Pair of familiar foes prep for stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 4-year-old colts Beach View and Liam the Charmer meet for the second time this year in a second-level optional $62,500 claimer at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Friday. This may not be their last encounter of the spring or summer.

Liam the Charmer and Beach View were first and second in an optional claimer on turf on Feb. 9 in their first start of 2017. Beach View later won an optional claimer on turf before both finished fourth in graded stakes – Liam the Charmer in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes on turf on March 25, and Beach View in the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup on dirt on April 2.

Pending the result of Friday’s race, Beach View and Liam the Charmer could run in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf on May 28.

RACE 1

KEY CONTENDERS

Beach View, by Giant’s Causeway Last 3 Beyers: 97-91-90

◗ Owned by Levy Racing, Beach View won an optional claimer at 1 1/4 miles on turf on March 12 and was beaten 2 1/2 lengths by Hard Aces in the Tokyo City at 1 1/2 miles on dirt after disputing the pace.

“We engaged on the lead and that wasn’t my preference going long for the first time,” trainer Leonard Powell said. “The horse was pressured the whole way. He just got tired at the end. He ran a game race.”

◗ There are five runners in Friday’s race, and Beach View is expected to lead. The outsiders Editore and Vigilante are closers, while the highly capable Newsman, the winner of an optional claimer on turf on April 1, is more of a stalker.

“There is not much speed and there is a chance I could be on the lead or close to it,” Powell said.

◗ Powell said Friday’s race will determine whether Beach View runs in the Whittingham, and he says the Del Mar summer meeting has appeal. Beach View has won 2 of 5 starts.

“My horse is lightly raced,” he said. “I want to take my time to develop him.”

Liam the Charmer, by Smart Strike Last 3 Beyers: 94-90-89

◗ Liam the Charmer has started twice this year. In the San Luis Rey at 1 1/2 miles on March 25, Liam the Charmer was beaten 2 3/4 lengths by Itsinthepost, who returned to win the Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland last weekend.

◗ A slight reduction in distance may help Liam the Charmer, trainer Michael McCarthy said.

“I think he’ll give a good showing on Friday,” he said. “I think from 1 1/8 miles beyond he’s very effective.”