Clooney ran a brave race to finish second by a head in a $20,000 claimer at Del Mar on Aug. 23, a result that leaves the three-time winner a contender in a one-mile allowance race at Los Alamitos on Sunday.
Trained by Peter Miller for Les Blake, Clooney returned from a layoff of more than 12 months on Aug. 23. The third choice in a field of seven, Clooney stalked the pace, led briefly and was competitive to the wire.
Clooney was second in a productive allowance race at a mile on dirt at Santa Anita in June 2024, when trained by Steve Knapp, and could get a favorable trip in a field of 10 on Sunday.
“I think he should fit well,” Miller said. “He’s run well in this type of spot before.”
Clooney, who tends to run from off the pace, drew the outside post and is one of two runners in the field trained by Miller, who also starts Money Run. A six-time winner, Money Run often races near the front.
“They could have complementary styles,” Miller said. “Money Run is very fast. We’ll send him and sit with Clooney.”
Money Run led throughout an $8,000 claimer at a mile at Del Mar on Sept. 1, his first win at the distance. Money Run has won five sprints in his career in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Texas.
Money Run is one of five last-race winners in the allowance race, along with Baladi, Big Juanito, Leading, and Man Child.
Baladi won an allowance race at 1,000 yards at the Los Alamitos evening meeting on Sept. 7, his second win in such a race in the last year. Trained by Craig Dollase, Baladi starts from the inside post.
Man Child won his second consecutive race, the fifth victory in his career, in a $12,500 claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Sept. 6, the day he was claimed by trainer Jesus Uranga. Man Child may race near the front. He is winless in three starts at a mile, all this year.
Big Juanito won a $10,000 claimer for non-winners of three for his second consecutive win at Del Mar on Aug. 28, the day he was claimed by Bob Hess Jr. Along with Clooney, Big Juanito can be a danger from off the pace.
Leading, a 4-year-old gelding by Uncle Mo, is the lone runner in the field without a start this year. Leading was claimed by current trainer Doug O’Neill for $62,500 from a win in a maiden race on turf at Del Mar in August 2024, his last start. Leading was well beaten in two starts on dirt earlier in his career and has had a series of fast workouts at Los Alamitos in recent months.
The allowance race is the 10th and final race on the last day of the Los Alamitos September meeting. The Santa Anita autumn meeting begins on Friday.
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