ARCADIA, Calif.— A much troubled fourth as the favorite in his U.S. debut, Irish-bred Dandy Man Shines will hope for clear sailing among a field of 12 juveniles going one mile on turf in Sunday’s Grade III, $200,000 Zuma Beach Stakes at Santa Anita.
Trained by Jeff Mullins and owned by Red Baron’s Barn, LLC and Rancho Temescal, Dandy Man Shines, who was off at 4-1 in the 14-horse Grade III Del Mar Juvenile Turf Sept. 11, was off slowly, in heavy traffic around the far turn and was ping-ponged between horses a sixteenth of a mile from home when beaten 5 ¼ lengths by stablemate Packs a Wahlop, who he’ll face again on Sunday. Following a stewards inquiry, Dandy Man Shines was moved up to third as the original second-place finisher was disqualified.
Winless in two English starts, the most recent a fourth-place finish in a Group II stakes going seven furlongs on turf July 26, Dandy Man Shines will be ridden back by Umberto Rispoli.
Mullins and the ownership of Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal are obviously holding a very strong two-card hand, as Packs a Wahlop made no mistakes in his first try around two turns, winning the Del Mar Juvenile Turf by 4 ¼ lengths while well clear of the trouble behind him.
A 1 ½ maiden winner going five furlongs on turf two starts back on Aug. 5, Packs a Wahlop laid close to the early pace in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf and came away from his competition nicely while earning a 74 Beyer Speed Figure.
With Mike Smith opting to stay with Packs a Wahlop, Peter Eurton’s Gas Me Up, an impressive 1 ½ length one-mile turf maiden winner Sept. 11, will be ridden for the first time by Juan Hernandez in what will be his fourth overall start.
Owned by Exline-Border Racing, LLC, Michael Jawl and Aaron Kennedy, Gas Me Up is an Ontario/Canadian-bred colt by Hard Spun out of the Smart Strike mare Chic Thrill.
THE GRADE III ZUMA BEACH WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 10 of 10 – Approximate post time 5:30 p.m. PT
- Malibu Coast – Ramon Vazquez – 122
- Gas Me Up – Juan Hernandez – 122
- Castleknock – Edwin Maldonado – 122
- Dandy Man Shines – Umberto Rispoli – 120
- Packs a Wahlop – Mike Smith – 124
- Valiancer – Kyle Frey – 120
- Suburban Prince – Victor Espinoza – 122
- Giver Not a Taker – Jose Valdivia, Jr. – 120
- Ah Jeez – Abel Cedillo – 120
- For A Laugh – Joe Bravo – 122
- De la Luna – Ryan Curatolo – 120
First post time for a 10-race card that will include three stakes on Sunday is at 1 p.m.
Santa Anita Park Press Release
Photo: Dandy Man Shines (Ernie Belmonte)
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