With speed, speed and more speed on paper in Saturday’s Grade II Kona Gold Stakes, stretch-running Sahara Sky is primed to pick up the pieces in the 6 ½ furlong race for older horses that offers $200,000 in prize money.
“He’s ready,” Dan Ward, assistant to Jerry Hollendorfer, said of the 7-year-old Pleasant Tap horse owned by Hollendorfer and the Sweetwater Stable of former trainer Kim Lloyd.
“He’s not a fast worker, but he has two 13s (six furlong drills in 1:13, handily from the gate on March 28 and six furlongs in 1:13.20 on March 22), and that’s a good work for him.”
On Sunday, Sahara Sky worked six furlongs in 1:16.
“There are six other speed horses in there, but you know what happens,” Ward cautioned. “You look at an overnight and it looks like there are four speed horses, and somebody will go 23 and 46 by himself, so you never know.
“But the horse is doing very well.”
Sahara Sky, winner of the Grade I Metropolitan Mile in 2013, has earnings of $1,145,578 with eight wins, four seconds and four thirds from 21 starts.
The Kona Gold: Spirit Rules, Iggy Puglisi, 8-1; Caminetto, 8-1, Martin Garcia; Seeking the Sherif, Kayla Stra, 4-1; Sahara Sky, Rafael Bejarano, 5-2; San Onofre, Alex Solis, 3-1; Masochistic, Tyler Baze, 2-1; and Ankeny Hills, Edwin Maldonado, 12-1.
MASOCHISTIC MAY RATE FOR ELLIS IN KONA GOLD
The only time Masochistic didn’t make the lead or wasn’t in front at any point in the race came in his first start, March 15, 2014, when he finished fifth, beaten 4 ¼ lengths.
The 5-year-old California-bred son of Sought After won four of five subsequent starts, each time in front-running fashion, all under the aegis of trainer A. C. Avila.
Purchased privately following his most recent start by Samantha Siegel and now trained by Ron Ellis, Masochistic is favored at 2-1 on the morning line to capture Saturday’s Kona Gold Stakes, although there are several other speed horses in the race.
Asked if he had to be on the lead to win, Ellis said, “I hope not, because it’s kind of one dimensional. He drew a good post to be able to kind of adapt to whatever goes on. We’ll see how the break goes and see what Tyler (Baze) thinks.
“I would hope he can rate a little bit. He’s been good since I’ve had him. He’s been working great.”
THEATRE STAR SHORTENS UP IN LAS CIENEGAS STAKES
Theatre Star is cutting back in distance after 10 career starts at a mile or longer when she runs in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes for older fillies and mares at about 6 ½ furlongs on turf. It will mark her first start in six months.
The 5-year-old War Front mare trained by Tom Proctor for Glen Hill Farm has four wins, but seeks her first stakes score Saturday. Drayden Van Dyke, who has ridden the bay three times, has been aboard for her recent drills.
“She’s working lights out and Tom knows where to put his horses,” said the Eclipse Award-winning apprentice rider of 2014. “If he thinks she belongs in that spot, I think she does. I hope for a nice, clean break and a nice trip to give her the best chance possible.”
The field for the Las Cienegas: Theatre Star, Drayden Van Dyke, 8-1; Home Journey, Rafael Bejarano, 4-1; Living the Life, Flavien Prat, 9-2; Salsita, Felipe Valdez, 50-1; Blingismything, Elvis Trujillo, 4-1; Go West Marie, Gary Stevens, 2-1; Unforgettable U, Edwin Maldonado, 20-1; and Heavens Stairway, Tyler Baze, 5-2.
