Following a great educational experience in Hero Status’s first race, the 3-year-old son of Flatter makes his second start as the 5-2 morning-line favorite at Santa Anita Park this afternoon in Race 8, which features a salty field with some interesting first-time starters among the nine-horse field. Post time is 5:10 p.m. PT.
We’ve included the DRF Race Analysis and Selections above.
Finishing third in his debut to two speed balls last month, our colt took some dirt in his face in that race while being ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, who had encouraging words following that effort. Smith won’t be aboard today because he is at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby card, so Edwin Maldonado has the assignment, and he is known to get his mounts into action quickly leaving the gate, so it’s likely that Hero Status, who drew post 7, will be more prominent in the early going than he had been on debut.
Smith did, however, breeze the colt for trainer Mark Glatt for this race, and the April 30th move was a terrific one — a bullet half-mile in 46.60 seconds — and signaled Hero Status is on his toes.
Today’s race is 7 furlongs, an additional eighth of a mile from his first start, which Glatt and our team believe will be beneficial to Hero Status, and is a great way to stretch the colt out incrementally, which is important for a horse who has had just one sprint start.
Of course, there is always the concern that today’s race is just three weeks after his April 16th start, but given what’s available in the condition book, and the fact that Hero Status is showing all the signs of being on his toes, Glatt, who is a super 21% with his second-time starters, and our team, believe today’s race is a logical spot for him and he should run very well.
About the Competition (in post position order):
Hunter John (12-1) will be making his first start on dirt, after three races on synthetic at Golden Gate Fields and one on turf at Santa Anita. As a son of Maclean’s Music, he’s bred to like the dirt and has been training well over it at Santa Anita. Showed speed in his last race through quick fractions, before tiring to finish third, beaten less than a length. That race was on April 24th, so this is a quick turnaround.
The Giants Candy (12-1) was no factor in his debut on the grass in March, but has worked well on the dirt since that race for Hall of Famer Ron McAnally.
Pioneering Papa (7-2) holds the top Beyer Speed Figure in this field (83). That number came on debut when he finished a well-beaten third to Taiba, who is a contender in today’s Kentucky Derby. Pioneering Papa returned to finish second in his next start, beaten 10 lengths by High Connection, a highly thought of son of Connect who is running tomorrow as the ML 4-5 favorite in Race 3 at Santa Anita. Probably easier waters here today for Pioneering Papa and it would be no surprise to see this gelding graduate.
Virat (6-1) is a first-time starter from the Phil D’Amato barn. Sire Bayern gets 17% winners on debut. Trainer fires at 17% with firsters and this colt has plenty of solid works under his belt to be prepared for his debut. An intriguing horse and can’t be overlooked to get a piece of it here.
Irish Prophet (12-1) makes his dirt debut following two races on the turf. In his last, he improved with the addition of blinkers to finish fourth, beaten three lengths. His dirt works at Santa Anita have been decent for Hall of Famer Neil Drysdale.
Anaheim (4-1) is another first-time starter in the field. Sire Twirling Candy fires at 17% with his firsters. Trainer Sean McCarthy is a solid 16% with horses on debut. His dam has six winners from 8 foals to race. Has a good foundation of works for his debut. He brought $385K as a yearling at Keeneland, so the bar is raised for him.
Magic Man (10-1) is a son of American Pharoah and makes his dirt debut after five starts on the turf. Trained now by Gary Mandella, after father Richard Mandella sent him out for his first two starts, Magic Man has had some good efforts on the grass and breezes well on the dirt. Though it’s interesting to note that Juan Hernandez, aboard for his last three starts, rides another (Hopper) in this field.
Hopper (6-1) was previously trained by Bob Baffert and is one of the horses switched to trainer Sean McCarthy’s barn while the Hall of Famer serves his suspension. Hopper makes his dirt debut after finishing sixth on the grass in his first start. He broke slowly that day and made up some ground before tiring. Last two dirt works for this assignment have been sharp. Just another in this field who certainly wouldn’t be a surprise should he graduate to the winner’s circle today.
