T.H. Approval Will Try to Put Stamp on San Luis Rey
If a trainer is going to win only one race in the course of a year, it is best that it be a stakes race.
Such was the case for Eduardo Inda in 2005.
A longtime assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally, Inda started only 30 horses last year, but secured a stakes victory with T.H. Approval in the $250,000 San Juan Capistrano.
A gray son of With Approval owned by breeder Tadahiro Hotehama, T.H. Approval was a 5-1 shot and beat favored Exterior by 1 1/2 lengths in the Capistrano, a Grade II at about 1 3/4 miles on the turf.
Before he tries to become the fifth horse to win the San Juan two years in a row, T.H. Approval will seek his fifth lifetime victory in the $200,000 San Luis Rey Handicap today.
A Grade II at 1 1/2 miles on the grass, the San Luis Rey attracted nine other older horses, headed by the Gary Tanaka-owned entry of Atlando and King’s Drama.
The San Luis Obispo Handicap on Feb. 26 marked T.H. Approval’s return to the races after more than seven months on the sidelines. He came in second, three-quarters of a length behind Atlando. Alex Solis that day was aboard T.H. Approval for the first time and will be aboard today.
“He came out of that race very good and he’s done well since,” said Inda, who did a good job with the multiple-stakes-winning mare Riboletta after going out on his own. “I thought he ran very well last time.”
The horse had been in need of a vacation.
First or second in three of his five starts at the San Luis Rey distance, T.H. Approval was given some time off after finishing in a dead heat for second with Runaway Dancer in the Sunset Breeders’ Cup Handicap July 17 at Hollywood Park.
“He was a little body sore,” Inda said. “He had run about once a month last year and the veterinarian said if we gave him some time off it would do him some good. The plan is to run him [today] and then come back in the San Juan Capistrano.”
Meanwhile, Atlando will have a new jockey. Jose Valdivia Jr. replaces Martin Pedroza, who is riding today in Dubai.
Trained by Darrell Vienna, the 5-year-old gelded son of Hernando has won two of four in the U.S. Besides his victory in the San Luis Obispo, he won the Knickerbocker Handicap on Oct. 30 at Belmont Park.
Completing the field are Bullistic, who was fourth in the San Luis Obispo; Eastern Sand, who has been second in all five of his races on the local turf course, Totally Platinum, Balustrade, Wild Buddy, One Off and Golden Rahy.
*
Corinthian, who was disqualified and placed third after crossing the finish line first in the Fountain Of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on March 4, won’t participate in any of the Triple Crown races.
The 3-year-old son of Pulpit, who is owned by Centennial Farms and trained by Jimmy Jerkens, suffered a hairline fracture in his left hind leg. Before the injury, Corinthian had been preparing for the $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 8 at Aqueduct. He’ll probably return to the races during the summer.
*
Strong Contender, who would have been favored in the $500,000 Lane’s End today at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., won’t be running in the Grade II.
Unbeaten in two starts for owner John Oxley and trainer John Ward, the son of Maria’s Mon was excluded from the race because of insufficient earnings. Only 12 will be allowed to start. But 13 were entered and Strong Contender’s earnings of $36,000 were the least, so he was the odd 3-year-old out.
An impressive winner going a mile in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park last month in his first start of 2006, Strong Contender will now be pointed to the Wood Memorial.
In Strong Contender’s absence, the 1 1/8 -mile race on the Polytrack is wide open. Contenders include the Nick Zito-trained Superfly and Hemingway’s Key, along with Starspangled Gator, Tahoe Warrior, Laity and Silent Times.
The card at Turfway Park also includes the $100,000 Rushaway, an ungraded race for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. High Cotton, who finished last as the favorite in Strong Contender’s allowance win in Florida, will try to bounce back against 11 opponents.
