From Santa Anita Publicity
ASHLEYLUVSSUGAR SEEKS SECOND TURF CLASSIC WIN
In his last 21 races, Ashleyluvssugar has run in stakes 20 times, 16 against open company, winning six, including four Grade II events. Not too shabby for an eight-year-old California-bred gelding that might be long in the tooth but not short on class.
Saturday, the son of Game Plan goes for his second victory in the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic presented by City National Bank, having won it in 2017.
“He’s full of vim and vigor and still acts like he wants to run,” trainer Peter Eurton said of the durable bay, earner of $1,393,039 in a 30-race career, of which he has won 10. “As long as he’s healthy, which he is, he’ll continue to run and compete at this level.”
The Turf Classic is one of four stakes Saturday showcasing California-breds, the others being the $$150,000 Sprint, the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint and the $100,000 Turf Sprint Stakes.
TWO EDDIES ON COURSE FOR CAL CUP TURF SPRINT
Eddie Truman hopes the buck stops with a good post position for Teacher’s Treasure in Saturday’s $100,000 California Cup Turf Sprint Stakes for three-year-olds at about 6 ½ furlongs on the downhill grass course.
The chestnut gelding by Square Eddie-Corissa’s Birthday makes his stakes debut and his second start on turf after running third on Santa Anita’s unique venue on New Year’s Day when breaking from the No. 2 post position.
“I think he’s going to move a couple lengths forward off that race, especially if he draws an outside post,” Truman said. “The two hole is such a disadvantage coming down the hill.”
Edgar Payeras has ridden Teacher’s Treasure in each of his four races, winning one, with one second and two thirds. “He just lost his ‘bug’ and he’s been riding at Los Al, but he’s always worked this horse for me and my owners love him,” Truman said of the 24-year-old native of Guatemala.
“The horse is a homebred so he’s kind of a Cinderella story. The owners are Larry Samovar and his wife, Carolyn, who campaign as Academic Farms. They’re from Ramona and I’ve been with them 35, 40 years.
“We’re big supporters of the Cal-bred program, and to finally get this mare to Square Eddie has really showed she can produce a good horse.”
D’AMATO COULD RUN THREE IN F&M TURF SPRINT
Phil D’Amato plans to enter Barbara Beatrice, S Y Sky and possibly Lovely Linda in Saturday’s $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint for older fillies and mares at about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course.
S Y Sky returns on a seemingly short turnaround, having run second as the 7-10 favorite on Jan. 10.
“That was kind of the game plan for S Y Sky as long as she came out of the race good,” the trainer said of the five-year-old Grazen mare owned and bred by Nick Alexander. S Y Sky has never been out of the money in eight starts and favored in seven them, four at odds-on.
“With all the weather we’ve been dealing with, and not being able to train them too hard, her last race was kind of a blessing. She’s doing well. She breezed this morning (four furlongs in 48.60) as did Barbara (four furlongs on the training track in a bullet 48 flat), and they should be ready to go.”
Joe Talamo rides S Y Sky, while Tiago Pereira pilots Barbara Beatrice for the 20th time in what will be her 21st career race. Pereira rode her in her first race way back on Jan. 11, 2015, then three more before Talamo ended the skein, but has been on the seven-year-old gray daughter of Grazen bred by D’Amato for her last 15 races in a row.