AMERICAN GRADED STAKES
PREVIEWS
| SIR BEAUFORT S.
(G3), 7TH-SA, $100,000, 3YO, 1MT, 3:20 P.M. (PST), 12-26 |
|
| 1 |
LIBERIAN FREIGHTER, 3, G, by BertrandoAnachristina, by Slewpy O-Dugan Est of Nahem & Winner; B-Nahem Edward (Ca) |
| 2 |
SKY CAPE, 3, c, by NajranSkyscape, by Marquetry O-Blue Taub & Visionary Racing; B-Kristin Mulhall (Ky) |
| 3 |
DAKOTA PHONE, 3, G, by ZavataWorld of Gold, by Spinning World O-Halo Farms & Hollendorfer; B-Cashmark Farms & Dakota (Ky) |
| 4 |
FIFTEEN LOVE, 3, c, by Point GivenNidd, by Known Fact O/B-Juddmonte Farms (Ky) |
| 5 |
MEDJOOL, 3, c, by MonarchosPerfect Story, by Tale of the Cat O-Premier Thoroughbreds; B-Oxley John C. (Ky) |
| 6 |
ICEMANCOMETH (IRE), 3, c, by MarjuIrina, by Polar Falcon O-Barber & Barber; B-Holborn Trust Co (Ire) |
| 7 |
YOUNG JOE, 3, G, by RoarWet, by Boston Harbor O-Tarabilla Farms Inc; B-John B Crook (Ca) |
| 8 |
TEN MEROPA, 3, c, by JohannesburgTenderly (Ire), by Danehill O-A & R Stables & Class Racing Stables; B-Desperado Stables Inc. (Ky) |
| 9 |
EL GATO MALO, 3, G, by El CorredorOne Bad Cat, by Mountain Cat O-West Point Thoroughbreds; B-Kenneth C. Roberts (Ky) |
| 10 |
GHETTO (GB), 3, c, by Auction HouseEllway Queen, by Bahri O-A & R Stables & Class Racing S; B-Cothi Bloodstock (GB) |
| 11 |
PISTOL PETE AFLEET, 3, c, by Northern AfleetSweetsouthernkiss, by Kissin Kris O-Stephen R Campbell; B-Four Horseman’s Ranch (Fl) |
| 12 |
GIO PONTI, 3, c, by Tale of the CatChipeta Springs, by Alydar O/B-Castleton Group (Ky) |
| 13 |
IL GIRASOLE, 3, c, by Lemon Drop KidCarly’s Crown, by Wild Again O-Alex G Campbell Jr; B-Carl Rosen Associates Inc (Ky) |
Thirteen sophomores will travel one mile over the Santa Anita lawn
in the $100,000 Sir Beaufort S. (G3) on Friday, with the Christophe
Clement-trained GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat) being the one to beat. Although the
bay colt has not lived up to the pedestal we put him on earlier in the
year, he looks like tons the class in this field. The Kentucky-bred was last
seen finishing a troubled seventh, beaten only 2 1/2 lengths, in the Hollywood
Derby (G1), and he may benefit from the cutback in trip. Garrett
Gomez must navigate a sensible trip from the 12 post.
FIFTEEN LOVE (Point Given) hails from the mighty Juddmonte stable and is in
the hands of training genius Bobby Frankel, so the dark bay is a contender with
those facts alone. A useful horse in Europe for his first nine starts, the
Kentucky-bred finished a closing third over the Cushion Track in the War Chant
S. most recently, earning an impressive 113 BRIS Late Pace number. We expect a
good deal of early speed in here, so the colt should get a nice target turning
for home under Edgar Prado.
Baldwin S. (G3) hero TEN MEROPA (Johannesburg) has failed to hit the board in
two subsequent starts since the Baldwin for Jeff Mullins, but the dark bay has
talent and could easily make a late run against these. We’ll completely excuse
his eighth-place finish in the recent Morvich H. (G3) and expect vast
improvement at a big price for this one.
MEDJOOL (Monarchos) looked strong in a recent allowance score over the main
strip for Julio Canani, and the chestnut will make his turf debut in this
contest. The Grade 2-placed colt is out of a half-sister to champion Point Given
(Thunder Gulch), who has proven to be a useful turf sire, and it’s more than
possible that this one could be better on the grass than the main track. The
price should be right for those willing to take a stab.
The unheralded SKY CAPE (Najran) seemingly always outruns his odds for
Kristin Mulhall, including a win at nearly 13-1 in the La Jolla H. (G2) two
prior. The talented turf performer has finished first or second in all four
efforts over this sod, has the right running style to make a late impact and has
trained well in advance of this grass test. Joel Rosario will be in the irons.
LIBERIAN FREIGHTER (Bertrando) has natural speed and the rail impost for Neil
Drysdale, making him a threat in this bulky field. The California-bred gelding
has compiled a smart 9-3-1-5 career turf mark and comes in off of a fine
allowance tally, so he appears to be a logical inclusion in the vertical
exotics. EL GATO MALO (El Corredor) will make his grass debut in here for Craig
Dollase, and he’s yet another who could be in the mix with a smooth transition
to the sod. The gelded sophomore bagged the San Rafael S. (G3) earlier this
campaign and is among the better three-year-olds on the West Coast, so he can
place with his best.
DAKOTA PHONE (Zavata) has never been one of our favorites, but he is on
the steady improve for Jerry Hollendorfer. The gelded bay rolled home in the
recent Forty Niner S. at Golden Gate, and he could finish off some gimmicks with
another forward move. ICEMANCOMETH (Ire) (Marju) put in a big effort to win an
allowance/optional claiming event last out and will make his first start since being
claimed by John Sadler. The bay gelding was pressured throughout in his last and
never wavered despite establishing a quick tempo against considerably softer.
We’ll let the gelding beat us on the quick turnaround.
YOUNG JOE (Roar) has sharp early speed, in a field full of it, and has never
been on the grass prior to this. GHETTO (GB) (Auction House) was a close fourth
in the Oak Tree Derby (G2) at big odds, but that hasn’t been the strongest race
to date and we’ll look elsewhere. PISTOL PETE AFLEET (Northern Afleet) is
winless in four turf tries and was beaten for a $50,000 tag two prior. IL GIRASOLE (Lemon Drop Kid) is in a tough spot with the widest post in here
for Todd Pletcher, and the twice-raced bay gives up a ton of seasoning to much
of this cast. While it’s not inconceivable that the Kentucky-bred runs a big one
beneath Victor Espinoza, he looks like a bit of a reach at anything less than
20-1.