Trainer Michael McCarthy's Smooth Like Strait and Mike Maker's Field Pass headline Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Mathis Brothers Mile (turf), one of five graded stakes on Santa Anita's opening day card this Saturday which has attracted a competitive field of seven sophomores.
A two-time graded winner, Smooth Like Strait comes off a narrow head defeat going a mile and one eighth on turf in the G1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar on Nov. 28 and should relish the cutback in distance.
Field Pass, three-time graded winner based in Kentucky who was third, beaten 2 ¼ lengths by Smooth Like Strait two starts back in Santa Anita's G2 Twilight Derby, comes off a one length tally going a mile and one eighth on synthetic Tapeta at Woodbine Nov. 21 and will try to turn the tables on “Smooth” this Saturday.
SMOOTH LIKE STRAIT
Owner: Cannon Thoroughbreds, LLC
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Two for four, with one second place finish at one mile on turf, Smooth Like Strait should be plenty tough to beat with Umberto Rispoli riding back in the Mathis. With a 5-2-1-1 mark over the Santa Anita lawn, this homebred colt by Midnight Lute, out of the Flower Alley mare Smooth as Usual can be expected to be forwardly placed as he seeks his sixth win from 12 overall starts.
FIELD PASS
Owner: Three Diamonds Farm
Trainer: Michael Maker
A win in the Mathis Brothers Mile would cap a tremendous year for this son of Lemon Drop Kid, as he's won five out of his nine starts while finishing third in three of them. Although he has won on the lead at a mile and one eighth on turf, he'll likely be in a stalking position on Saturday.
WHISPER NOT
Owner: Christopher Dunn & Jeremy Peskoff
Trainer: Richard Baltas
This lightly raced English-bred served notice in his U.S. debut on Nov. 29 at Del Mar that he could be a force to be reckoned with this winter. Next to last early in a field of seven, he rallied well to be second, beaten three quarters of a length in a mile and one sixteenth turf allowance at odds of 6-1. Two for five in his native England, he'll be ridden back by Joel Rosario and looms a very serious threat as he makes his second start for Baltas.
THE GRADE II MATHIS BROTHERS MILE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 4 of 11 Approximate post time 12:30 p.m. PT
- Whisper Not—Joel Rosario—120
- Strongconstitution—Abel Cedillo—122
- Storm the Court—John Velazquez—120
- Heywoods Beach—Juan Hernandez—120
- Smooth Like Strait—Umberto Rispoli—124
- Field Pass—Ricardo Santanta, Jr.—122
- Scarto—Flavien Prat–120
Although there is no public admittance, fans can watch and wager via 1st.com/Bet and they can watch all of Santa Anita's races free of charge at santaanita.com/live. Special early first post time on Saturday is at 11 a.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.
The post Smooth Like Strait, Field Pass Face Off In Mathis Brothers Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
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