Cross prevails over Reason in Lewis upset

Harty decided to equip his colt with blinkers in hopes of an improved

performance on Saturday, but he had two possible races in mind. He cross-entered

Anthony's Cross to the Lewis and to the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby (G3) at

Golden Gate Fields on the same day. Harty concluded that the Lewis was the

relatively easier spot, and the decision paid off, to the tune of $150,000 graded stakes earnings.

"When the entries came out we went through both races, we decided to stay

here and take a shot on the dirt and if we get beat, we get beat," Harty said

afterward. "He was training well, he's super-fit and I thought with the addition

of blinkers -- and of course Joel Rosario, it never hurts to have him."

The Lewis began in much the same way as the Sham, with Tapizar pulling his

way to the early lead. This time, however, Tapizar was extremely rank in front

and continued to fight Garrett Gomez while speeding through fractions of :22 2/5

and :45 3/5. Anthony's Cross was well placed in a stalking second by Joel

Rosario, and he advanced to challenge Tapizar on the far turn.

Although Tapizar still had his head in front at the six-furlong mark in 1:09

4/5, it was apparent that the favorite was running out of steam, and that

Anthony's Cross was moving the better of the pair. Also on the move was Riveting

Reason, who had been biding his time in midpack and was now looming in third.

Anthony's Cross took over turning for home, but Tapizar stayed in the hunt

along the inside until the final furlong, when he retreated. By then, Riveting

Reason emerged as a greater danger on the outside and soon matched strides with

Anthony's Cross. The two dueled to the wire, with Anthony's Cross proving just

the stronger. The bay colt negotiated 1 1/8 miles on the fast track in 1:48 3/5

and paid $18.60, $8 and $15.60.

"He broke a little slow," Rosario said of Anthony's Cross. "He showed me a

little bit of speed in the first turn, and I just let him go to find where he

wanted to be. I could see the favorite (Tapizar) was giving Gomez some trouble.

I saw Gomez try to take his horse back a bit, and his horse fought him a little

bit. I stayed a little closer to the pace today, but it probably didn't make the

difference in the race. He's a good horse and it was no surprise to see him run

that good."

Another 4 1/4 lengths back in third came Quail Hill (Candy Ride [Arg]),

trailed by Thirtyfirststreet (Good Journey), Tapizar, Wegner (Dynaformer) and

Ten Devils (Rock Hard Ten).

"We've toyed with the idea off and on (of adding blinkers) since his first

start," Harty revealed, "and I just thought he'd come around and mature mentally

on his own and he didn't, so I felt it was time to give him a little help. We

worked him with the blinkers twice prior to this race, and he showed vast

improvement both times.

"He's just been kind of a big Baby Huey and it's taken him a while to get

focused. I was hoping he'd come around on his own. I didn't really want to rush

to put the blinkers on him, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do."

Bred by George Strawbridge Jr. in Pennsylvania, Anthony's Cross was purchased

by current owner Arianne de Kwiatkowski for $300,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga

yearling. His dam, the unraced Unbridled mare Screening, has now produced two

graded stakes winners from her only two runners to date. Her first foal is

Fugitive Angel (Alphabet Soup), heroine of last fall's Valley View S. (G3) at

Keeneland, and her latest foals are a juvenile filly named Holiday Fashion

(Harlan's Holiday) and a yearling filly by Posse. Screening is herself a

half-sister to three stakes performers, most notably Smart Bid (Smart Strike),

who just missed by a nose in the recent Gulfstream Park Turf H. (G1).

Anthony's Cross' second dam is Grade 3 queen Recording (Danzig), and his

third dam is Grade 2 victress Ratings (Caveat).

Harty confirmed that Anthony's Cross would continue to take the Santa Anita

road to the May 7 Kentucky Derby.

"Definitely," the horseman said. "There's no reason to move him. I've got to

decide whether to give him one more start before the Santa Anita Derby ([G1] on

April 9) or just sit and wait. It's a long time between now and then, so it

takes some serious consideration."