Trainer Christopher Davis will saddle American Sanctuary Saturday at Gulfstream Park with the hope that the son of American Freedom will finally get a clear run in the $100,000 Hutcheson Stakes at the Hallandale Beach, Fla., track.
Dare to Dream Stable LLC's American Sanctuary has had troubled runs – sometimes of his own doing – in his last four races, most recently in the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar.
“He had some time trouble last year, unfortunately, in a bunch of his races. Starting with his first stake in Iowa right up to the Breeders Cup,” Davis said. “He's had some tough goes.”
The Hutcheson, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds, is featured on Saturday's program along with the $100,000 Any Limit, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies, and the $100,000 Silks Run, a five-furlong turf dash for older horses.
American Sanctuary graduated in his second career start at Prairie Meadows last July following a fourth-place finish in his debut over Arlington Park's all-weather surface. He hasn't had a clear run since. Making his stakes debut at six furlongs in his third start, American Sanctuary finished second after being bumped at the start and was forced to race three-wide. In the mile Sapling at Monmouth, he was herded four-wide in the stretch before finishing second. In the 1 1/16-mile Breeders' Futurity, he closed to finish a creditable fourth after stumbling at the start and twice racing in traffic.
“He stumbled out of the gate and was last in the Breeders' Futurity. He made a huge run up the rail and took all the dirt,” Davis said. “He came running. It's just hard to get home when you're 17 lengths back in a Grade 1.”
A slow start resulted in a seventh-place finish in the 1 1/16-mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
“He was second in two stakes with troubled trips and he finished fourth in a Grade 1 with an extremely troubled trip. I think he's right there with any of these horses,” Davis said. “Obviously, he's going to have to step up. Hopefully, he matured, like I think he has.”
American Sanctuary has pleased his trainer with his training and physical growth since his juvenile finale.
“He's come back better than he was last year. He's bigger, stronger. He seems like he's going in the right direction,” Davis said. “The Hutcheson might be a touch short for him. He's won going short, but against mediocre 2-year-olds. The ultimate game with him I think is the farther the better. We'll run in this race to get the year started and then point to bigger and better things.”
Jose Ortiz is slated to ride American Sanctuary for the first time.
Spendthrift Farm LLC and My Racehorse's Provocateur is set to make his first start at Gulfstream in the Hutcheson following a pair of solid efforts at Tampa Bay Downs, where he broke his maiden and finished second in the seven-furlong Pasco.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher gave the call aboard to son of Into Mischief to Irad Ortiz Jr.
William and Corinne Heiligbrodt and Spendthrift Farm LLC's Cattin enters the Hutcheson off a third-place finish in the Pasco. The Ralph Nicks-trained son of Neolithic had previously won the six-furlong Inaugural at Tampa Bay Downs.
R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Spedale Family Racing LLC's Nitrous Channel is set to make his anxiously awaited return from an eye-catching debut score at Gulfstream Park Feb. 5. The George Weaver-trained son of Nyquist romped to a 2 ¼-length victory at six-furlongs under Tyler Gaffalione, who has the return mount Saturday.
R.T. Racing Stable's Golden Juan, who finished third in the Feb. 18 Armed Forces over the Tapeta surface, is set for a return to the Gulfstream main track, over which he won his first two starts.
Inoel Beato, a Mid-Atlantic-based jockey, has been named to ride the son of Fed Biz.
Peacock Stable's Sport Pepper and Daniel Pita's Desert Ruler round out the field.
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