A week after he finished last of seven in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita, Air Force Red has been entered in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes for turf sprinters at Santa Anita.
Trainer Leonard Powell said on Friday that Air Force Red’s rapid recovery made the $100,000 San Simeon Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course a possibility. Entries for the San Simeon were taken on Monday, less than 48 hours after Air Force Red ran in the Kilroe Mile.
Powell was frustrated that Air Force Red stalked a slow pace on the inside in the Kilroe Mile under jockey Juan Hernandez and was not a factor in the stretch, finishing 4 1/4 lengths behind Formidable Man.
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Hernandez did not urge Air Force Red to the front in the Kilroe Mile, avoiding a possible speed duel with the longshot Cabo Spirit, who was ridden by Mike Smith. Cabo Spirit eventually finished third.
“There was jockey talk behind the starting gate that Mike would send [Cabo Spirit]," Powell said. Hernandez “did the sensible thing of not going head-to-head. Instead of getting a clear run, he got boxed in.”
The loss was aggravating for Powell considering Cabo Spirit ran the opening half-mile in 47.26 seconds, a slow pace for a one-mile race on turf. Air Force Red has often set a quicker pace in races at a mile.
“Going 46 is a high-cruising speed for him,” Powell said.
Armando Ayuso rides Air Force Red on Saturday for the first time since a second by a head in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields last April.
“It was a last-minute decision to put him in,” Powell said of entering Air Force Red.
Hernandez should have a say in the outcome aboard the speedy Mucho Del Oro, who he rode to a win in the 2024 San Simeon Stakes. Powell wants Ayuso to stalk the pace.
“There is quite a bit of speed again,” Powell said. “Ironically, J.J. is riding a horse with more speed than us. We can sit just off the leaders and make one run.”
Saturday’s 11-race program is led by the Grade 1 Beholder Mile for fillies and mares on dirt, the eighth race. The San Simeon is the ninth race.
The 10th race is an intriguing allowance race at one mile that drew a field of eight, including Eagles Flight, a half-brother to 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline.
Eagles Flight, trained by John Sadler for the partnership of Hronis Racing, Summer Wind Equine, and W.S. Farish, is set for this third career start on Saturday.
A 4-year-old colt, Eagles Flight won his debut last May, but did not race again in 2024. Eagles Flight was second to Mirahmadi in an allowance race at a mile on Jan. 5 as the 4-5 favorite.
Eagles Flight was scratched from an allowance race on Feb. 2. Sadler later said that Eagles Flight was briefly sidelined by a quarter crack. Eagles Flight has had four workouts since Feb. 11.
Eagles Flight is part of a field that includes the multiple stakes winner None Above the Law, who is entered to be claimed for $50,000, and Santarena, who won a maiden race from the front at 6 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 25 in his 10th start and will race at a mile for the first time on Saturday.
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