Run Away stays home after all for Juvenile

ARCADIA, Calif. – In the last month, the 2-year-old debut winner Run Away had been considered for the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Grade 3 Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs, run on Friday. But owner Kaleem Shah and trainer Simon Callaghan have decided that Run Away will have his stakes debut in Monday’s $100,000 Santa Anita Juvenile at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Run Away will have plenty to do to beat the speedy Sir Valentine, unraced since an impressive maiden win May 6.

In early June, Run Away was sent to Kentucky, where he had a turf workout at Keeneland for the stakes at Royal Ascot.

“It didn’t go as well as we hoped,” Callaghan said. “If you’re going there, you’ve got to believe you can win.”

Back in California, Run Away is part of a field of six in a race that was scheduled for Sunday but postponed to Monday after initially drawing only five entries. Monday’s field includes five maiden winners and the first-time starter Encumbered, trained by Callaghan for Paul and Zillah Reddam. Encumbered was supplemented for $2,000.

Cono won a maiden race for California-breds on June 16 in his second start, having been second to Sir Valentine on May 6. Big Boy Candy won a $50,000 claimer for maidens by 8 1/4 lengths and was claimed that day by owner Robert Cannon and trainer Alfredo Marquez. Argosy Fleet won a maiden race by a head as the favorite at 4 1/2 furlongs on May 12.

The Santa Anita Juvenile is the fifth race on the penultimate program of the spring-summer meeting. Tuesday is closing day. Los Alamitos begins its two-week summer meeting Thursday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Run Away, by Run Away and Hide Beyer: 64

◗ Run Away was sent to Kentucky because turf works are not held at Santa Anita. After working a half-mile on dirt in 48.40 seconds at Keeneland on June 17, Run Away worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Santa Anita on June 25.

“His work back here was really good,” Callaghan said. “I think he’s the horse to beat.”

◗ Purchased for $325,000 at the Barretts select sale of 2-yearolds in training in March, Run Away won by 2 1/4 lengths in a maiden race at 4 1/2 furlongs on May 26.

Sir Valentine, by Heat Shield Beyer: 70

◗ Sir Valentine won a maiden race by 2 1/4 lengths, dueling for the lead throughout the 4 1/2 furlongs after breaking from the rail.

“He’s grown up a lot and filled out,” owner and trainer Kristin Mulhall said. “When we put him in the gate, he outbreaks everything by two lengths. He’s naturally fast.

“I think he’ll move up after his race. If he breaks fast, they’ll have to catch him.”

Encumbered, by Violence

◗ Encumbered, bought for $225,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. sale of 2-year-olds in training in April, drew the outside post, which could work to his advantage if a speed duel develops between Run Away and Sir Valentine.

“We really like him,” Callaghan said. “There is speed in there.”

Baffert to train Masochistic

Masochistic, a Grade 1-winning sprinter, will have a new trainer when he returns to the racetrack after a summertime rest.

Co-owner Will Shamlian said on Friday that Masochistic will be transferred from Ron Ellis to Bob Baffert. Masochistic is at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky and is expected to return to training at Santa Anita after the Del Mar summer meeting.

Shamlian said he had a difference of opinion with Ellis on the direction of Masochistic’s career.

“We weren’t seeing eye to eye,” Shamlian said.

Masochistic is co-owned by Samantha Siegel, a longtime client of Ellis’s who continues to have horses in his stable.

Masochistic is winless in two starts this year, including a 13th in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby card on May 6.

“He needed some time off after his last race,” Shamlian said.

Last fall, Masochistic finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint but was later disqualified from the purse because of the presence of a banned steroid. Ellis faces a possible suspension or fine for the positive. The case has been heard by Santa Anita stewards several times and is scheduled to be continued this month.

Shamlian said the positive test did not influence his decision to switch stables.

“That was an unfortunate situation,” Shamlian said.

Masochistic, 7, has won 8 of 16 starts and earned $857,550. A gelding, Masochistic began his career with A.C. Avila and was transferred to Ellis in early 2015. With Ellis, Masochistic won 4 of 10 starts, including the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita in June 2015.

Gormley nearing workout

Gormley is nearing a return to full training after being given three weeks of light exercise following a fourth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes June 10.

Trainer John Shirreffs said on Friday that Gormley could have a workout in early July.

Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, Gormley has won 4 of 8 starts and $1.02 million. Gormley won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 8 and was ninth in the Kentucky Derby.

Shirreffs said he has not planned a comeback race for Gormley, a colt by Malibu Moon.