Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
SANTA ANITA Ransom the Moon out of Triple Bend
ARCADIA, Calif. – Last year’s sprint champion Roy H likely is bound for Dubai, and the Grade 1 winner Ransom the Moon has been sidelined by a foot abscess, developments that will cost Saturday’s Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita two of its leading nominees.
Roy H worked three furlongs in 36.60 seconds at Santa Anita on Wednesday and is scheduled to start in the $2 million Golden Shaheen at Meydan Racecourse on March 31. Roy H will not start in the Triple Bend.
Roy H won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar last November and his first start of 2018, the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes on Feb. 3.
Ransom the Moon, fifth in the BC Sprint, was diagnosed with a foot abscess earlier this week. He was being treated on Wednesday, trainer Phil D’Amato said.
“I was going to breeze him on Monday, but couldn’t,” D’Amato said. “I’ll have to get him right.”
Ransom the Moon won the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar last July.
Without Roy H and Ransom the Moon, the list of probable starters for the $400,000 Triple Bend is led by City of Light and Edwards Going Left, the first two finishers in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds here on Dec. 26.
Giant Expectations has been entered in the seven-furlong Triple Bend and Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles after trainer Peter Eurton was granted permission from track stewards to enter him in both races. Eurton said a final decision on Giant Expectations will depend on post positions and competition.
“I know he can do both,” Eurton said.
World Approval, the champion turf male of 2017, will be favored to win his fifth consecutive stakes in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf on Saturday.
Trained by Mark Casse for Live Oak Plantation, World Approval won the BC Mile at Del Mar last November and his first start of 2018, the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 10.
The expected field for the $400,000 Kilroe Mile also includes the stakes winners Bowies Hero, Channel Maker, Om, and What a View. Next Shares, third to Om in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes on Feb. 10, has yet to win a stakes, but has run well enough for trainer Richard Baltas to expect him to be competitive in the Kilroe Mile.
“He’s doing everything right,” Baltas said. “He’s a closer and I think he has a good chance.”
Baltas is quick to mention World Approval is the runner to beat.
“Other than that, I don’t think it’s that tough,” he said. “I’m optimistic.”
Instilled Regard may stay home
Instilled Regard, fourth in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 17, may stay in California for his next start.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Wednesday that Instilled Regard is a candidate for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 7, but the trainer has not ruled out the $1 million Louisiana Derby on March 24 at Fair Grounds.
“We’re not carved in stone yet,” Hollendorfer said.
Instilled Regard worked five furlongs in 59.20 seconds Wednesday at Santa Anita, the fastest time of the morning for the distance.
“I think he’s training as good as he can train,” Hollendorfer said.
Owned by Larry Best’s OXO Equine, Instilled Regard won the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes at a mile and 70 yards on Jan. 13 at Fair Grounds. In the Risen Star Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, Instilled Regard was beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Bravazo after racing wide on both turns.
“He wasn’t beaten that far,” Hollendorfer said. “It’s not a race you have to throw out.”
◗ Wednesday, Dream Tree, the undefeated 3-year-old filly, worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds for an expected start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles on April 7. Trained by Bob Baffert, Dream Tree won the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 4 for her fourth win and first start this year.
Baffert scratched Dream Tree from the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes last Saturday because of a wet-fast track.