Fresh Start for Unblunted in Sham Stakes

Unblunted broke his maiden impressively at Santa Anita last Oct. 18, winning by nearly three lengths going seven furlongs against nine rivals.

Next out at Golden Gate, the son of Sharp Humor stalked the pace before finishing fifth by 3 ½ lengths in the Gold Rush Stakes at one mile. Trainer Mike McCarthy is inclined to disregard that race as he sends the bay colt out for Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Sham Stakes  for 3-year-olds at one mile.

“He was wide into the first turn, wide up the backside and things never panned out like we hoped,” said the former assistant to Todd Pletcher, who trains Unblunted for former jockey agent Nick Cosato, campaigning as Slam Dunk Racing.

“We’ll draw a line through it and start again here on Saturday.”

The field for the Sham, which goes as race six: St. Joe Bay, Martin Pedroza, 8-1; Pioneerof the West, Corey Nakatani, 12-1; Rockinatten, Rafael Bejarano, 7-2; Unblunted, Joe Talamo, 6-1; Rock Shandy, Victor Espinoza, 8-1; Papacoolpapacool, Fernando Perez, 8-1; Calculator, Elvis Trujillo, 8-5; and Hero Ten All, Tyler Baze, 4-1.

Source: Santa Anita Park