January 2, 2025
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Red Hot Coal
On a run of two straight stakes wins, Coal Battle (9-2) enters the $250,000 Smarty Jones with no intentions of slowing down.
A pair of impressive, and strikingly similar performances in the Remington Springboard Mile (hard rally for a half-length score) and Jean Lafitte Stakes’ (late rally for the 2 ½-length win) have the Juan Vargas mount set up nicely ahead of his Oaklawn Park debut.
However, the 3-year-old colt must be mindful of how much ground he’ll need to cover to outduel Hot Property on Saturday.
The latter opens as the 8-5 favorite despite having just one start – a front-leading 3 ¾-length maiden special weight victory at Fair Grounds – under his belt.
One Giant Leap for Barnes
If Barnes plans on making the leap to ‘stakes winner,’ he’ll need to step up his game for this Saturday’s $200,000 San Vincente (G2) at Santa Anita.
While the sample size is very small – one career start on Nov. 27 – Barnes looked like a rookie in his maiden voyage despite closing as the 2-5 favorite.
That’s not to say it was all bad, though.
The Martin Garcia mount showed a promising combination of grit and closing speed to battle back from four lengths behind for a head’s decision.
A more complete showing in the 7-furlong San Vincente would be auspicious for Barnes, especially against exemplary company in Bullard (4-5) and McKinzie Street (10-1).
Cut the Pleasantries
Pleasant has taken a quality over quantity approach through five starts thus far, landing on the podium each time (3-1-1).
Come this Saturday at Santa Anita, the lightly raced 5-year-old filly can break through with a signature score in the $100,000 Las Flores (G3).
Competing against six other rivals in the six-furlong affair, Pleasant’s prospects look promising as the standout 3-5 opening line choice.
Coming off a close third in the seven-furlong Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare (G1), the Juan Hernandez mount may benefit from a shorter trip to the finish line on Saturday.
Wind Me Up
After six bouts at the lower levels, Cyclone State is ready to put a new spin on things at the stakes ranks.
The 3-year-old colt is one of eight hopefuls vying for the top spot in Saturday’s $150,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct.
Sporting a solid but unspectacular 2-1-0 line at the maiden and claiming tiers, Cyclone State seems to have found his form recently.
Fresh off consecutive firsts and a second, the Chad Summers trainee has done all his damage during his three most recent races.
Heading into the 1-mile Jerome on an upward trajectory, Cyclone State storms in as the third choice on the board at 7-2.
Operation Tinsel
Well-travelled veteran Red Route One is on a mission to join the $2 million career earnings club, and he can get a step closer this Sunday in the $175,000 Tinsel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
With more than $1.8 million to his name, Red Route One has been nothing short of a marvel for his connections.
Across 22 starts, the 5-year-old colt owns a 5-4-3 record, headlined by four stakes triumphs (three graded).
While a conquest of the 1 1/8-mile Tinsel won’t buy Red Route One’s ticket to the illustrious $2 million club, the Steve Asmussen charge has plenty of incentive to get one step closer.
Red Route One enters at 7-2 behind Horace Mann (5-2 favorite) and Full Screen (3-1).