Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Vlahos pointing to Pat Day off his big maiden victory
ARCADIA, Calif. – Vlahos was the subject of a private purchase after his authoritative win in a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs on March 9 at Santa Anita for trainer Luis Mendez.
Now based with Doug O’Neill and owned by Ty Leatherman and Todd Cady, Vlahos may be bound for a nationally prominent race later this spring.
O’Neill said Sunday that the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile, a $600,000 race for 3-year-olds on dirt May 4 at Churchill Downs, is under strong consideration. The Pat Day Mile is part of the undercard of the Kentucky Derby program.
The key is getting a berth in a race with a maximum field of 14, although recent history may be in favor of Vlahos.
Beginning in 2019, the Pat Day Mile has drawn fields of 14, 7, 11, 11, and 13. When Mr Money won in 2019, the race had 14 starters, and two scratches – one on veterinary grounds and another from an also-eligible list.
Vlahos, who is by Kantharos, led throughout his debut to prevail by 4 1/2 lengths, finishing in 1:15.75, earning a sharp Beyer Speed Figure of 98.
O’Neill said Sunday that Vlahos will have a workout in the next week.
Missed the Cut aims for Ascot
Two years ago in Britain, Missed the Cut reeled off three consecutive wins, ending with an easy victory in the Golden Gates Stakes at the worldfamous Royal Ascot meeting.
Missed the Cut is arguably in better form this year, evidenced by his second consecutive Grade 3 win in Saturday’s $100,000 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita.
The win has led to a plan by trainer John Sadler and the partnership that owns Missed the Cut to run the 5-year-old in the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf April 20 at Keeneland in advance of an expected trip to Royal Ascot.
“He’ll probably run in the Elkhorn,” Sadler said Sunday. “We’ll give him a freshening into Royal Ascot.”
Sadler said a race at Royal Ascot has not been chosen, but one option is the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on June 22.
In the San Luis Rey Stakes, Missed the Cut was never far from the front in a field of five and rallied wide to lead in the final furlong under jockey Antonio Fresu.
Missed the Cut will face a decent test in the $350,000 Elkhorn Stakes, which brings together runners from throughout the East Coast and Midwest.
“I think he’ll run well at Keeneland,” Sadler said.
Owned by the partnership of Bee Zee LLC, Lanes End Racing, St. Elias Stables, Edward Babington, and Edward and Lynne Hudson, Missed the Cut has won 7 of 15 starts and earned $445,777, racing in Europe, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.
In 2023, Missed the Cut started four times on dirt in California with mixed results. He won the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at 1 1/2 miles last October, but was last of 12 behind White Abarrio in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita last November in his most recent start on that surface.
Missed the Cut has raced on only turf since Christmas, with no plans for a surface switch, Sadler said.
“They wanted him to make it as a dirt horse,” Sadler said. “This year, it’s been a turf campaign.”