Stage Shy Faces Males

A winner of three of four starts in the U.S., Stage Shy will make her first start in well over a year in today’s $100,000 Carleton F. Burke Handicap at Santa Anita.

Trained by Neil Drysdale for Swettenham Stud, the 5-year-old Theatrical mare hasn’t been seen since she won a $75,000 allowance by three lengths on Aug. 23, 2004, at Del Mar.

Successful at 1 1/4 miles and 1 3/8 miles, Stage Shy, who will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux, will be stretching to 1 1/2 miles on the grass as she takes on males for the first time in this country.

Stage Shy is no stranger to Santa Anita. She has won both of her starts over the local lawn. She won by two lengths in her first U.S. appearance on Jan. 29, 2004, then returned two months later to win by four lengths.

Wild Buddy, who has won 10 of 38 on the grass, is the one to catch in the Burke, which is a Grade III.

The 6-year-old gelding is making his third start since being claimed for $85,000 by trainer Steve Knapp for owner Michael Miller.

This will also be the first time the Florida bred has tried 12 furlongs.

Race of the day: Vicarage, who won the Perryville at Keeneland by 10 lengths on Oct. 14, heads a field of nine set to run in the $100,000 Ack Ack Handicap, the opening day feature at Churchill Downs. Rafael Bejarano, who led the jockey standings at Keeneland, will again ride the 3-year-old Vicar colt for Dogwood Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher in the Grade III at 7 1/2 furlongs.

One for the road: Umpateedle, who has won two in a row and 17 of 52, will try for another victory for owner Michael Gill and trainer Mark Shuman in today’s $150,000 First Flight Handicap at Belmont Park, which concludes its fall meet this afternoon.

Aaron Gryder will ride Umpateedle, a 6-year-old Suave Prospect mare, in the Grade II at seven furlongs and she was very game in her last win in the Gallant Bloom on Oct. 9.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Paradise Cove, Preachintothechoir, Precis and Hockey The General in the sixth, Legal Logic in the seventh, Stage Shy and Wild Buddy in the eighth and Mesa Magic, Too Much George and Herbie Love in the ninth.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 3/72. Money: (previous day/meet total): $24.80/$390.60. Total money bet: $442.