From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 21, 2019) –Classy millionaire Ashleyluvssugar, upstart Marckie’s Water, defending champ Rye and well accomplished He Will head a wide open field of 11 older horses bred or sired in California in Saturday’s $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic presented by City National Bank, to be contested at 1 1/8 miles over the Santa Anita lawn.
A winner of the 2017 California Cup Turf Classic under the same conditions, Ashleyluvssugar, an 8-year-old gelding by Game Plan who is trained by Peter Eurton, comes off a close fifth place finish in the Grade II Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 ½ miles on turf at Del Mar Nov. 23.
Trained by Richard Baltas, Marckie’s Water, who stalked “Ashley” for most of the way in the Turf Cup at Del Mar and ended up fourth, a half length in front of her, showed the way two starts back in the Grade II John Henry Turf Championship here on Sept. 30 and finished second, beaten a half length.
Jerry Hollendorfer’s He Will, who finished fourth as the 2-1 favorite going one mile on turf in a state-bred classified allowance here on Dec. 31, will be ridden for the first time by Geovanni Franco and will hope to be rolling late.
ASHLEYLUVSSUGAR
Owner: Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable and Ciaglia Racing, LLC
Trainer: Peter Eurton
Bred in California by his owners, Ashleyluvssugar is out of the Urgent Request mare Ashley’s Folly. A winner of 10 out of his 30 career starts, he’s also won five graded stakes while banking $1,393,039. Although he may’ve lost a step, he’s been keeping good company, evidenced by his last two starts, as he was beaten 2 ¼ lengths by Chicago Style in the Grade II Hollywood Turf Cup and a half length in the John Henry Turf Classic. With Tyler Baze back aboard for the second time in a row, trainer Eurton assessed his chances thusly early this morning: “He’s full of vim and vigor and still acts like he wants to run. As long as he’s healthy, which he is, he’ll continue to run and compete at this level.”
MARCKIE’S WATER
Owner: Little Red Feather Racing and Norman Tavares
Trainer: Richard Baltas
A 5-year-old full horse by Tribal Rule and out of the Stravinsky mare Russian River and bred by Frank Mermenstein & Tom McCrocklin, he appears to be at the top of his game for Baltas, as he comes off a solid fourth place finish in which he was beaten 1 ¾ lengths by Chicago Style in the Grade II Hollywood Turf Cup. A one length winner of a second condition allowance at 1 ¼ miles on turf two starts back here on Oct. 26, he’s posted Beyer Speed figures 94 and 93 in his last two starts and gets back to a distance at which he’s won two out of four starts.
RYE
Owner: Joseph P. Morey Revocable Trust
Trainer: William Morey
Winless in just four starts since taking last year’s Turf Classic, this 6-year-old full horse by English Channel, out of the Unusual Heat mare Phi Beta Heat and bred by H & E Ranch, was most recently an even fourth, beaten five lengths in a six furlong classified allowance versus open company at Golden Gate Fields Jan. 10. Having been idle since well beaten here in the one mile turf Crystal Water Stakes on May 20, Rye could certainly improve by many lengths in his second start off the bench. With last year’s Turf Classic jock Kent Desormeaux back aboard, look for Rye to drop far back early as he tries to make a big run from off the pace.
HE WILL
Owner: All Schlaich Stables, LLC, Hollendorfer, LLC, Team Green, LLC, Randall & Todaro
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
A 7-year-old full horse by Cyclotron, out of the Lear Fan mare Could She, He Will was far back early in a one mile turf allowance versus statebreds Dec. 31 and flattened out late to finish fourth, beaten three lengths as the 2-1 favorite. Fourth, beaten one length by Rye in last year’s Turf Classic, He Will should have a fast pace to run at with Geovanni Franco aboard for the first time. He Will was bred by Old English Rancho & Berumen.
THE UNUSUAL HEAT TURF CLASSIC WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 11 of 11 Approximate post time 4:40 p.m. PT
- Accountability–Joe Talamo–120
- Unusually Green–Luis Ocasio–120
- Rye–Kent Desormeaux–122
- The Street Fighter–Tiago Pereira–120
- Marckie’s Water–Mario Gutierrez–120
- Incredible Luck–Edgar Payeras–120
- Camino Del Paraiso–Ricardo Gonzalez–120
- Tough It Out–Brice Blanc–120
- Ashleyluvssugar–Tyler Baze–120
- King Abner–Drayden Van Dyke–120
- He Will–Geovanni Franco–120
Special early first post time for an 11-race card on Saturday is at 11:30 a.m. Admission gates will open at 9:30 a.m. and Santa Anita’s Top ‘O The Stretch area will be open for Early Bird wagering at 8 a.m. Saturday is also Pegasus World Cup Day, as the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the $7 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational will highlight a blockbuster card from Gulfstream Park.