Grass, dirt, synthetic: Mensa Heat has won on each surface. Trainer
Doug O’Neill is confident the 6-year-old Unusual Heat gelding claimed
for $62,500 four races ago will give another solid effort when he runs
in Saturday’s $100,000 Donald Valpredo Cal Cup Sprint at six furlongs on
conventional dirt Saturday at Santa Anita.
“He’s doing fantastic,” the Kentucky Derby-winning trainer said
of Mensa Heat, who has a 9-9-9 record from 48 starts with earnings of
$505,718. “He’s honest, he’s versatile, he tries hard; he’s just a
gamer.
“He’s one of those who shows up every race, so we’re pumped to see him compete.”
The field for the Sprint, race seven: Maui Mark, Garrett Gomez,
8-1; Bench Points, Chantal Sutherland, 8-1; Mensa Heat, Edwin Maldonado,
5-2; Night Wind, Juan Hernandez, 30-1; Obsess, Joe Talamo, 15-1;
Korban, Joel Rosario, 15-1; Ain’t No Other, Rafael Bejarano, 3-1;
Shudacudawudya, Julien Couton, 7-2; Derby Gold, Martin Garcia, 6-1; and
Legal Separation, Russell Baze, 20-1.