Century City prompted the pace before fading like a cheap suit in the Explosive Bid Handicap (gr. IIT) at the Fair Grounds on March 23, dawdling home ninth, beaten by seven lengths.Jockey Jose Valdivia Jr., who rode the inconsistent son of Danzig for trainer Beau Greely that day, advises to draw a line through that race and look for improvement in Sunday's $150,000 Arcadia Handicap (gr. IIT) for older horses at 1 1/8 mile on the turf."He didn't really have any problems in the race," Valdivia said. "He never cared for the track. He just kept bobbling, going up and down. The course was firm but they have long grass and they roll it down, and he was just always uncomfortable. He spit the bit about the half-mile pole. He wasn't even trying to run and he only got beat seven lengths.
"He pulled up like he hadn't done anything. I spoke to Beau after that and he told me that's why he's wheeling him right back. The trip didn't seem to take anything out of him. I guess we have to throw that race out."Century City has a 5-2-2 record from 14 starts, with earnings of $387,940.Probable for the Arcadia: Ballingarry, Kent Desormeaux; Century City, Jose Valdivia Jr.; Gondolieri, no rider; Harrisand, Pat Valenzuela; Mananan McLir, Mike Smith; Night Life, Victor Espinoza; and Sunday Break, Corey Nakatani.
