Post-Race Review
Jockey Tyler Baze guided favored Battle of Hastings (GB) through the field in the stretch to win the La Puente Stakes, finishing 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Smokey Lonesome and Wall Street Wonder. The three-year-old Royal Applause (GB) gelding was coming off a win in the March 1st Baldwin Stakes, also over Santa Anita’s turf course.
Jeff Mullins trains Battle of Hastings, whose record improves to four wins in eight starts. The final time for the mile was 1:34.38. The three top choices in the race finished in the top three spots, yielding a $31.10 trifecta payout. Battle of Hastings paid $4.80 to win.
Pre-Race Analysis
Eleven three-year-old colts and geldings tackle the $100,000 La Puente Stakes, the feature on the second to last Saturday in the Santa Anita winter meet.
Battle of Hastings (GB) will be the favorite after winning the Baldwin Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs over Santa Anita’s turf course last out in his second US start. The Royal Applause (GB) gelding is trained by Jeff Mullins, who is having an excellent year and trains one of the big Derby favorites in I Want Revenge. Tyler Baze will ride. Mullins also starts Leedstheway, a colt who won a 6 1/2 furlong main track race on January 23rd and will be ridden by Joe Talamo, jockey for I Want Revenge.
Mr. Monkey Jones could be an interesting play at 20/1 on the morning line with a 100.00 CASE rating. The Bob Hess-trainee finished second in the King Glorious Handicap at Golden Gate last out and will be ridden by Corey Nakatani. The winner of the King Glorious, Charlie’s Moment, has the most experience of any horse in the field with ten lifetime starts. Last out, Charlie’s Moment was second by a half-length in the San Miguel Stakes. He will be ridden by Alex Solis for Walther Solis and has a CASE rating of 98.95.
Arden Park is undefeated in two starts, both at one mile, for trainer Greg Gilchrist of Lost in the Fog fame. Mike Smith will ride the Ecton Park colt. Wall Street Wonder also has a good shot for trainer Bob Baffert. The City Place colt finished third, beaten less than a length, in the Pasadena Stakes, a race that produced three starters in this field. Wall Street Wonder, who will be ridden by Joel Rosario, won a maiden race on Janaury 24th prior to the Pasadena.
Second in the Pasadena was Smokey Lonesome, a Teton Forest gelding trained by Art Sherman. Smokey Lonesome was ridden in the Pasadena by Victor Espinoza, who will again on Saturday. Smokey Lonesome could prove to be a contender with a CASE Rating of 97.14.
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Emily Shields is a regular contributor to Case the Race. She has written for California Thoroughbred, Churchill Downs media, and international racing magazines.
