2019 Sham Stakes Study Guide

Jan 04, 2019 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A field of seven newly turned three-year-olds is set to enter the gates at Santa Anita Park on Saturday to take part in the $100,000 Sham Stakes (G3), the second Road to the Kentucky Derby points contest of 2019.

The field is divided between four trainers, with Bob Baffert, Keith Desormeaux and Peter Miller each entering two while conditioner Jerry Hollendorfer is looking to score with a single runner.

FREE Brisnet.com PPs and TwinSpires.com Tipsheet for the Sham Stakes!

SUENO

Sueno Career Racing Stats

3 Starts
2 Wins
0 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $70,440

Top BRIS Speed rating (88) earned in maiden claiming win

Owner: Silverton Hill LLC
Breeder: Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings (KY)
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: Kent Desormeaux

Sire: Atreides
Dam: Class Above
Color: Dark Bay

Kentucky-bred showed solid improvement in a juvenile campaign which was capped by a tally in the Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate Fields. Dark bay colt is bred to run all day, and he gets a good rail draw to save ground early and make a run late. The closing type shows positive morning drills in advance of his Santa Anita bow.

GRAY MAGICIAN

Gray Magician Career Racing Stats

4 Starts
1 Wins
1 Place
2 Show
Total Career Earnings: $57,000

Top BRIS Speed rating (92) earned finishing second in maiden race

Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Wachtel Stables
Breeder: Twin Creeks Farm (KY)
Trainer: Peter Miller
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Sire: Graydar
Dam: Burg Berg
Color: Gray

Kentucky-bred colt ran a lifetime-best in a recent maiden romp while making his two-turn bow. This interesting prospect showed marked improvement with the barn change last time and he figures to get a share with another step forward in his first try with winners. The sophomore retains the services of Flavien Prat and could sit a nice trip a few lengths off the tempo.

SAVAGERY

Savagery Career Racing Stats

6 Starts
1 Wins
2 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $61,125

Top BRIS Speed rating (92) earned finishingsecond in Sunny Slope Stakes

Owner: Rockingham Ranch
Breeder: Ponder Hill Inc. (KY)
Trainer: Peter Miller
Jockey: Joel Rosario

Sire: Bellamy Road
Dam: Successful Katie
Color: Bay

Speedster was no match in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) with blinkers coming off but the hood returns in this one. The Peter Miller pupil is proven at the stakes level, with runner-up finishes in both the Sunny Slope Stakes and Bob Hope Stakes (G3). This former claimer is a question mark going long and will have to prove capable at handling a route of ground here, though. Picking up Joel Rosario is a positive move.

EASY SHOT

Easy Shot Career Racing Stats

4 Starts
1 Wins
1 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $35,800

Top BRIS Speed rating (84) earned finishing second in a maiden claimer and winning a maiden claimer

Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Hinkle Farms (KY)
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano

Sire: Trappe Shot
Dam: Daddy’s Dreamgirl
Color: Bay

The bay colt faces a tall task in going maiden claiming-to-stakes, as well as sprint-to-route, in this one. The $80,000 yearling purchase put it all together most recently, but he must get faster to challenge the top players in the field. Rafael Bejarano inherits the mount and will attempt to make one run in the stretch atop the likely long shot.

COLISEUM

Coliseum Career Racing Stats

1 Starts
1 Wins
0 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $31,800

Top BRIS Speed rating (95) earned in debut maiden win

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin (KY)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Joe Talamo

Sire: Tapit
Dam: Game Face
Color: Gray/Roan

Sensational debut winner was never challenged at Del Mar while appearing to be a superb prospect. The sophomore was produced from a Grade 1-winning lass, and the Godolphin homebred has trained in fine fashion following his tally with bullet moves in four of his last five morning drills. The gray Kentucky-bred posted a substantial 102 BRIS Late Pace number to hint that added distance will be a plus. Top prospect is the one to beat.

GUNMETAL GRAY

Gunmetal Gray Career Racing Stats

4 Starts
1 Wins
1 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $157,200

Top BRIS Speed rating (96) earned in maiden score

Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds et al’s
Breeder: Lee Pokoik (KY)
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Jockey: Mike Smith

Sire: Exchange Rate
Dam: Classofsixtythree
Color: Gray/Roan

Grade 1-placed sophomore finished a distant fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in his latest venture and comes in fresh for his seasonal bow. The $225,000 juvenile purchase has a trio of route races under his belt and draws well on the outside of the favorite. Mike Smith gets the reins for the initial time and likely will track the one to his inside from the opening bell.

MUCH BETTER

Much Better Career Racing Stats

3 Starts
1 Wins
1 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $56,000

Top BRIS Speed rating (88) earned finishing second in Zuma Beach Stakes

Owner: Three Chimneys Farm
Breeder: Three Chimneys Farm (KY)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke

Sire: Pioneerof the Nile
Dam: Dust and Diamonds
Color: Dark Bay

Wildcard in the field is one of two for Bob Baffert. This $600,000 yearling buy was a winner on debut over the Del Mar dirt before switching to the turf in his past pair. The ridgling has the best pedigree in the cast for running long and he also gets the advantageous outside post in a field full of pace. The Kentucky-bred shows swift morning drills in advance of his first stakes try on the main oval, and the three-year-old will be forwardly placed from the outset under regular pilot Drayden Van Dyke.