ARCADIA, Calif.—Hronis Racing’s venerable 6-year-old Loud Mouth will transition to turf as he heads a field of six 3-year-olds and up going a flat mile in Saturday’s $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes at Santa Anita.
The Crystal Water is one of five statebred stakes on California Gold Rush Day that are part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired horses.
A two-time stakes winner versus statebreds on dirt, Loud Mouth, who was claimed for $80,000 on Dec. 31, will be making his fourth start for John Sadler on Saturday. Most recently third in an open second condition allowance at one mile May 8, Loud Mouth was an impressive 3 ½ length winner going one mile on dirt in an open first condition allowance two starts back on March 19.
With Umberto Rispoli engaged to ride for the first time, Loud Mouth, who is one for six on grass, has shown a world of speed on dirt in his last two starts but has proven versatile on both surfaces throughout his career.
A full horse by Boisterous out of the Tale of the Cat mare Drama Cat, Loud Mouth is 35-9-1-3 with earnings of $442,494.
Trainer Dean Pederson’s Carmelita’s Man shortens up off a solid second going a mile and one eighth on turf in a first condition allowance May 7 and appears a solid fit in what will be his first stakes engagement. Owned by Larry and Ann Jett, Carmelita’s Man has two wins, three seconds and a third-place finish from eight tries at one mile on grass.
A 5-year-old gelding by Mucho Macho Man out of the North Light mare Carmelita, Carmelita’s Man, who will be handled by regular rider Juan Hernandez, is 17-4-5-1 with earnings of $216,538.
Doug O’Neill’s Hail Freedom, who comes off a 1 ¼ length gate to wire win in a statebred first condition allowance at 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf April 2, could be the speed in the field with Mike Smith riding back in what will be Hail Freedom’s first stakes appearance.
A 4-year-old colt by the Dynaformer stallion Box Score out of the Good Journey mare Susan B Good, Hail Freedom is owned by his breeder, Ed Delaney. With 11 of his 12 starts coming on turf, Hail Freedom has two wins, five seconds and three third place finishes good for earnings of $182,240.
Based at Golden Gate Fields, the Andy Mathis-trained Jimmy Blue Jeans is another horse who will no doubt ensure a fast pace. A gate to wire winner of last year’s Snow Chief Stakes in his only try over the Santa Anita lawn versus statebred sophomores on June 19, Jimmy Blue Jeans showed the way to the top of the lane but tired to finish ninth, beaten 5 ½ lengths in his most recent start, the Grade III San Francisco Mile (turf) on April 30 at Golden Gate.
He’ll be reunited with a hot-riding Kyle Frey, who won on “Jimmy” five starts back at Del Mar on July 17 as he seeks his second career stakes win. Owned by Perry Bruno, John Gezon and Robert Jones, Jimmy Blue Jeans is 11-5-0-1 with earnings of $226,548.
The $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes With Jockeys & Weights In Post Position Order
Race 3 of 9 Approximate post time 2 p.m. PT
1. Loud Mouth—Umberto Rispoli—126
2. Jimmy Blue Jeans—Kyle Frey—126
3. Prodigal Son—Drayden Van Dyke—122
4. Irish Heatwave—Joe Bravo—126
5. Carmelita’s Man—Juan Hernandez—122
6. Hail Freedom—Mike Smith–122
First post time for a nine-race card on Saturday is at 1 p.m.
Santa Anita Press Release
Photo by Benoit
