Late-bloomers try to keep progressing

American Admiral, Roman Centurian, and Special Ride are supposed to have progressed further in their careers than the first-condition allowance race they find themselves in at Santa Anita on Sunday.

American Admiral and Roman Centurian were expensive purchases at auction, and Special Ride is a homebred with an impeccable pedigree. The three have been highly regarded since the start of their careers, and Sunday’s one-mile race could serve as a prep for stakes later this summer.

American Admiral, owned by Donnie Crevier and trained by Tim Yakteen, was purchased for $1.3 million as a yearling in 2019 and had his first two starts for trainer Bob Baffert while owned by a partnership that included the Coolmore syndicate. American Admiral has raced for Crevier since last August, a span of seven races, and won a $150,000 claimer for maidens at a mile on March 19 at Santa Anita, his last start. American Admiral closed from fourth in a field of five to win by 2 1/2 lengths as the 1-2 favorite under jockey Tyler Baze, who has the mount Sunday.

“I think what we see is a progressive improvement with the horse,” Yakteen said. “That’s what you’re looking for. He’s a big, beautiful horse. I think he’s gotten into a nice rhythm.”

Roman Centurian, trained by Simon Callaghan for Qatar Racing and Don Alberto Stable, was purchased for $550,000 as a yearling in 2019 and was briefly on the Triple Crown trail in early 2020. Roman Centurian finished second to Medina Spirit in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes and a well-beaten fourth behind Life Is Good in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes in March 2020.

Roman Centurian was turned out later that spring and returned to Callaghan’s stable earlier this year. He has had a steady pattern of workouts since mid-April for his first start in more than a year.

Special Ride will start from the rail in the allowance race, which drew a field of six and is the seventh race on a nine-race program.

A 4-year-old colt by Candy Ride, Special Ride is out of Executiveprivilege, one of the leading 2-year-old fillies of 2012. That year, Executiveprivilege won two Grade 1 races – the Del Mar Debutante and Chandelier Stakes – and was second to soon-to-be Hall of Fame inductee Beholder in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Special Ride races for owners and breeders Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. Special Ride was third by a neck in a $150,000 claimer for maidens at 5 1/2 furlongs in March in his debut when trained by Baffert. The colt was transferred to current trainer Sean McCarthy when Baffert began a 90-day suspension in early April.

For McCarthy, Special Ride won a maiden special weight race at six furlongs by seven lengths on April 16.

McCarthy predicts Special Ride will handle the longer distance.

“It’s always a concern with the speed he has,” McCarthy said. “In the morning he will settle for you. He’s not overly aggressive in his works.

“We’ve been wanting to stretch him out. It’s time to go. The other day was pretty impressive.”