Irish-Bred Cathkin Peak Wears Down Commander Khai To Win Eddie Logan At Santa Anita

Taken well off the early pace while next to last into the clubhouse turn, trainer Phil D'Amato's Irish-bred Cathkin Peak edged closer to the leaders heading to the far turn and with four lengths to make up turning for home, kept to his task and overhauled pacesetter Commander Khai to register a one-length victory in Sunday's $75,000 Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.  Ridden by Flavien Prat, Cathkin Peak got a flat mile on turf in 1:33.80.

As expected, Commander Khai went to the early lead and he was tracked in second by morning line favorite Beer Can Man, who flattened out a bit late while Commander Khai kept to his task but couldn't hold off the winner, who although he lugged in some late, kept grinding to gain the advantage.

A one mile turf maiden winner in his U.S. debut Nov. 29 at Del Mar, Cathkin Peak was off at 4-1 in a field of seven juveniles and paid $10.40, $5.00 and $3.40.

“He's such a neat horse,” said D'Amato.  “Every since he arrived, he hasn't done anything wrong and he keeps getting better and better.  Flavien seems to fit him like a glove.”

Owned by Sterling Stables, LLC, Michael Nentwig and CYBT, Cathkin Peak, who started once in his native Ireland, is now two for three and with the winner's share of $46,680, increased his earnings to $81,672.

Trained by Richard Baltas, Commander Khai was off at 7-2 and paid $5.40 and $3.60 with John Velazquez up while prevailing by 2 ¾ lengths over Beer Can Man.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Beer Can Man was also off at 7-2 and paid $3.00 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.59, 45.74, 1:09.51 and 1:21.55.

The race was marred by an incident at the top of the stretch when Ebeko suffered a catastrophic injury and fell, throwing jockey Joel Rosario. Ebeko, winner of the Zuma Beach Stakes at Santa Anita in October, was vanned off and subsequently euthanized because of the nature of the injury. Rosario was evaluated by medical personnel and cleared to ride the remainder of the card.

Named in honor of Santa Anita's beloved “Footman,” the Eddie Logan honors the memory of the man who manned his shoeshine stand at Santa Anita from the track's opening on Dec. 25, 1934, until shortly before his passing at age 98 in January 2009.

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This Side Up: Euros to Dollars

Well, we know that such Europeans as have been able to make the trip–another lockdown began in England on Thursday–won’t be in the slightest danger of catching anything on the dirt track.
If we can meanwhile break the shackles of the pandemic as well, maybe someone might feel sufficiently liberated finally to have another go next year. But at least the raiders should again be in the thick of things over on the grass. Now that the Breeders’ Cup returns to Kentucky, moreover, they will be expecting an especially congenial environment, from the surface to the climate.
Certainly they had a chastening couple of days at Santa Anita last year, when only Iridessa (Ruler Of The World) in the GI Filly and Mare Turf rescued a whitewash. True, it had not looked a vintage group; but even their previous visit to Keeneland, in 2015, for a long time renewed what has sometimes felt like a perennial reproof against complacency. The way Hit It A Bomb (War Front) pulled the opener out of the fire set a misleading tone, with the home team then holding out until the very last grass race the following day.

The duel that restored European self-esteem that year was contested by Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who had just won the Arc, and Found (Ire) (Galileo {GB}), who would win it the following year. So nobody should be under any illusions about the standards required, especially with the ongoing expansion of the American turf program.
That said, the Euros plainly know their metier and must be weighed by anyone handicapping the grass races. Here, then, are three that can run better than their likely odds. That is saying quite something, in the case of the first, but I think she should be closer to even money.

MAGICAL (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) GI Longines BC Turf) 5-2
No mystery about Magical on tour: she showed her aptitude for the demands of this race when giving Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) herself a scare at Churchill in 2018. But while the big discrepancy in transatlantic odds concerns Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal), who is challenging for favoritism in their homeland, my feeling is that even a respectful morning line understates Magical’s prospects. She sets a formidable standard and I’d be pretty amazed if she were beaten.

While unable to win for a third year running on Qipco British Champions’ Day, she only got going late behind two that exult in muddy conditions. She had previously exchanged verdicts with the top-class Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), again over 10 furlongs, and in terms of racing rhythm looks increasingly hungry for a return to this distance for only the third time in 15 starts since her run at Churchill. It can only help, moreover, that the scheduling of the Ascot fixture was this year slightly less parochial than usual, permitting her a third week to recover. Not that she particularly needs it: her battle with Enable in Louisville was her third start in three countries in 27 days.

In contrast Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) arrives after a very light season, having only resumed in August. In that time she has plainly reached a new peak, without yet registering the kind of numbers routinely posted by Magical. While the latter’s sophomore stablemate Mogul (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has now cracked that long-expected Group 1 success (3,400,000gns yearling; stable jockey’s choice at Epsom), the fact is that the only runner to have touched Magical’s regular level even once is Lord North (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose solution to a poor run the other day is to try a new trip.
A demanding pace might conjure a surprising finish from German filly Donjah (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}) at monster odds. Overall, however, Magical looks a very secure knot to keep those Pick Six lines under control.

CADILLAC (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) GI BC Juvenile Turf (presented by Coolmore America) 6-1
As his name suggests, this guy should get all the traction he needs on an American circuit. Because while even the bare form of two reverses in soft going would give him every chance here, Cadillac has been most impressive on both starts on sounder terrain.

On debut he burst no fewer than nine lengths clear of Ebeko (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), who has since done sufficiently well for new owners in California to follow him here for a rematch. Having won so easily, Cadillac was still green when turned over at odds-on next time, but the half-length winner went on to show his comfort in the softer ground that day when recently winning a Group 1 in similar conditions.

Restored to better conditions, Cadillac quickened clear of another subsequent Group 1 winner in Van Gogh (American Pharoah), and was well fancied when lining up for the premier juvenile prize in Europe, the G1 Darley Dewhurst S. Unfortunately the going was against him and, though he travelled smoothly through the race, he did not really pick up under pressure and was beaten a little over four lengths into fifth.

His nimble action and build together suggest that he will be well suited by the demands of this race, and he represents a trainer who has made an extraordinary impact since adapting her skills from jump racing to equal effect on the Flat.

Ballydoyle, predictably, has an aristocratic contender in Battleground (War Front), the first foal of Found, but as it stands his form has not worked out anything like as well as that of Cadillac.

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) (GI Fanduel BC Mile presented by PDJF) 30-1
Okay, this is a bit of a wildcard. We were mad on the chance here of that remarkable mare, One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), before her unfortunate scratching. And offering this creature in her stead depends on a bit of a crackpot theory. But the Mile is ever a crapshoot, and it might just be that Lope Y Fernandez can respond to a puzzle very different to those he has been trying to piece together all season.

He flashed big ability when coasting through the field to lead in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas on his reappearance, but didn’t see the race out. Worn down into third behind Siskin (First Defence), he has duly spent all his time since at shorter distances. He has run very well once or twice, notably when beaten under a length into third in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, but there is a suspicion that straight tracks might not suit his style ideally. He might just be one of those that needs things to fall right: a waiting ride, through congestion, in the chaos of a turning mile.

Much his best efforts have come on a faster surface, but he showed enough life in two sprints on heavy ground to suggest that he remains in form this fall. He’s got a great base of experience now, which you need here, and will benefit from plenty more of that in the saddle. It’s a roll of the dice, for sure, but by the same token he would be an absolute blowout at the windows.
Siskin has not really built on that impressive display at the Curragh, and the other Classic winner in the field certainly looked unlucky not to finish in front of him when they crossed swords at Goodwood in the summer. Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) also put in the better rehearsal of the pair, last time out, but his performance round Goodwood—one of Britain’s sharpest tracks—sends mixed messages. He sure can travel, through a race, but couldn’t get his jockey out of trouble and you’d be worried if they were to get trapped on the inside.

With Lope Y Fernandez, perversely enough, that might be just the scenario we’re looking for. And the odds, in contrast, will make ample allowance for things not quite working out.

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Miller Thinking Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf After Ebeko’s Zuma Beach Score

Irish-bred Ebeko rallied through the lane for a hard fought nose victory in Sunday's $100,000 Zuma Beach Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., as leading trainer Peter Miller continued to hold a red-hot hand.  Ridden by Ricardo Gonzalez, Ebeko, in his second stateside start, got one mile on turf in 1:36.55.

Breaking from post position four in a field of seven juveniles, Ebeko was much closer to the pace today than he had been in his one mile turf U.S. debut at Del Mar on Sept. 7.  Fourth, about two lengths off of dueling leaders a quarter mile out, he swept four-wide turning for home and was just up as he narrowly outdueled Bob Baffert's Tarantino to the wire.

“This is a very nice colt…He gives you his all,” said Gonzalez.  “The first time, we were in the 10-hole, so we just kind of made one run and he had just come from Europe.  It's different now that he's been here.  He puts himself in the race and finished really strong.”

A fast finishing second, beaten one length by today's race favorite Big Fish, Ebeko was off as the third betting choice at 3-1 and paid $8.80, $4.80 and $3.40.

Owned by Altamira Racing Stable, CYBT, Marc  Lantzman and Michael Nentwig, Ebeko, who was one for three in his native Ireland, provided Miller with his meet leading fifth stakes win and his eighth win overall.  With the winner's share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $106,430 and improved his overall mark to 5-2-2-0.

“We've been on an incredible run,” said Miller by phone from his home in Cardiff.  “We've won with our last four, just everything is falling into place right now.  I thought Ricky rode an incredible race.  We knew this horse was doing well and Ricky saw that the pace was pretty slow, so he had him closer today.

“To be honest, there's no doubt in my mind that he could've won much easier today if we didn't have the new rules…I'm just being honest…We're definitely going to look at the Breeders' Cup (Juvenile Turf on Nov. 6 at Keeneland) with this horse.  He deserves it and we're looking forward to going.”

Ridden by Tiago Pereira, Tarantino laid second throughout and lost a heartbreaker while finishing three quarters of a length in front of Cotopaxi.  The actual second choice at 3-1, Tarantino paid $4.80 and $4.00.

Ridden by Abel Cedillo, Cotopaxi made the lead a furlong out, but had to settle for third money, a neck in front of Caisson.  Off at 6-1, Cotopaxi paid $4.20 to show.

Big Fish, the 2-1 post favorite with Victor Espinoza, appeared poised to make a run at the top of the stretch, but flattened out through the drive to finish fifth.

Fractions on the race were 23.66, 48.42, 1:13.10 and 1:24.92.

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First Stakes Winner for Awtaad Comes in California

Ebeko, who was second in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf in his Stateside debut Sept. 7, went one better and came out on top of a tight one to become the first black-type winner for his Derrinstown Stud-based freshman sire (by Cape Cross {Ire}). A third-up winner for trainer Paddy Twomey at Leopardstown July 16, the bay was acquired privately thereafter and brought to Del Mar, where he showed a completely different running style than he had in Europe to rally from last. Showing a bit more early zip this time to sit perched in third, the bay mounted a four-wide rally into the lane and was one of five who appeared in with a chance at that point. The top three emerged from the pack late, and Ebeko made the last and winning move get up in the final jump.

“We’ve been on an incredible run,” said trainer Peter Miller, whose wins on Saturday included an impressive victory with Mo Forza (Uncle Mo) in the GII City of Hope Mile. “We’ve won with our last four, just everything is falling into place right now. I thought Ricky [Gonzalez] rode an incredible race. We knew this horse was doing well and Ricky saw that the pace was pretty slow, so he had him closer today.

Miller added, “To be honest, there’s no doubt in my mind that he could’ve won much easier today if we didn’t have the new [whip] rules… I’m just being honest… We’re definitely going to look at the [Nov. 6 GI] Breeders’ Cup [Juvenile Turf] with this horse. He deserves it and we’re looking forward to going.”

The winner is out of a half-sister to French Group 2 winner Canticum (GB) (Cacique {Ire}) and hails from the female family of highest-level winners Distant Music, African Rose and Vanlandingham. He has a yearling half-brother by Gleneagles (Ire). Awtaad took the 2016 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas for Shadwell.

ZUMA BEACH S., $101,000, Santa Anita, 10-4, 2yo, 1mT, 1:36.55, fm.
1–EBEKO (IRE), 118, c, 2, by Awtaad (Ire)
                1st Dam: Allegrezza (GB), by Sir Percy (GB)
                2nd Dam: Allegro Viva, by Distant View
                3rd Dam: Musicanti, by Nijinsky II
(20,000gns RNA Ylg ’19 TATOCT). 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN.
O-Altamira Racing Stable, CYBT, Marc Lantzman & Michael
Nentwig; B-Roundhill Stud & J. S. Investments (IRE); T-Peter
Miller; J-Ricardo Gonzalez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-2-0,
$106,430. *First black-type winner for freshman sire (by Cape
Cross {Ire}).
2–Tarantino, 120, c, 2, Pioneerof the Nile–Without Delay, by
Seeking the Gold. ($610,000 Ylg ’19 KEESEP). O-SF Racing LLC,
Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC,
Golconda Stables, Siena Farm LLC & Robert E. Masterson;
B-Fred W. Hertrich III & John D. Fielding (KY); T-Bob Baffert.
$20,000.
3–Cotopaxi (Ire), 118, c, 2, Sir Prancealot (Ire)–Beth (GB), by
Deportivo (GB). (£22,000 Ylg ’19 GOFFPR). O-Red Baron’s Barn
LLC & Rancho Temescal LLC; B-Tally Ho Stud (IRE); T-Jeff
Mullins. $12,000.
Margins: NO, 3/4, NK. Odds: 3.40, 3.30, 6.10.
Also Ran: Caisson, Big Fish, Ingest, Dennis Celery.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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