ARCADIA, Calif. –KMN Racing’s homebred Smuggler’s Run returns to the main track and gets back with statebreds on Saturday at Santa Anita as he heads a field of five sophomores going 6 ½ furlongs in the $150,000 Echo Eddie Stakes.
The Echo Eddie is part of the lucrative Golden State Series which is sponsored by the CTBA and is for eligible California-bred or sired runners.
By the numbers, Smuggler’s Run, who earned an 86 Beyer Speed Figure in taking a statebred allowance at six furlongs on turf Feb. 11 and who earned a solid 82 Beyer on grass in running a close second as the 4-5 favorite in an open allowance at six furlongs March 18, rates a huge chance.
A gelding by Straight Fire out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Maddie’s Odyssey, Smuggler’s Run, in his only try on dirt, was a first-out statebred maiden winner going six furlongs here as the 1-5 favorite on Jan. 1, when he was trained by Ruben Alvarado.
Currently trained by Richard Baltas, Smuggler’s Run, who is 4-2-1-0, with earnings of $100,040, will be ridden back by Flavien Prat in what will be his second start on dirt.
Fresh off of a statebred allowance win going six furlongs on March 7, the George Papaprodromou-trained Moose Mitchell earned a 70 Beyer and will be making his third start of the meet. A close second to Smuggler’s Run in a six furlong turf allowance Feb. 11 after battling head and head for the lead throughout, “Moose” earned a career-best 85 Beyer while beaten three quarters of a length.
A Danzing Candy gelding out of the City Zip mare Sunrise Avenue, Moose Mitchell is owned by R L Stables. With an overall mark of 9-2-3-1, he has earnings of $134,900.
Likely the quickest horse in the field, KMN Racing’s homebred What in Blazes finished second, beaten 1 ¼ lengths by Moose Mitchell as the 8-5 favorite in a statebred allowance at six furlongs March 7 and will hope to turn the tables on Saturday.
Trained by John Sadler, What in Blazes, a colt by Straight Fire out of the Western Fame mare Western Kitty, was overmatched off the bench two starts back when a distant second to Derby prospect Forbidden Kingdom in the Grade I San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs on Jan. 29.
Originally trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, What in Blazes was idle until the San Vicente following a 5 ¾ length statebred win going five furlongs at Del Mar July 17 and will be making his third start of the meet in the Echo Eddie.
The leading money earner in the field with $303,216, Terry Lovingier’s homebred Finneus shortens up from a mile and one sixteenth and returns to Santa Anita following a disappointing second as the 1-5 favorite in the Turf Paradise Derby March 11.
A statebred maiden winner going five furlongs in his second career start here on June 13, Finneus was subsequently second in both the Grade II Best Pal Stakes and the Grade I Del Mar Futurity, which was run on Sept. 6.
Trained by Walther Solis and owned in-part by Lovingier, Fasihuddin, Mohammed Nasser and Amanda Navarro, Finneus took Del Mar’s Golden State Juvenile going seven furlongs four starts back and had been stakes placed on five occasions as he approaches his third start of the year.
By Stay Thirsty out of the Ghostzapper mare My Fiona, Finneus is 9-2-4-2 overall.
THE ECHO EDDIE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 2 of 12 Approximate post time 12:30 p.m. PT
- Mr. T’s Thirsty–Tyler Baze–120
- Moose Mitchell–Diego Hererra–122
- What in Blazes–John Velazquez–120
- Smuggler’s Run–Joe Bravo–122
- Finneus–Juan Hernandez–124
Special early first post time on Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Day this Saturday is at 12 noon with admission gates opening at 10 a.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.
Santa Anita Press Release
Photo: Smuggler’s Run
