All Saint Ready for Jim Murray

All Saint got a bath from Joe Olguin, assistant to trainer Louis Bradvica, outside Barn 65 North Thursday morning, as he readied to hose off the competition in the $150,000 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap Saturday.

“He likes the lead like his father, Skimming,” said Olguin of the 5-year-old California-bred horse who has won his last four starts wire to wire at Turf Paradise. “In all the races he didn’t run well, he tried to come from behind.”

Blacksmith Eddie Gamez, son of owner Pascual Gamez, said the gray/roan horse is at the top of his game. “He got a little more confidence when he started winning in Arizona,” said Gamez. “We expect him to show speed, and we got Patrick (Valenzuela) to ride him and get him to relax.”

The Grade II Jim Murray at 1 ½ miles on turf should have an honest pace since defending champion Acclamation, another California-bred 5-year-old horse, also prefers to run on the pace.

Buenos Dias, another Jim Murray entrant, blew out three furlongs in 39.60 seconds on the turf for trainer Ron McAnally.

Trainer Paddy Gallagher said that he decided to skip the Jim Murray with Soul Candy and instead worked him five furlongs on grass in a bullet 1:01.60. “A mile and a half may be a bit too long for him,” explained Gallagher. “He may run in a stake at a mile and an eighth or so instead.”