Feels like home turf for Mr. Commons

A fees-paid automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile will be up for grabs Saturday in the Grade I, $300,000 Shoemaker Mile at Betfair Hollywood Park, and one person feeling confident about the race is trainer John Shirreffs.

The Shirreffs-trained Mr. Commons, a 4-yearold son of Artie Schiller, is known for his consistency on the turf. He covers a mile in 1minute34 seconds or better seemingly every time. “He always runs so well,” Shirreffs said. Even though Mr. Commons has finished second in his last two races, the Grade 2 American Handicap and the Grade I Frank Kilroe Mile, Shirreffs was pleased with the horse’s effort.

The question is, can Mr. Commons get into the winner’s circle Saturday against Little Mike, who has been brought in from Kentucky after winning the Grade I Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby card?

Trained by Dale Romans, Little Mike likes to go to the front and stay there. Mr. Commons has been dropping back and trying to win by unleashing a late charge under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.

The Shoemaker Mile is one of two Grade I races on the 10-race card. The other is the $250,000 Triple Bend Handicap at seven furlongs.

The front-running The Factor should be favored against the West Coast’s top sprinters that include Smiling Tiger, winner of the 2011Triple Bend.