Familiar 3-year-old foes seek breakout win in Santa Anita's Pasadena

A competitive field of nine sophomores, headed by English-bred Hariboux, Smooth Like Strait and Goliad, will go one mile on turf in Saturday’s $100,000 Pasadena Stakes at Santa Anita.

Trained by Jeff Mullins, Hariboux was finishing fast when a close second in the one mile turf Eddie Logan Stakes Dec. 29 and has shown steady improvement through four stateside starts.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Smooth Like Strait, a handy winner of the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes two starts back, disappointed when fourth in the Eddie Logan and will try to turn the tables on the top selection Saturday.

Goliad, who is trained by Richard Mandella, was a respectable second in the Cecil B. DeMille, but tired badly to finish eighth in the Eddie Logan at odds of 7-2.

HARIBOUX

Trainer: Jeff Mullins

With three wins from his first five starts in his native England, Hariboux will be making his 10th career start on Saturday — more than any of his competitors. Ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli, he was off a step slow in the one mile turf Logan on Dec. 29 and was last, about nine lengths off the lead with a half mile to run. Three-wide turning for home, he found his best stride late, finishing second, beaten a half length while a length and a half clear of Liar Liar at 34-1.

With the talented Rispoli back aboard in the Pasadena, Hariboux, who posted a career-best 80 Beyer Speed figure in the Logan, has been improving steadily and would certainly benefit from a fast early pace as he bids for his fifth win.

SMOOTH LIKE STRAIT

Owner: Cannon Thoroughbreds, LLC

Trainer: Michael McCarthy

A fast colt by Midnight Lute, he broke on top and waltzed to an impressive 2 ½ length win in the Cecil B. DeMille two starts back, which was his first try around two turns. Off at 15-1 in the DeMille, he was the 6-5 favorite among nine sophs in the one mile turf Eddie Logan Dec. 29, but had little to offer late after sitting a close second most of the trip. Freshened by McCarthy since, look for Smooth Like Strait to bounce back with a big effort as he’ll hope to avoid an early pace duel.

GOLIAD

Owner: Perry R. Bass II & Ramona S. Bass

Trainer: Richard Mandella

A first-out maiden winner at one mile on turf Sept. 28, this Kentucky-bred colt by War Front was attentive to the pace when second, beaten 2 ½ lengths two starts back in the Cecil B. DeMille at Del Mar. Pressured on the early lead in the Eddie Logan, Goliad tired badly, finishing eighth, beaten seven lengths. With a win and two seconds, he’ll be making his fifth career start in the Pasadena, which will also be his fifth consecutive assignment at one mile on turf.

The Pasadena has an approximate post time of 6:30 p.m. ET.

The field in post position order with jockey and weights:

1. Governance—Tiago Pereira—120

2. Last Opportunity—Mario Gutierrez—120

3. Rager—Edwin Maldonado—120

4. Club Aspen—Jorge Velez—124

5. Liar Liar—Ruben Fuentes—120

6. Smooth Like Strait—Geovanni Franco—124

7. Ra’ad—Victor Espinoza—120

8. Goliad—Abel Cedillo—120

9. Hariboux—Umberto Rispoli—122