ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Mike Puype’s Harbored Memories, in his first start versus winners, made it look easy on Friday at Santa Anita, as he attended the early pace and rallied for a comfortable 1 ½ length win in the day’s $63,000 allowance feature under Jose Valdivia, Jr., while getting 6 ½ furlongs on turf in 1:14.38.
Quick from the blocks, Harbored Memories settled into a perfect stalking trip as he sat third just in behind dueling leaders Wyfire and Jazz Hands in the run to the far turn. With two lengths to make up a quarter mile from home, Valdivia shifted three-wide at the top of the lane and Harbored Memories made short work of his competition, blowing by them a sixteenth of a mile out to win with his ears pricked.
A maiden winner over the course and distance on May 15, Harbored Memories was the 9-5 favorite in a field of six sophomores and paid $5.80, $3.00 and $2.20.
Owned by Bar C Racing Stables, Inc. and Slugo Racing, Harbored Memories, a Washington-bred colt by Harbor the Gold out of the El Prado mare Fresia, now has two wins and three seconds from five starts. With the winner’s share of $37,800, he increased his earnings to $111,000 and stamped himself as a potential stakes performer in the near future.
Wyfire, who was head and head with Jazz Hands turning into the stretch, proved second best under Flavien Prat and paid $3.20 and $2.20 while off at 2-1.
Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Jazz Hands was beaten 1 ½ lengths for the place and finished some 5 ½ lengths clear of Sensemaker. The third choice at 2-1, Jazz Hands paid $2.40 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.34, 44.96 and 1:08.40.
Racing resumes with first post time for a nine-race card on Saturday at 1 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.
Santa Anita Press Release
Photo: Harbored Memories (Benoit)
