Caracortado, a hard-luck loser in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (gr. I) last month, looks like a standout in the $150,000 Arcadia Stakes (gr. IIT) at the same distance April 9 at Santa Anita.
Seven are entered in the Arcadia, which is part of a big bill on a Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) card that includes four graded stakes. The one-mile Arcadia is the seventh race on the program and is expected to go off at 3:07 p.m. (PDT).
A lifetime winner of four of six Southern California starts on synthetic tracks, Caracortado seems to have also found a home on turf for trainer Michael Machowsky, co-owner and breeder of the 4-year-old California-bred gelding. Caracortado, a son of Cat Dreams, captured the Sunshine Millions Turf at nine furlongs by a half-length in his first try on the Santa Anita grass in January.
Favored at 6-5 in the Kilroe, Caracortado belatedly closed a world of ground from between horses in the stretch and missed by a head to the stubborn Fluke, who was not entered in the Arcadia.
Caracortado also won his sprint debut on grass in November at Hollywood Park after a six-month layoff following a dull seventh-place effort in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) last May.
A lifetime earner of $551,520 for Machowksy and Don Blahut from a career record of 7-1-2 in 12 starts, Caracortado drew the rail for his return in the Arcadia and will be guided by his regular pilot, Joe Talamo.
The main danger for Caracortado likely is Jeranimo, who finished a fast-closing third by a half-length on the outside of Caracortado in the Kilroe Mile. Jeranimo also chased Caracortado when fourth as the 7-5 favorite in the Sunshine Millions Turf.
Trained by Michael Pender for B. J. Wright, the 5-year-old son of Congaree owns a 5-3-3 record in 17 starts for earnings of $486,400. Rafael Bejarano will ride Jeranimo, who spots Caracortado five pounds with top weight of 123.
Mercedes Stable's Run It was formerly based in Northern California with trainer Dennis Patterson. He won the Berkeley Handicap (gr. III) on Golden Gate's Tapeta racing surface May 31 and now shows up in the Arcadia for trainer Tim Yakteen.
He makes his first start since winning a dirt stakes at Pleasanton in July. The 5-year-old son of Cherokee Run has won two of four starts on turf, including the 2009 Alcatraz Stakes at Golden Gate.
The Neil Drysdale-trained Liberian Freighter, winner of the Oak Tree Mile (gr. IIT) at Hollywood Park at odds of 22-1 last October, weakened and finished eighth in the Kilroe last time out.
Also in the Arcadia field are Leroy's Dynameaux and Blue Chagall, second and fifth, respectively in the Joe Hernandez Stakes on the hillside turf course at about 6 1/2 furlongs March 18.
$150,000 Arcadia Stakes (gr. IIT, Race 7, 3:07 p.m.), 4 & Up, 1 Mile (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Caracortado (CA), J Talamo, 118, M Machowsky
2. Leroy's Dynameaux (KY), J Rosario, 118, M Glatt
3. Norvsky (CA), C Sutherland, 118, D Warren
4. Blue Chagall (FR), G K Gomez, 118, J C Canani
5. Liberian Freighter (CA), M Garcia, 123, N D Drysdale
6. Jeranimo (FL), R Bejarano, 123, M Pender
7. Run It (KY), A Quinonez, 118, T Yakteen
