With the prospect of a sub-20 second opening quarter a possibility, Alfred Pais' homebred Brickyard Ride heads a field of eight older California-breds going about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course in Sunday's $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.
The Sensational Star is part of the CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series, for eligible California-bred or sired runners.
Trained by Craig Lewis, Brickyard Ride comes off a pair of scintillating wins versus statebreds, a 1 ¾-length win going six furlongs in the Cal Cup Sprint Jan. 15 and most recently, a 7 ½-length score going a flat mile in the Tiznow Stakes on Feb. 21.
Although the 5-year-old son of Clubhouse Ride has two wins from four tries on turf, Brickyard Ride will be trying the hillside turf course for the first time on Sunday.
“We'll see what happens,” said Lewis upon entering. “If somebody tries to pressure him, he might shade 20 seconds that first quarter.”
Lightning quick on any surface, Brickyard Ride was entered to defend his title in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 5, but scratched on game day in favor of running in the Sensational Star.
A five-time stakes winner, Brickyard Ride, who is out of the Southern Image mare Brickyard Helen, appears to be at the top of his game and has earned solid Beyer Speed Figures in his two starts this winter, earning a 101 on Jan. 15 and a 99 Beyer on Feb. 21.
Strictly the horse to beat, he's got an overall mark of 20-10-1-2 with earnings of $620,977.
A California-bred stakes winner down the hill five starts back on Oct. 17, 2021, trainer Ruben Alvarado's Indian Peak was a vastly improved second to Vladimir Cerin's red-hot Barraza over the course in the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes on Feb. 20 and rates second billing with John Velazquez taking over. Owned by Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber, this 5-year-old Comic Strip gelding has proven a very versatile sort and will hope to be rolling late.
Idle since a close fourth in last year's Sensational Star when run at six furlongs out of the turf chute, Peter Eurton's speedy Jetovator will likely try to stay close to Brickyard Ride in the early going, but that could indeed be a tough assignment. A 6-year-old gelding by Grazen out of the multiple stakes placed Jet Blue Girl, by Gimmeawink, Jetovator is owned by Ciaglia Racing, LLC and SAF Racing and was bred by Sharon Alesia and Ciaglia Racing.
With a career resume that reads 19-3-4-5, Jetovator will be making his second stakes start and be ridden by Edwin Maldonado.
Third in his only hillside try, a first condition allowance 22 starts back on Oct. 28, 2018, Harris Farms' homebred Fashionably Fast may've lost a step but he's still plenty competitive at age seven. By Lucky Pulpit out of the Forestry mare Fall Fashion, Fashionably Fast, a six-time stakes winner, comes off a third place finish in a second condition allowance going 6 ½ furlongs on dirt Feb. 4 and will be ridden back by Abel Cedillo.
Owned by Harris Farms and Per Antonsen, Fashionably Fast will likely be in a stalking position to the dirt crossing at the top of the lane and if the speed tires, his class and heart could carry the day. The leading money earner in the field with $697,123, he has an overall mark of 28-9-6-7.
SENSATIONAL STAR WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS
IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 7 of 8 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT
Indian Peak—John Velazquez–124
Brickyard Ride—Juan Hernandez—124
Sacred Rider—Tyler Baze—122
Jetovator—Edwin Maldonado—122
Riding With Dino—Flavien Prat—122
Big Fish—Mike Smith—124
Whooping Jay—Mario Gutierrez—122
Fashionably Fast—Abel Cedillo–124
First post time for an eight-race card on Sunday is at 1 p.m. with admission gates opening at 11 a.m.
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