Hunt, Itsinthepost among contenders in John Henry Turf Championship

Trainer Phil D’Amato’s Hunt and Jeff Mullins’ Itsinthepost are among five horses exiting a common race as both headline Sunday’s Grade II, $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship Sunday at Santa Anita.The John Henry, for 3-year-olds and up and a mile and a quarter on turf, attracted a field of nine, including Glen Hill Farm’s up and coming 4-year-old gelding Chicago Style, who is trained by Tom Proctor and will try stakes competition for the first time as he seeks his fourth consecutive victory.

HUNT: A 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding, he got on a roll at Del Mar for D’Amato, taking the Grade II Eddie Read at a mile and one eighth on turf July 22 and the 1 3/8 mile turf Del Mar Handicap (Grade II) on Aug. 19. With four wins from nine tries over the Santa Anita lawn, he’s well at home in Arcadia and looms the horse to beat as he seeks his third Grade II win in a row with top rider Flavien Prat.Owned by Michael House, Hunt is 23-7-5-3 overall with earnings of $548,410.

ITSINTHEPOST: Owned by Red Baron’s Barn, LLC, this 5-year-old French-bred gelding finished full of run when second, beaten three quarters of a length, by Hunt on Aug. 19. In tight quarters while mid-pack three furlongs from home, he steadied off heels and then mounted a serious rally through the lane in a solid effort as the 5-2 favorite under regular pilot Tyler Baze. Although he rallied from off the pace in his most recent start, he’s proven very capable running on the front end at marathon distances on turf and should be able to adapt to any pace scenario. With a 12-3-2-2 mark on turf at Santa Anita, his overall record stands at 28-5-7-5, with earnings of $575,712.

INORDINATE: Trained by Richard Baltas, he too rallied from off the pace in the Del Mar Handicap Aug. 19, as he finished fifth, beaten two lengths under Rafael Bejarano. A winner of Santa Anita’s Grade III San Juan Capistrano Stakes two starts back April 22, this 5-year-old full horse by Harlan’s Holiday will be reunited with Corey Nakatani, who was aboard for the San Juan score. With a win and a second from three local turf tries, Inordinate is 15-3-2-3 overall with earnings of $212,440.

CHICAGO STYLE: Raced exclusively on turf and a winner of five out of his six starts, all this year, this 4-year-old Kitten’s Joy gelding was a first out maiden $16,000 winner at Tampa Bay Downs on Jan. 8. With his lone defeat coming in his third start, a first condition allowance going a flat mile at Delaware Park June 8, Chicago Style rallied boldly to take a 1 3/8 mile allowance on Aug. 11 at Del Mar—earning a career best 94 Beyer Speed figure. He’ll take on stakes competition for the first time with Drayden Van Dyke, who has guided him to his last two wins, in the saddle.

THE GRADE II JOHN HENRY TURF CHAMPIONSHIP WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITIN ORDER

Race 7 of 9 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT

1. Itsinthepost—Tyler Baze—126

2. Prime Attraction—Victor Espinoza—122

3. Frank Conversation—Mario Gutierrez—124

4. Chicago Style—Drayden Van Dyke—122

5. Dressed In Hermes—Tiago Pereira—122

6. Up With the Birds—Jaime Theriot—122

7. Inordinate—Corey Nakatani—122

8. Hunt—Flavien Prat—126

9. Win the Space—Joe Talamo—122