Touching Rainbows seeks first turf win

ARCADIA, Calif. – The chief rivals facing Touching Rainbows in the Grade 3 Eddie D Stakes on Friday at Santa Anita include downhill specialists Stormy Liberal and Conquest Tsunami. However, Touching Rainbows faces a major challenge beyond competition.

In order to win the 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint, trainer Phil D’Amato said, “He’s got to like the hill.”

The Santa Anita hillside is a quintessential horse-forcourse layout, and Touching Rainbows falls short compared to Stormy Liberal, 7 for 13 downhill, and Conquest Tsunami, 2 for 2. Touching Rainbows has not raced on the hill since his eighth-place career debut 2 1/2 years ago.

“He’s a better horse now than when he tried the turf in the past,” D’Amato said.

On Friday at Santa Anita, Touching Rainbows will need to be better than good because his rivals are tough.

Stormy Liberal and Conquest Tsunami are 2-1 and 5-2 on Santa Anita linemaker Jon White’s line. Peter Miller trains both. Touching Rainbows, 6-1, is one of three D’Amato trainees. He also starts Threefiveindia and Kenjisstorm.

Law Abidin Citizen, Caribou Club, He Will, and Cistron also entered the Eddie D, race 6 on the nine-race opening-day card.

Touching Rainbows is winless in four starts on turf, but his most recent race suggests it is only a matter of time. Racing five furlongs on turf at Del Mar, Touching Rainbows raced in midfield, finished well, and galloped out in front of the field.

Gary Stevens told D’Amato afterward that Touching Rainbows needed another halffurlong. He gets more than that Friday.

“With another furlong and a half, we should be sitting pretty,” D’Amato said.

KEY CONTENDERS

Touching Rainbows, by Aragorn Last 3 Beyers: 96-95-76

◗ Prior to his third last out in the Green Flash, Touching Rainbows finished third in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby. Stevens rides.

Stormy Liberal, by Stormy Atlantic Last 3 Beyers: 101-100-97

◗ Rockingham Ranch claimed Stormy Liberal for $40,000 in fall 2016. Since then, he has won seven races and more than $1.1 million from 14 starts. Drayden Van Dyke rides.

Conquest Tsunami, by Stormy Atlantic Last 3 Beyers: 53-100-106

◗ Winner of the Grade 3 Daytona on the downhill course in February, he is racing for the first time since July, when he finished last in a turf mile at Del Mar. Flavien Prat rides. Threefiveindia, by Street Hero Last 3 Beyers: 73-79-94

◗ Previously trained by Chad Brown, owner John Amerman sent him to D’Amato with a plan.

“Mr. Amerman always thought he might like the grass, particularly the hill,” D’Amato said.

◗ The Eddie D is his second start for D’Amato. Threefiveindia takes blinkers off and is likely to rally from behind under Giovanni Franco.

Kenjisstorm, by Stormy Atlantic Last 3 Beyers: 71-98-94

◗ A two-turn specialist, he is “training unbelievable,” according to D’Amato. Rafael Bejarano rides.

Cistron, by The Factor Last 3 Beyers: 91-88-95

◗ He shortens up to his preferred sprint distance and adds blinkers “just to switch it up a little bit,” trainer John Sadler said. Tyler Baze rides.