Caracortado out of Sensational Star; Unzip Me opts for
Wishing Well
The complexion of Saturday’s two turf stakes at Santa Anita has changed
considerably since entries were taken, for both morning-line favorites are out.
Caracortado, the 4-5 choice in the Sensational Star, is forced to skip the race
with a foot problem. Unzip Me, pegged at 5-2 in the Valentine Dancer, will
instead contest the $70,000
Wishing Well Stakes on Sunday.
The Caracortado news broke Friday, as trainer Michael Machowsky reported that
the multiple Grade 2 hero developed an irritation in the frog of a hoof.
Caracortado would have been a raging favorite for the Sensational Star, held
over the same course and distance as his eye-popping triumph in the Grade 3
Daytona on January 8.
Machowsky was planning to use the turf dash as a prep for the Grade 1 Frank
E. Kilroe Mile on March 3. The trainer told Daily Racing Form that
Caracortado would still proceed to the Kilroe without a further prep.
Two others have also been withdrawn from the Sensational Star — Luckarack,
who remains in Saturday’s 1ST race, and Mega Heat, who was entered in Sunday’s
6TH race.
The Sensational Star field is thus down to five, with Grade 2 veteran Compari
set to inherit favoritism.
Unzip Me, who would have been making her debut at a mile in the Valentine
Dancer, ultimately opted to stick to a turf sprint in the Wishing Well. The
multiple Grade 3 victress is proficient at this about 6 1/2-furlong slalom down
the hill, as evidenced by her 10-6-1-1 mark.
“It looked like there was a lot of pace in there on Saturday,” trainer Marty
Jones said regarding his decision to go Sunday instead.
Unzip Me figures to be the controlling speed in the Wishing Well, where she
looms as the 123-pound highweight and the likely prohibitive favorite. She exits
a third as the defending champion in the Grade 3 Monrovia over this course and
distance.
Her rivals include three Monrovia also-rans. Givine, a troubled sixth that
day, has been otherwise consistent on the turf sprint scene. When runner-up in
the Grade 3 Sen. Ken Maddy here three starts back, she defeated a surprisingly
lackluster Unzip Me in fourth. Fellow Monrovia alumnae Remit and Fifth
Commandment would need to improve substantially to factor.
Catchy Tune, second in last year’s Wishing Well, prepped with a rallying
optional claiming score. The John Sadler-trained Teroda comes off a sharp 3
1/4-length tally in an entry-level allowance, and looks the type to excel in the
third start of her form cycle.