Craftsman Makes U.S. Debut in Eddie Logan

Santa Anita Park will once again honor the memory of its iconic Shoeshine Attendant, Eddie Logan, with the $75,000 Eddie Logan Stakes for 2-year-olds at one mile on turf this Saturday.  The Logan attracted a field of eight; including trainer Eoin Harty’s Royal Banker, a fast finishing third in the Grade III Generous Stakes Nov. 30, trainer Simon Callaghan’s Craftsman, who will make his U.S. debut Saturday following a Group III stakes win in Ireland, and trainer Tom Proctor’s Enterprising, who was a smart maiden special weight winner at a mile on turf Nov. 16 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Logan, who operated his shoeshine stand near the Santa Anita Racing Office from Dec. 25, 1934 until his passing at age 98 in January, 2009, was a self-described “footman,” who endeared himself to thousands of fans and horsemen spanning eight decades at The Great Race Place.

English-bred Royal Banker made his U.S. debut in the Generous, breaking slowly from the rail and rallying from last to be beaten two lengths at odds of 6-1.  He has had two works over the Hollywood Park maintrack since and will again be ridden by Corey Nakatani.  Royal Banker is owned by Wounded Warrior Stables.

Craftsman is a highly regarded Irish-bred who broke his maiden at odds of 2-5 in a 13-horse field going seven furlongs on turf in Ireland three starts back.  Trained by Aiden O’Brien in Ireland, he was a one-length winner of a Group III stakes at Leopardstown, Ireland on Oct. 26 and figures to be forwardly placed Saturday under Victor Espinoza.

Craftsman has two wins, a second and a third from four starts and is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

Glen Hill Farm’s homebred Enterprising was an impressive maiden special weight winner in his second start and will again be handled by Gary Stevens.  A Florida-bred by Elusive Quality, Enterprising has worked five times over Hollywood Park’s maintrack since his maiden score and appears primed for a top effort.

The Mark Glatt-trained My Secret Affair comes off a facile 2 ¼ length maiden special weight win in his third career start going six furlongs on the Hollywood Park turf Nov. 24 and could be the speed of the race.  He’s owned by Donkey Island Racing LLC or Glatt or Xitco and will be ridden for the first time by Mike Smith.

The complete field for the Eddie Logan Stakes, to be run as the fourth race on a nine-race card Saturday, with jockeys, in post position order, all horses assigned 118 pounds:  Lucky Views, Joe Talamo; Enterprising, Gary Stevens; Craftsman, Victor Espinoza; Flagman, Patrick Valenzuela; Morally Bankrupt, Brice Blanc; Noble Metal, Rafael Bejarano; My Secret Affair, Mike Smith, and Royal Banker, Corey Nakatani.