By DRF.com
DEL MAR, Calif. (July 30, 2023) – The $151,000 Echo Eddie Stakes at Santa Anita in April produced one of the most thrilling finishes of the early spring when Kangaroo Court edged Bus Buzz by a head after the pair fought through the stretch.
Since then, their seasons have gone in different directions, but Bus Buzz and Kangaroo Court figure to be the prominent runners in Friday’s $175,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Del Mar.
Kangaroo Court, bred by Richard Barton Enterprises and owned by George Sharp, finished 11th of 13 as the 4-1 favorite in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs on May 6. Kangaroo Court disputed the early pace from an inside post, but faded tamely on the turn under jockey John Velazquez.
“He never took Johnny along,” trainer Tim Yakteen said. “Of the horses I had back there, he was the one that took to the surface. He was the one that didn’t show up.”
“He was training awesome going into the Pat Day and he’s just as strong going to the Real Good Deal. Hopefully, we’ll see a different result.”
Bus Buzz, owned by the partnership of breeder Terry Lovingier, Tom Halasz, and Amanda Navarro, stayed in California in the spring. On May 28, Bus Buzz won an allowance race for statebreds at six furlongs by 6 1/4 lengths, disputing the early pace before pulling away.
“He’s just a special horse and he’s got natural speed,” trainer Steve Knapp said.
Knapp said Bus Buzz’s start in his recent win was “okay”, but wonders what the gelding can do if he has a sharper break that allows him to get into full stride faster.
“He’s yet to break on a runner,” Knapp said.
The Real Good Deal drew a field of seven, including the two-time stakes winner Giver Not a Taker as well as Boss Sully, Clouseau, and Geezer, who have placed in stakes.
Bus Buzz drew post 4, and is expected to set the pace. Kangaroo Court drew the rail.
Juan Hernandez will ride Kangaroo Court for the first time on Friday. There is a likelihood Hernandez will stalk Bus Buzz in a manner that is similar to the way Flavien Prat rode Kangaroo Court in the Echo Eddie.
“I’ll leave it up to Juan,” Yakteen said. “He’ll have to make his call and play the break.”
Clouseau, bred by PT Syndicate # 1, was third in the Echo Eddie and has since won an allowance race for statebreds at a mile May 5 and finished a game second after leading in the May 28 Snow Chief Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita.
A winner of 3 of 7 starts, Clouseau had a quick workout at Del Mar on July 27, going five furlongs in 59.60 seconds. With an outside post in the Real Good Deal Stakes, jockey Geovanni Franco is likely to have Clouseau in a stalking position.
“He’ll be stalking and he’s pretty sharp,” trainer Ian Kruljac said. “He’s had some strong workouts. He’s coming into himself.”