Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Talented juveniles take the next step
Southern California summer racing is relatively quiet during the Los Alamitos daytime meet, which bridges Santa Anita and the July 22 opener at Del Mar. But there is plenty to catch up on, from Kentucky to California. Time to dive in . . .
Gulfport likely to follow trend
Apparently, there is no such thing as vulnerable chalk in the Bashford Manor Stakes for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs – favorites have won 13 of the past 18 editions. The trend may continue Monday, when Gulfport, one of the flashiest juvenile winners this season, runs in the six-furlong Bashford Manor.
Trainer Steve Asmussen said early this week he plans to start the Uncle Mo colt in the stakes. Based on his Churchill debut, Gulfport will be tough to beat – he won by seven lengths with an 83 Beyer, second highest by a 2-year-old this season. Asmussen has won the Bashford Manor a record six times. All six were favored.
Owen’s Leap needs big jump
First-crop stallion Bolt d’Oro is off to a smashing start – seven winners already, including Owen’s Leap, a Bashford Manor upset candidate notwithstanding the race’s historical predictability. Trainer Tom Amoss said Owen’s Leap “was real athletic-looking at the sale when I bought him back in September, and he kept that look through his growing phase as a 2-year-old.”
Owen’s Leap won his debut May 27 at Churchill, and will enter the Bashford Manor pending a midweek breeze. The debut win by Owen’s Leap was partly validated when third-place Summonyourcourage improved 18 points next out. For discussion’s sake, say Owen’s Leap improves likewise off his 57-Beyer debut. It should be enough to complete the Bashford Manor exacta under Gulfport.
Munnys Gold joins 100 club
Speaking of fast juveniles, not many have done what the filly Munnys Gold did June 17 at Monmouth Park. The Todd Pletcher-trained Munnings filly won a five-furlong maiden race by more than 14 lengths in a blazing 56.60. She earned a 101 Beyer, the season’s highest figure by a juvenile.
Only a half-dozen 2-year-olds this century earned a tripledigit Beyer prior to July – In High Gear (104) and Warners (103) in June 2001 at Belmont Park; Diligent Prospect (102) in May 2004 at Hollywood Park; Rated Fiesty (102) in May 2007 at Churchill Downs; Notonthesa-mepage (104) in April 2008 at Churchill; and Hot Dixie Chick (100) in June 2009 at Churchill.
Wonder Wheel looks good
Although speed figures are an effective handicapping tool for the Bashford Manor, figures seem less relevant in the Churchill Downs Debutante for fillies. Since 2010, the median maiden-win Beyer for subsequent Bashford Manor winners is 72. The median maiden-win Beyer for subsequent Debutante
winners is 65.
Perhaps handicapping the Debutante is more of an “eye test” than an exercise in speed figures. If so, Wonder Wheel could be tough in the Debutante. Her June 3 debut victory for trainer Mark Casse earned a mere 60 Beyer, but it was visually impressive. She took back, waited, looped her rivals and was strong through the wire. Wonder Wheel bullet-worked in 46.40 last weekend. Betting value is uncertain, but Wonder Wheel’s first start in a stakes could be special.
Pletcher hopes for ‘Revolution’
Surprised to learn trainer Todd Pletcher is 0 for 14 in the Grade 2 Stephen Foster Stakes. Americanrevolution might produce Pletcher’s first Foster victory Saturday at Churchill Downs following a wide-early fourth-place comeback. Americanrevolution faces streaking Olympiad again in the 1 1/8-mile Foster.
When Americanrevolution won the Grade 1 Cigar Mile last fall at Aqueduct, he defeated Olympiad by nearly seven lengths. Of course, Olympiad had trouble in that race and has stepped it up since. He is the only horse this year to earn four triple-digit Beyers. The Foster is expected to include up-in-class Caddo River, though nine furlongs is a reach for him, and comebacker Mandaloun, the class of the field. Not sure about odds for Americanrevolution, but 4-1 would be fair.
Brickyard Ride has first work
News that Dr. Schivel is out until fall leaves a void in the California sprint division that Brickyard Ride may or may not immediately fill. Brickyard Ride resumed working Monday at Santa Anita, three furlongs in a leisurely 37 seconds in his first work since a quarter crack contributed to his fifthplace finish May 29 in a Grade 2 sprint. Winner of four stakes this year at Santa Anita, Brickyard Ride subsequently spent 10 days at San Luis Rey Downs for hyperbaric treatment, leaving little time to prepare for the sixfurlong Grade 1 Bing Crosby on July 30 at Del Mar.
“His feet are cold, so that’s a good sign,” trainer Craig Lewis said.
Regarding status for the Bing Crosby, Lewis said: “I wish I could say yes, but I can’t say with certainty. We’ll see how he is.”
Decision pending for Bolden
It’s nice to have options, and upstart sprinter Bolden has plenty. After runaway Cal-bred wins on dirt (by six lengths) and turf (7 3/4 lengths, 103 Beyer), Bolden enters summer as an intriguing sprint prospect. Question is, which race at Del Mar is next for Bolden?
“One of three races,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “N1X turf sprint, N1X dirt sprint, or the Bing Crosby if we really want to take a big swing.”
Bolden, a 3-for-3 son of Square Eddie, is scheduled to breeze this weekend. The 4-year-old’s triple-digit Beyer is the secondhighest turf-sprint figure this year. Golden Pal earned 110 in April at Keeneland.
Cathkin Peak older and better
Final three furlongs, 34.45 seconds. That was the kick by D’Amato-trained Cathkin Peak in a nine-furlong turf allowance June 18 at Santa Anita. Stakes winner at 2, graded-placed at 3, Cathkin Peak is positioned for a big summer at 4 following his impressive comeback victory in his first start since November.
“Very excited about him this year,” D’Amato said. “He never had a break as a 2-year-old going into 3, so we gave him a nice proper break for him to mature and grow up. Boy, has he.”
Next stop for Cathkin Peak is the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes on July 31 at Del Mar, a turf route in which D’Amato could also start Hong Kong Harry, Masteroffoxhounds, and possibly Cash Equity.
Flightline better at two turns?
Given that unbeaten Flightline never has raced two turns and that no horse has won the Grade 1 Pacific Classic in his first two-turn attempt, one could argue Flightline is hardly a cinch in the 1 1/4-mile race Sept. 3 at Del Mar. That is, unless Flightline turns out to be better running long, an opinion shared by many, including trainer John Sadler and jockey Flavien Prat.
It makes sense. Flightline, who overcame adversity in the Met Mile, could be more comfortable setting or pressing slower fractions around two turns. Bottom line: Flightline is likely to join Candy Ride (2003) and Shared Belief (2014) on the list of undefeated Pacific Classic winners, and also produce the lowest win mutuel in the 32-year history of the race. Accelerate (2018) and Maximum Security (2020) paid $2.80.
Tripoli looking second best
Flightline’s main Pacific Classic rival, or exacta partner, might be stablemate Tripoli, whose better-than-looked comeback June 19 at Santa Anita received only scant notice. Tripoli won the 2021 Pacific Classic before he tailed off and underwent an arthroscopic procedure for knee spurs. Tripoli’s fourth-place turf comeback sets him up for a return to his preferred surface. That is dirt at Del Mar in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on July 30, followed by the Pacific Classic. After all, someone has to finish second to Flightline. Sort of like odds-on Arrogate and stablemate Collected in the 2017 Pacific Classic. Oh, wait.
Trainers enjoy breakout meet
If there is a Pollyanna upside to the rash of sanctions against California trainers, it is the emergence of new names to the upper echelon Those include Sean McCarthy and George Papaprodromou, who tied for seventh at the Santa Anita meet, which ended June 19. McCarthy went 23 for 83 and produced a flat-bet profit. Thirteen of his winners previously were trained by Bob Baffert. Papaprodomou went 23 for 127, including five winners previously trained by Richard Baltas. McCarthy and Papaprodomou each won more races the first six months of 2022 than they did in any previous 12-month period.