ARCADIA, Calif. – So far, only two colts have finished in front of Journalism, the favorite for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
One of them, Smooth Cruisein, won an allowance race at Santa Anita last Saturday in a career-best effort that has left trainer Karen Headley and co-owner Marsha Naify hopeful he can become a stakes winner in coming months.
Journalism has started five times, starting with a third behind Smooth Cruisein and Mellencamp in a maiden race at Santa Anita last October. Journalism has not lost since.
Smooth Cruisen won for the second time in his fourth start in a six-furlong race last Saturday. He emerged from the race in excellent condition, according to Headley.
“When he was in the receiving barn, he was happy,” Headley said on Thursday. “He could hardly keep his feet on the ground.”
The win by Smooth Cruisein was a reversal of two comprehensive losses in Grade 2 stakes at Santa Anita earlier this year that ended any hopes for a start in a Triple Crown race. Smooth Cruisein was fourth of five behind Barnes in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs on Jan. 4 after a wide trip, and last of five behind Journalism after another wide trip in the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 1.
Headley, the daughter of the late, famed trainer Bruce Headley, wonders if Smooth Cruisein would have been a Kentucky Derby starter with better results.
“If he didn’t have those two bad rides, I think he’d be in a different state right now,” Headley said in the winner’s circle last Saturday.
Smooth Cruisein, by Girvin, is co-owned by the Headley family’s Matson Racing Stable, Sandra Brown, and Elise Naify. Smooth Cruisein was 21-1 when he won the six-furlong maiden race last October, while Journalism was 9-2. Smooth Cruisein closed from fourth to win by a half-length over Mellencamp and 2 3/4 lengths over Journalism.
Mellencamp remains winless after five starts, including a fourth-place finish in the San Felipe, his latest race. Mellencamp was recently transferred from trainer Bob Baffert to Brittany Russell in Maryland, where the colt breezed three furlongs on April 19.
Journalism won a maiden race at Del Mar at a mile last November and the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity in December in his final start of 2024. This year, Journalism is unbeaten in two starts – the San Felipe and the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5.
Smooth Cruisein was nominated to the Santa Anita Derby but was not entered.
Headley is rooting for Journalism on Saturday after watching his recent exercise from Churchill Downs on television.
“I saw him training and he looked gorgeous,” she said on Thursday. “I hope he does win.”
Smooth Cruisein earned a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure with his win by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:09.54 against older horses last Saturday. Ridden for the first time by Tiago Pereira, a replacement for Ricky Gonzalez, Smooth Cruisein disputed the lead throughout.
“We think he has enormous potential,” Naify said in the winner’s circle.
Headley said she has yet to decide whether Smooth Cruisein will remain in sprints or be tried in longer races again. The only remaining stakes for 3-year-olds on dirt at the current Santa Anita spring meeting is the $100,000 Affirmed Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on June 8. The season ends on June 15.
“We don’t know if we’ll keep him sprinting or long,” she said. “I don’t want to rush him.”
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