- AFFIRMED NEW VENTURE FOR THE CHOSEN VRON
- McCARTHY HAS TWO FOR THE MONEY ON SUNDAY
- WARD ‘N JERRY SET FOR SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
- CHRB TELECONFERENCE MEETING IS ON JUNE 16
KRULJAC CHOOSES TO STRETCH OUT IN AFFIRMED
The Chosen Vron seeks new worlds to conquer in Sunday’s Grade III Affirmed Stakes for three-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.
The California-bred son of Vronsky has three wins from four starts, all sprints, the last against open company May 15 in the Grade III Laz Barrera Stakes, scoring by a widening 3 ½ lengths at 6 ½ furlongs under Umberto Rispoli, who rides again Sunday.
“It’s a wait-and-see situation,” said Eric Kruljac, who trains the chestnut gelding for a partnership of which he is a member.
“When you have a nice horse like this you want to see if he can stretch out, so that’s part of the motive in running here. If he doesn’t stretch out (successfully), we can concentrate on sprints.
“But I think it’s time to try two turns. There isn’t much between now and the Real Good Deal (a $175,000 race at seven furlongs for Cal-breds July 30 at Del Mar, which Kruljac had on the agenda). I’d have to work him maybe seven or eight times for that race if we didn’t run in the Affirmed.
“I just felt it was time. Umberto said he had a lot of horse left in the Laz Barrera. He said he didn’t use him up.”
The Affirmed, named for the 1978 Triple Crown winnertrained by the late Laz Barrera, is race 10 of 11 with a 1 p.m. first post time: Classier, Flavien Prat, 2-1; Jimmy Irish, Trevor McCarthy, 20-1; The Chosen Vron, Umberto Rispoli, 8-5; Defunded, Abel Cedillo, 5-2; and Mr. Impossible, Juan Hernandez, 7-2.
McCARTHY DUO DOING WELL FOR POSSIBLY PERFECT
Go Big Blue Nation and Rideforthecause, two campaigners with similar come-from-behind running styles, will represent trainer Michael McCarthy in Sunday’s $75,000 Possibly Perfect Stakes for fillies and mares three and up at 1 ¼ miles on turf.
Both are coming out of the Grade III Santa Barbara Stakes on May 8, where Rideforthecause was beaten a nose by Neige Blanche and Go Big Blue Nation was fourth, 2 ½ lengths behind her stablemate.
“Rideforthecause has a bit of a class edge (on Go Big Blue Nation),” McCarthy allowed, alluding to her last five races being graded events.
“She was unlucky to get beat last time (getting out-bobbed), but they’re both training well. They have similar styles but the distance seems to suit both of them.”
Rideforthecause, a five-year-old Candy Ride mare owned by Alpha Beta Delta Stables, was fourth in the Grade I E.P. Taylor at Woodbine last Oct. 18 and won the Grade II Canadian at the Toronto track last Sept. 12.
The Possibly Perfect will be only the third stakes start in 16 races for Go Big Blue Nation, a four-year-old daughter of 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom owned by Cannon Thoroughbreds, LLC.
The Possibly Perfect is named for the multiple Grade I winner that won 11 of 18 starts with two seconds and four thirds, earning $1,377,634 in the early and mid-1990’s, when trained by the late Bobby Frankel.
As to Preakness winner and third-place Belmont Stakes finisher Rombauer, McCarthy said, “He’s doing very well. He’s in light training right now but we have nothing being considered for his next race.”
The Possibly Perfect will be presented as the ninth race: Lady Noguez, Kent Desormeaux, 20-1; Go Big Blue Nation, Flavien Prat, 5-2; Dogtag, Umberto Rispoli, 9-5; Dynapower, Tiago Pereira, 50-1; Neige Blanche, Juan Hernandez, 3-1; Catch the Eye, Abel Cedillo, 15-1; Rideforthecause, Mario Gutierrez, 4-1; and Kuora, Trevor McCarthy, 10-1.
WARD ‘N JERRY PRIMED FOR SAN JUAN
Ward ‘n Jerry has yet to see a turf marathon he didn’t fancy.
The eight-year-old gelded son of Lucky Pulpit bred in California by long-time successful proponents of racing in the Golden State Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams seeks his third straight victory this Saturday when he runs in the Grade III San Juan Capistrano Stakes for three-year-olds and up at 1 ¾ miles on turf.
“This has been my destination race for him and he’s ready to roll,” trainer Mike Puype said.
Ward ‘n Jerry, a committed closer in a career of 27 races, of which he has won eight and earned $468,259, turned in an uncharacteristic performance in last year’s San Juan, setting the pace before finishing third, beaten five lengths.
“He’s doing good,” said Puype, enjoying a typically solid meet with 27 victories from 124 starts, a 22 percent winning average, with earnings of $1,201,884.
“The horse ran off a little bit in the race last year but he’s not doing that anymore, so he should be all right this time around.”
Ward ‘n Jerry worked five furlongs on the main track this morning in 1:02 flat.
CHRB TELECONFERENCE MEETING JUNE 16
The California Horse Racing Board will conduct a teleconference meeting 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 16.
Consistent with Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order N-29-20, the meeting will be teleconference only. No physical location will be provided.
The public may participate in either of two ways. The webcast audio link on the CHRB website will continue to provide a way for the public to listen to this meeting. Those wishing to speak during the meeting may dial 888-392-4564 and enter 6896291# to join the teleconference.
To speak on any item, press star 1 to enter the speakers’ queue. Those providing unsolicited public comment on individual agenda items will be limited to two minutes. Comments must relate specifically to the agenda items. Note that for agenda item #13, Public Comment, no further comments will be permitted after 30 minutes.
The agenda and package of materials are available on the CHRB website.
FINISH LINES: Restrainedvengence, a contender for next Sunday’s Grade III American Stakes at a mile on turf, worked four furlongs Saturday in 48 seconds flat for trainer Val Brinkerhoff, while “Miracle Horse” Catemaco went the same distance in 50 seconds flat for trainer/breeder Kristin Mulhall. In all, there were 164 recorded workouts this morning, 38 on the training track . . . Big-time finish: Big Al’s Princess won Friday’s sixth race under apprentice Alexis Cedeno, with Big Bell finishing third and Big Moon fourth in the six-furlong sprint for $30,000 maiden claiming fillies. Big Bell and Big Moon were bred in California by George Krikorian. Their sire was Mr. Big, who himself is by Dynaformer, while Big Al’s Princess, trained by Victor Garcia, was sired in Florida by Biondelli.
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