Ultimate Eagle is looking good for his next start in the Santa Anita Handicap
Michael Pender conditioned, Ultimate Eagle, is coming to his own at the right time, and after a disappointing outing at Santa Anita Park in the Grade 2 Sir Beaufort Stakes over a mile where he finished third to winner, Mr. Commons, B. J. Wright owned 4-year-old
colt bounced back emphatically to take the Grade 2 Strub Stakes by a widening margin of 7 ¼ lengths.
Ultimate Eagle defeated the likes of Jaycito in second and Prayer for Relief in third, while he covered the 1 1/8 mile distance in 1 minute and 47.08 seconds at Santa Anita Park’s conventional dirt on 4 February, 2012.
It was the first time ever in his year old career that he tried dirt, and he excelled on it like he had been racing on it for a whole year, but in reality, Ultimate Eagle started on synthetic surface, and went winless for 3 starts, quickly realizing the
need to switch surfaces, turf was opted for the colt and from then on he downed 4 consecutive races on it before losing the fifth in the Grade 3 Sir Beaufort Stakes.
His victories on turf include the Grade 2 Oak Tree Derby at the Santa Anita’s unique hillside turf course, and the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at about 1 ¼ miles.
According to trainer Michael Pender, Ultimate Eagle has come out of the Strub Stakes better than when he went in, and that he is creating havoc in the barn, and itching to go out on the track for his next start. “He’s tearing down the barn. He’s peaking
at the right time.”
The Kentucky bred son of Mizzen Mast, out of mare Letithappencaptain by Captain Bodgit, Ultimate Eagle is expected to run in the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on 3 March, 2012, at about 1 ¼ miles on dirt against 3-year-old and above males.
The front running Ultimate Eagle could face the pre race favourite and defending champion, Bob Baffert trained, Game on Dude, who is looking better than ever after his magnificent second place finish to Drosselmeyer in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at
Churchill Downs last fall, and then downing the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes in his seasonal debut.
Pender and Baffert will come face to face again in the Big ‘Cap Handicap, when in 2010 Pender sent, Misremembered to win the race, but his Jeranimo finished 4th to Baffert’s runner, Game on Dude.
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