Delta Prince Solid Favorite in Shoemaker Mile

A field of eight line up in the $500,000 Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita. (photo credit: santaanita.com)

A field of nine line up in Monday’s $500,000 Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita led by the James Jerkens trained Delta Prince who ships in from New York.

The Shoemaker Mile is one of three Grade 1 races on tap. The others are the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita and the $500,000 Gamely.

Delta Prince, the 5-2 morning line favorite, comes into the Shoemaker Mile off a victory in the Makers 46 Mile (G1) at Keeneland on April 12. Joel Rosario picks up the call and will break from the eight post.

The top three finishers form the Frank Kilroe (G1) return. Ohio won by a nose pulling off the upset to the tune of $21.20. Catapult (3-1) was beaten the nose while Desert Stone (12-1) was another 1 ¾ lengths behind in third.

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The Shoemaker Mile is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).

The Gamely drew a field of eight led by the Chad Brown trained Rymska (5-2), who is coming off a runner up finish in the Jenny Wiley (G1) at Keeneland. Her main foes are Royal Heroine (G2) winner Vasilika (8-5) and Santa Ana (G3) winner Elysea’s World.

The Gold Cup is led by Gift Box (8-5), winner of the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) in his last outing for trainer John Sadler. Trainer Todd Pletcher ships in Vino Rosso (5-2), who was fourth in the Carter Handicap (G1) in his last outing.

Let’s head out to Santa Anita for Monday’s featured race of the day:

Santa Anita

SA Race 9 The Shoemaker Mile G1 (5:03 PT)

#8 Delta Prince 5-2

#4 River Boyne 6-1

#5 Catapult 3-1

#2 Sharp Samurai 4-1

Delta Prince

The James Jerkens trainee came off a 2 1/2-month break with a good looking sore in the Makers 46 Mile (G1) at Keeneland over good ground. The six-year-old made a good late rally from last to first and drew clear late. Two back he headed for home with the lead in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) but got run down, checking in third while beaten 2 3/4 lengths. The winner Bricks and Mortar came back to win the Muniz Memorial (G2) at Fair Grounds and the Old Forester Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs. he has been best on ground with some give to it but did win the Kind Edward (G2) over firm ground and Arcadia did get a little rain. He should get an honest pace to run at.

River Boyne

The colt made a good late rally to finish in the runner up spot in the San Francisco (G3) at Golden Gate Fields last out. He rallied to finish fourth behind three of these he faces again in the Frank Kilroe (G1) two back here at a mile. He has won six of his eight trips over the Santa Anita turf including winning the Mathis Brothers Mile (G2) last December. His best puts him in the mix and his 6-1 morning line looks fair enough.

Catapult

The John Sadler trainee stalked the early pace and finished gamely to just miss in the Kilroe by a nose at 4-5. He was beaten just a half-length in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) last fall and has earned triple digit Beyers in three of his last five starts with a 99 last out. He won the Del Mar Mile (G2) last summer with a career top number. He is a logical threat to be in the mix here for the Sadler barn that has been sending out live runners at the meeting, hitting at a 27% clip.