won two stakes, and earned $282,130. He was injured after winning the California Cup Turf Classic at Santa Anita in January 2014 and returned this year to finish seventh in the Sensational Star Stakes for California-breds on the hillside turf course Feb. 21.
That comeback race has left trainer Brian Koriner anxious to try Weewinnin in an optional claimer against open company at about 6 1/2 furlongs Friday at Santa Anita.
“He’s ready to run,” Koriner said Wednesday. “We entered hoping to win.”
Weewinnin is part of a field of 10 and will be ridden by Elvis Trujillo. The field includes the stakes winners Forever Juanito and Sofast and the improving Guggenheim, who has won his last two starts.
Earlier on Friday’s eight-race program, there is an optional claimer for fillies and mares at a mile with seven runners. Three of them – My Sweet Addiction, One More, and Taste Like Candy – are stakes-placed in the last year.
Race 5
Key contenders
Taste Like Candy (Last 3 Beyers: 81-84-38)
Taste Like Candy was second to the red-hot Warren’s Veneda in the Paseana Stakes on Jan. 11 and second again as a 9-10 favorite in an optional claimer at a mile Feb. 20. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Taste Like Candy will be fitted with blinkers for the first time Friday.
“We thought we’d try that and see if it works,” Hollendorfer said.
My Sweet Addiction (Last 3 Beyers: 81-4-87)
After being eased in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at seven furlongs Jan. 19, My Sweet Addiction was a decent third behind Taste Like Candy on Feb. 20 in her first start at a mile. Mike Smith was aboard that day and retains the mount Friday.
Race 7
Key contenders
Weewinnin (Last 3 Beyers: 88-93-87)
Weewinnin was beaten four lengths by Bettys Bambino in the Sensational Star after racing in traffic in the stretch.
“He got stopped a little bit,” Koriner said. “It sets him up for this race.”
Guggenheim (Last 3 Beyers: 87-82-70)
Guggenheim lost four starts on dirt and is unbeaten in two races on the hillside turf course – a maiden race Jan. 19 and an optional claimer Feb. 13. In his last start, he overcame trouble in the stretch.
Trainer John Shirreffs said Guggenheim’s progress is “a combination of everything,” notably maturity and a switch in surface.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 10 Guggenheim. Trainer John Shirreffs is 7-3-0-1 with a $7.00 ROI over the past five years in turf sprints at Santa Anita with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Forever Juanito. Reunites with jockey Agapito Delgadillo. He’s 7-2-1-2 with Delgadillo aboard and 5-0-1-0 with other jockeys. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Sofast. Trainer Gary Mandella is 51-0-9-6 over the past five years with all horses going route to sprint. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Oliver’s Tale. Trainer Mark Tsagalakis is 5-2-1-0 with a $3.72 ROI over the past five years on turf following a layoff of 180 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 9 Indexical. Was victorious last May at 15-1 in his only race down the hill; trainer Ben Cecil is 39-1-7-4 with a $0.09 ROI over the past five years with all over horses in turf sprints at Santa Anita. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan