Mr. Commons pointed toward the Sir Beaufort on turf at Santa Anita
Fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile, the 3-year-old John Shirreffs trained colt, Mr. Commons, is pointed toward the Grade 2, $150,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes at Santa Anita Park on the opening day of the Santa Anita meet on 26 December, 2011, to be run over
a distance of 1 mile, exclusive for 3-year-old males.
Along with Mr. Commons, L Powell trained, Venomous, and John Sadler trained, Pathfork, are the three entrants for the Grade 2, $150,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes so far.
“He’s been strong, strong, strong,” trainer John Shirreffs said Wednesday.
The 3-year-old, Mr. Commons, broke his maiden race in 2011, in second asking while the first attempt was at the backend of 2010, successfully won the race on turf at about six and a half furlongs at Santa Anita.
His maiden was run over the turf track at Santa Anita, and since then he switched to dirt quiet early in the 2011 season, running an allowance race over Santa Anita’s dirt course right after his maiden on February and won it.
He then stayed on dirt to compete in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, in which he managed a placed finish, third to Midnight Interlude over at 1 1/8 miles.
His third start on dirt was the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, and at the distance of 1 3/16 miles, Mr. Commons wilted to finish eighth on the day.
That was it for dirt, as Mr. Commons made an astonishing switch to turf and it paid dividends as he immediately won the Oceanside Stakes. Finished second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap and second again in the Grade 2 Oak Tree Mile.
All of the three races were run over a mile on dirt, and it seemed that Mr. Commons had found his range and surface, but a fifth place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Mile brought his connections back to the drawing board.
Shirreffs is willing to experiment with Mr. Commons, and after the Sir Beaufort on turf, he is eyeing the $200,000 Strub Stakes over 1 1/8 miles for Mr. Commons. The race is run on dirt and it will be familiar ground for Mr. Commons as the race will be held
on 4 February, 2012.
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