Trainer Peter Eurton could be poised for a big weekend at Santa Anita.
On Saturday, Eurton will saddle morning-line favorite Laurent in the Grade 2 Chandelier for 2-year-old fillies and also Dark Vintage, the 4-1 second choice on the morning line in the Speakeasy Stakes for 2-year-old going five furlongs on turf. On Sunday, Eurton will start Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Flattery, a top contender in the G3 Surfer Girl for 2-year-old fillies at a mile on turf.
“Everyone seems to be doing well and hopefully we'll get lucky,” Eurton said of the weekend ahead.
Like most in the 1 1/16-mile Chandelier, which attracted a competitive field of 10, Laurent will be trying two turns for the first time on Saturday. Laurent debuted going 5 ½ furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 13 and won by a nose when mounting a furious last-to-first rally under Juan Hernandez.
The Practical Joke filly returned in the G1 Del Mar Debutante going seven furlongs Sept. 5. She again was near the back of the pack early before rallying to be a distant second behind budding star Tamara.
Laurent, a $185,000 auction purchase as a yearling, is out of the two-time winner She Rocks the Look, herself a daughter of Grade 2-winning sprinter Trappe Shot.
“She acts like a filly that may desire two turns, but you really don't know,” Eurton said. “People often think that about a late-closings sprinter. Our thoughts are she'll take to it as long as she gets in a nice rhythm and doesn't have to do too much early. Just like any horse.”
Eurton has also decided to add blinkers for Laurent's two-turn bow.
“I think there's still a lot of maturing that needs to still continue,” Eurton said. “She's still a little green, that's why we're putting the blinkers on her. I can't afford to go five wide on both turns. Hopefully she'll show a little more speed and get the right trip.”
Laurent's chief rivals in the Chandelier appear to be Dua, the 3-1 second choice on the morning line for Bob Baffert; Chatalas (4-1) for trainer Mark Glatt and Gate to Paradise (5-1) for trainer John Shirreffs.
Dua won her bow going five furlongs at Del Mar July 23 then was a distant third in the G3 Sorrento going six furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 12. The daughter of Arrogate, a $400,000 auction buy earlier this year for Zedan Racing, worked a bullet six furlongs in 1:12 for her two-turn bow on Monday.
Chatalas won her debut going 5 ½ furlongs at Del Mar July 30 then was a well-beaten fourth in the G1 Del Mar Debutante. By Gun Runner out of the Indian Charlie mare Indian Safari, Chatalas could move forward with added distance. The same can be said for Gate to Paradise, a $950,000 daughter of Arrogate. She was third in her bow going 5 ½ furlongs at Del Mar and was third again in the Del Mar Debutante.
The Chandelier goes as Saturday's third race on a 10-race card with post time scheduled for 2:03 p.m. Pacific.
The field in post position order:
- Chatalas, Antonio Fresu (4-1);
- Scalable, Mike Smith (5-1);
- Pacific Rose, Ramon Vazquez (20-1);
- Pink Whitney, Tiago Pereira (20-1);
- Autumn Chill, Hector Berrios (8-1);
- Gate to Paradise, Kent Desormeaux (5-1);
- Dua, Juan Hernandez (3-1);
- Laurent, Edwin Maldonado (5-2);
- Motet, Edgar Payeras (50-1);
- Next Right Thing, Emily Ellingwood (30-1).
The post ‘She’s Still A Little Green’: Eurton Adds Blinkers For Laurent’s Two-Turn Debut In Chandelier appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
