Trainer Blake Heap is looking forward to seeing trainer Wesley Ward
when his long-time friend and fellow trainer arrives from Florida for
the Christmas holidays.
Ward’s visit is two-fold: to see his family and to saddle Cozy
Kitten in the Grade II Sir Beaufort Stakes at one mile on the grass on
opening day.
Cozy Kitten worked four furlongs on Santa Anita’s turf course
Tuesday in 48.60. “He worked real good around the dogs,” Heap said.
“He’s doing really well.
“Wesley is coming in with his wife (Kim) to see her grandmother.
He was going to be here next Monday anyway, so he said, ‘We might as
well run.’”
Cozy Kitten is coming off a seventh-place finish in the Grade I
Hollywood Derby on Nov. 27, but was beaten less than three lengths.
“He had a lot of trouble in the race,” Heap said. “He might want a
little longer than the one mile of the Sir Beaufort, but hopefully
we’ll have opportunities later in the meet in the turf marathons at a
mile and a half and the San Juan Capistrano (at about 1 ¾ miles) on
closing day.”
The field for the 12th running of the Sir Beaufort, which goes as
the eighth race: Cozy Kitten, Alonso Quinonez, 12-1; Venomous, Joel
Rosario, 4-1; Comma to the Top, Joe Talamo, 4-1; Mr. Commons, Mike
Smith, 9-5; Thirtyfirststreet, Hector Berrios,20-1; Irish Art, Rafael
Bejarano, 10-1; Moment of Weakness, Kevin Krigger, 30-1; Ultimate Eagle,
Martin Pedroza, 3-1; and Riveting Reason, Victor Espinoza, 20-1.