Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Faypien tops Beverly Lewis
Faypien, second in the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 5, will be a heavy favorite to win her third stakes in Saturday’s $75,000 Beverly Lewis Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos.
As of Wednesday morning, Faypien was the most accomplished filly among the probable starters for the Lewis, which is run at 6 1/2 furlongs. Trained by Bob Baffert, Faypien won the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on June 17 in her graded stakes debut. Faypien has been in training with Baffert’s stable at Los Alamitos.
The Lewis is expected to be the first start in more than three months for Queen Laila, who was fourth behind Faypien in the Angels Flight Stakes at Santa Anita in May. Queen Laila won an optional claimer for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita on June 4 in her most recent race.
Saturday’s program at Los Alamitos includes the $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for statebred milers. Gold Rush Dancer, the winner of the Grade 3 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs on Aug. 13, is the most prominent runner in what racing officials projected will be a field of five.
Irap considered for Pa. Derby
Irap and Pavel may give owners Paul and Zillah Reddam and trainer Doug O’Neill a formidable duo in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing on Sept. 23.
O’Neill said on Wednesday that Pavel is being pointed for the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at 1 1/8 miles, and that Irap’s participation depends on the outcome of a workout on Saturday. Both colts are currently stabled at Parx.
“Irap is due to work on Saturday,” O’Neill said. “If he works as well as we hope, then it’s possible Irap would start next in the Penn Derby.
“Ideally, we’d keep them separated, but if we see a dynamite work, it’s an option for Irap. It’s $1 million and they’re back there.”
Irap has won three graded stakes for 3-year-olds this year – the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in April, the Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown in June, and the Grade 3 Indiana Derby at Indiana Grand in July.
Irap was 18th in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 26 in his latest start. O’Neill said an alternative race for Irap is the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes against older horses at Santa Anita on Sept. 30.
Pavel won the Grade 3 Smarty Jones Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Parx on Monday in his third start to join the list of contenders for the Pennsylvania Derby. Pavel earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 103 for a six-length win in the Smarty Jones.
O’Neill has travel plans for Munny Spunt, the promoted winner of the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar on Aug. 27. Munny Spunt is scheduled to run in the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks in West Virginia on Sept. 23. The $300,000 Charles Town Oaks is run at seven furlongs.
Owned by a partnership that includes O’Neill, Munny Spunt finished second in the Torrey Pines Stakes at a mile, but was promoted to first after Zapperkat was disqualified for causing interference in the stretch.
Blackjackcat may ship to prep
Blackjackcat, the winner of the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf on Aug. 20, may be sent to Keeneland for the Grade 1 Shadwell Mile on Oct. 8 to solidify his chances of a start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 4.
The Del Mar Mile was Blackjackcat’s first graded stakes win, and trainer Mark Glatt thinks the 4-year-old gelding will need to accomplish more to secure a berth in the BC Mile.
Santa Anita does not have a graded stakes for turf milers at its upcoming autumn meeting, which runs from Sept. 29 to Oct. 29. The Grade 2, $200,000 City of Hope Mile has been replaced this year by the $75,000 Obviously Mile on Oct. 7 because of purse constraints.
“If he stays home and wins the Obviously, it’s a little iffy whether we’d get in the Breeders’ Cup,” Glatt said last weekend. “Has he done enough?”
The $1 million Shadwell Mile has its pros and cons, Glatt said. He described the prize money as “intriguing,” but expressed concern about travel.
“I’ve never shipped and run the horse,” he said. “It would be an easy decision if he runs a good 1, 2, or 3. It gives us a chance to get in the Breeders’ Cup.”
Owned by Al and Sandee Kirkwood, Blackjackcat has won 5 of 13 starts and earned $353,270. Blackjackcat has won three consecutive starts, all in turf miles, a streak that began with an optional claimer at Santa Anita on July 2. Blackjackcat won the restricted Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar on July 23.
In the Del Mar Mile, Blackjackcat was always near the front and won by a head over Vyjack.
“It was a quality race he won the other day,” Glatt said.