Rafael Bejarano and Caracortado will be introduced for the first time
Sunday. The meeting will take place in Santa Anita’s walking ring prior
to the Daytona Stakes where Bejarano will prepare to climb aboard the
5-year-old gelding for the first time in the Grade III event at about 6 ½
furlongs on turf.
“He’s never been on him,” trainer Mike Machowsky said when asked
if the jockey had ever been on the California-bred son of Cat Dreams.
“I won’t tell him much. Raffy’s a very smart student of racing.
“Every time I’ve ever ridden him, he’s come to the paddock and
pretty much analyzed everything. The Daytona is a very tough race. With
me, Mr Gruff and Regally Ready in there, I think we probably have the
three best turf sprinters in the country right now.”
Machowsky hopes to have a favorable pace scenario, with Regally
Ready and Mr Gruff setting things up for Caracortado’s stretch run.
“Everything’s been perfect (coming into the Daytona),” Machowsky
said. “It looks like there’s enough pace in the race, so we’ll just let
him settle and kick home.”
The field for the Daytona, race eight on a nine-race card:
Calimonco, Mike Smith, 12-1; Mr Gruff, Joel Rosario, 9-5; Victory Pete,
Martin Garcia, 15-1; Caracortado, Rafael Bejarano, 5-2; Silver
Summation, Garrett Gomez, 15-1; Regally Ready, Corey Nakatani, 8-5; and
Al Instante, Kevin Krigger, 12-1.