This much is certain - Cheever was an expensive purchase for $700,000 as a 2-year-old in 2024 and has worked well from the gate in recent weeks in advance of his first start in a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on Saturday.
How the race will unfold and whether Cheever can beat what looks to be a talented field is unclear to trainer Mark Glatt.
“His works have been very good from the gate,” Glatt said on Thursday. “There is some chance that’s a little bit of a sandbagger in the morning and that he’ll show more in the afternoon.
“He’s been solid. I don’t think he’s done anything in the mornings to wow us. We’re anxious to get started and see where we’re at.”
By Into Mischief, Cheever is owned by Muir Hut Racing. Last summer, Cheever advanced to half-mile workouts at Del Mar before he was taken out of training. He resumed workouts in late February and has largely had a steady pattern of works in recent months. Cheever worked five furlongs from the gate in a minute on April 20, and in 1:00.40 on April 28.
Glatt said Cheever needs to stay focused on racing to have a chance for a win on Saturday.
“He’s real ‘colty,’” Glatt said. “He has some antics about him.”
Cheever, who will be ridden by Antonio Fresu, is part of a field of seven led by Sierra Silver, who finished third in his debut for trainer Bob Baffert in a maiden race at six furlongs on April 6. Sierra Silver disputed the pace before fading through the stretch to finish behind Goal Oriented.
Goal Oriented had his first start on April 6 and returned to win an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs on May 3. Goal Oriented, trained by Baffert, is a candidate for the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 17.
In Saturday’s maiden race, Baffert also starts Southern Gentleman, a 3-year-old by Mitole purchased for $725,000 as a 2-year-old in 2024. Southern Gentleman is a half-brother to the two-time stakes winner Midnight Stroll, and a half-sister to the stakes-placed Atthecrossroads.
Penalty Box, a colt by Violence, races for the first time after displaying quick works in recent weeks for trainer Michael McCarthy.
“He’s had a couple of good works,” McCarthy said on Thursday. “I decided to run him. We might as well go.”
Glatt and Muir Hat also start the gelding Vasa, a 4-year-old first-time starter who has also worked well from the gate.
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