Juveniles take center stage in FrontRunner, Chandelier

Last updated: 9/25/13 6:51 PM

Tamarando will go for his second straight Grade 1 win in the FrontRunner

(Benoit Photos)

Two-year-olds will line up on Saturday at Santa Anita Park in an attempt to
earn a starting berth in the Breeders’ Cup when 11 colts and geldings go in the
Grade 1, $250,000

FrontRunner and eight fillies head to the gate in the Grade 1, $250,000

Chandelier, both at 1 1/16 miles.

The FrontRunner will feature a rematch between Del Mar Futurity winner
Tamarando and Dance With Fate, who finished just a half-length behind in second
on September 4. The former, a Bertrando colt who is trained by Jerry
Hollendorfer, entered the Futurity off a 2 3/4-length maiden scorer over Del
Mar’s Polytrack just 2 1/2 weeks earlier. Julien Leparoux has been aboard for
all of Tamarando’s starts thus far and retains the mount on Saturday.

The Peter Eurton-conditioned Dance With Fate was also coming off a Del Mar
maiden victory when making his stakes bow in the Futurity. The Two Step Salsa
juvenile had had Rafael Bejarano in the irons for each of his three career races
and renews the partnership in the FrontRunner.

Neither Tamarando nor Dance With Fate have competed on anything but
all-weather surfaces, and that is true for all but two in the field.

Ontology started out on synthetics but switched to turf last out for a
runner-up effort in the Oak Tree Juvenile at Del Mar. In July, the chestnut son
of Tapit was also second in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship on the Cushion
Track. Simon Callaghan will give Corey Nakatani a leg up on Ontology as the colt
attempts to break his maiden over a fourth different surface in the FrontRunner.

Roundupthelute is the only entrant with experience over a conventional dirt
track. The Midnight Lute colt didn’t take to Del Mar’s Polytrack in his career
bow on August 28, but appeared to relish the dirt at Fairplex last out when
capturing the C. B. Afflerbaugh by two lengths. Bob Baffert conditions the dark
bay, who will have Garrett Gomez in the irons on Saturday.

She’s a Tiger could head into the Breeders’ Cup off two straight Grade 1 scores

(Benoit Photos)

Just like the FrontRunner, the Chandelier will see the top two from the Del
Mar Debutante have a go at each other once again. She’s a Tiger avenged her loss
in the Sorrento with a half-length victory in the Debutante last out for trainer
Jeff Bonde. The Tale of the Cat filly actually took her maiden debut by nine
lengths on the dirt at Pleasanton in June, and should have no trouble adapting
to Santa Anita’s main track with Gary Stevens back aboard.

Still looking for her first win, Fascinating moved up in a big way to
threaten She’s a Tiger in the Debutante. The Baffert-trained daughter of Smart
Strike placed third in her prior two races and will have Bejarano in the saddle
on Saturday.

Santa Anita will wrap up its Saturday program with the $70,000
Unzip Me
sending three-year-old fillies about 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf course.
Multiple stakes winner Unusual Way, a fading fifth in the Del Mar Oaks last out,
cuts back in distance for the contest, which drew a field of 12.

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