Presious Passion brings his speed to Clement Hirsch; Ancient Title attracts 10

Presious Passion brings his speed to Clement Hirsch; Ancient Title
attracts 10

Presious Passion could add a third Grade 1 win to his resume (Jessica Denver/Equi-Photo) Oak Tree will wrap up an excellent weekend of Breeders’ Cup prep races with the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf (G1) and $300,000 Ancient Title S. (G1) on Sunday’s program. In the 1 1/4-mile Clement Hirsch, New Jersey invader PRESIOUS PASSION (Royal Anthem), winner of the last two runnings of the United Nations S. (G1), looms as a serious wire-to-wire threat against eight rivals on Santa Anita’s turf, and the six-furlong Ancient Title features a well-matched field of 10 sprinters on the Pro-Ride. Presious Passion, who is prepping for an expected start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), will be seeking his fourth stakes victory in 2009 and figures to relish the expected firm conditions in Arcadia, California. The Mary Hartman-trained gelding recorded his only unplaced effort this season when eighth in the Arlington Million (G1) last time out, but the “off” turf course likely compromised his chances that afternoon. He recorded a dynamic, front-running tour de force in the 1 3/8-mile United Nations two starts back, leading by 20 lengths before comfortably registering a two-length decision, and his 109 BRIS Speed rating tops Sunday’s field. The six-year-old will be accompanied by regular jockey Elvis Trujillo. ARTISTE ROYAL (Ire) (Danehill), winner of the 2007 Hirsch, will look to snap a six-race losing skid. Conditioned by Neil Drysdale, the venerable eight-year-old ridgling has kept top company in the Southern California turf division and exits a fast-finishing fourth to SPRING HOUSE (Chester House) in the Del Mar H. (G2). Spring House is a three-time winner over the local course, including the last two runnings of the San Luis Obispo H. (G2), but the Julio Canani gelding will be seeking his first win at 10 furlongs.

Other runners include the three-year-old RENDEZVOUS (Victory Gallop), who
will stretch out off of a victory in the Del Mar Derby (G2), and Del Mar H.
runner-up SIR DAVE (Untuttable).

COST OF FREEDOM (Cee’s Tizzy), a mild upset winner in the 2008 Ancient Title,
will face a difficult title defense. The John Sadler-trained gelding didn’t race
again for nearly 12 months, returning in the September 9 Pirate’s Bounty S. at
Del Mar, and he’ll need to improve significantly off of a well-beaten fourth
last time. Grade 2 hero CROWN OF THORNS (Repent) will also make his second start
following a lengthy layoff, but the Richard Mandella runner exits a encouraging
effort at Del Mar, rallying strongly to finish a close third following a tardy
beginning. Grade 2 victor GAYEGO (Gilded Time) also merits serious respect. A
stakes winner last year at Santa Anita, the four-year-old captured a Group 3
event in Dubai and finished second in the Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2) earlier this
season, and he returned from a freshening with a good-looking allowance/optional
claiming score at Saratoga last out. Garrett Gomez rides.

SQUARE EDDIE (Smart Strike) drew the far outside post for his first start
since April. Winner of the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and second in the Breeders’
Cup Juvenile (G1) last year, the Doug O’Neill pupil was knocked off the Kentucky
Derby (G1) trail in the days leading up to the “Run for the Roses” and will try
his hand at sprinting for the first time since finishing second in a Group 3
event at Kempton (England) 13 months ago. Rafael Bejarano will be up.

Other
contenders include the John Sadler-trained RED ARROW (Aus) (Red Ransom), who
will make his first appearance since winning the Los Angeles H. (G3) in May; Pat
O’ Brien S. (G1) third-placer NIKKI’SGOLDENSTEED (Formal Gold); and RILEY TUCKER
(Harlan’s Holiday), who exits a close fifth-place effort in the Forego S. (G1)
at Saratoga and won an allowance over the Pro-Ride earlier this year.