ARCADIA, Calif. -- It’s a normal practice in horse racing to name graded stakes races after previous champions. In today’s Grade 3 Triple Bend, appropriately run at seven furlongs, we celebrate one of those past greats.
In the 1972 Los Angeles Handicap, Triple Bend set the world record time of 1:19.80 in a seven furlong dirt race. To that point running a sub-1:20 seven furlong dirt race was unheard of. Triple Bend went on to win 10 total races, five of which were stakes.
The Bob Baffert trained Nysos returns to Santa Anita today, fresh off a good second in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs, run at the same distance. It was his first race in over a year, when he won the Robert B Lewis - a Derby prep - by 7 ½ lengths. He lost by a neck to Mindframe, the likely favorite in the Met Mile at Saratoga in a week.
Let’s meet the field, and put together a wager.
Grade 3 Triple Bend. 7 furlongs, dirt. 3+up. $100,000.
1. Vlahos. 10/1. Jockey: Edwin Maldonado. Trainer: Doug O’Neill.
Vlahos will try today’s distance of 7 furlongs for only the second time in his career, over which he has two wins in 10 starts. This type of pattern is usual for the O’Neill barn, which is willing to try different distances/ surfaces/ company regularly. He was up the track in March’s Grade 3 San Carlos, and I expect much of the same today.
Comment: toss.
2. Nysos. 3/5. Jockey: Juan Hernandez. Trainer: Bob Baffert.
After last year’s Robert B Lewis, many in the horse racing world were wondering if a son of Triple Crown winner Nyquist might repeat that performance. Instead, injury struck, and Trainer Bob Baffert was forced to put him on the bench for a full year. No worse for the wear, he ran his heart out in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs, losing in a spectacular finish to Mindframe. He’s shown some great ability going one turn, winning both of his one turn races as a 2-year-old, and the aforementioned effort in the Churchill Downs. One has to wonder if this is a precursor to train toward the Breeder’s Cup Dirt Sprint. He’s an obvious include, and easily the most likely winner.
Comment: winner.
3. Spirit of Makena. 12/1. Jockey: Kyle Frey. Trainer: George Papaprodromou.
Spirit of Makena won this race two years ago, but hasn’t won a race since. Injuries, and tougher company, have taken their toll on him. Now 7-years-old, he’ll have to show form he hasn’t in a few years. His most recent workout at Santa Anita was the worst of 34 workers that day. We’ll pass here.
Comment: toss.
4. Smooth Cruisein. 6/1. Jockey: Tiago Pereira. Trainer: Karen Headley.
The connections of Smooth Cruisein are likely hoping for one thing: a repeat of his form from the previous race. He ran in graded company in both January and March, finishing out of the money in both. And that was against 3-year-olds. This step up is going to be a daunting one, but these connections aren’t the first to give it a go after a great performance. I think he’s in too deep here, and likely not in the top three.
Comment: toss.
5. Dr. Venkman. 2/1. Jockey: Antonio Fresu. Trainer: Mark Glatt.
Dr. Venkman makes his 2025 debut, having raced three times each in 2023-24. It’s clear trainer Mark Glatt think this horse needs abundant time off, and he has been right to this point in DV’s career: he won on debut as a 3-year-old, and then finished a good second in this race last year in his first start of 2024. The connections used this race last year to launch him into the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap - which he won at a 1 1/16 miles. He then tried the the Grade 1 Pacific Classic, where he finished out of the money. He’s been good at 7 furlongs, but it’s tough to see him being better than Nysos today. And yes, he’s named for that Dr. Venkman.
The Sporting Tribune Wager:
Cold trifecta: 2 over 5 over 3. Good Luck!