Inordinate should relish distance in John Henry Turf Championship

Inordinate has already revealed his penchant for marathon grass races, winning the Grade III San Juan Capistrano at about 1 ¾ miles on turf last April 22.

Next up, Sunday’s Grade II John Henry Turf Championship at a mile and a quarter. The five-year-old Harlan’s Holiday horse was an encouraging fifth last out in the Grade II Del Mar Handicap at 1 ¾ miles on grass, beaten only two lengths.

“I think the further the better for him,” trainer Richard Baltas said. “His last race was OK. It was his first in a long time (four months). This is a tough race, but it would be nice to win.”

The John Henry, named for the two-time Horse of the Year (1981 and 1984) trained by Ron McAnally: Itsinthepost, Tyler Baze, 2-1; Prime Attraction, Victor Espinoza, 10-1; Frank Conversation, Mario Gutierrez, 5-1; Chicago Style, Drayden Van Dyke, 6-1; Dressed in Hermes, Tiago Periera, 12-1; Up With the Birds, Jaime Theriot, 10-1; Inordinate, Corey Nakatani, 10-1; Hunt, Flavien Prat, 5-2; and Win the Space, Joe Talamo, 12-1.

The sixth annual John Morris Golf Classic, originally staged in Lexington, Ky., will be held for the first time at Santa Anita Golf Course in Arcadia on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Proceeds will benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys’ Fund (PDJF), Easter Seals Cardinal Hill and Project Walk (Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Center). One hundred percent of the charity proceeds will go to benefit these three charities.

Tournament registration is at 10:30 a.m., with an 18-hole shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. Fees also include cart, lunch, refreshments, prizes and there will be a reception (that includes a silent auction) immediately following the tournament. Prices are $175 per player or $600 per team. All fees must be paid by Oct. 10 in order to participate.

FINISH LINES: There is a Pick Six carryover of $50,809 into today’s races . . .Hall of Fame jockey, “Big Money” Mike Smith and trainer John Shirreffs were on hand in the East Paddock Gardens this morning to sign DVD copies of “Zenyatta, Queen of Racing.” One of Smith’s many well-wishers was Gisela Gerull, a German citizen who first met Smith at Saratoga some 30 years ago. “I had just flown there from Calgary (Alberta, Canada) and I picked up a magazine in the gift shop. There was a nice story on Mike and I met him the next day. I’ve visited America every year since and I’ve made a point to say hello. He’s got will, heart, and I love that. He rode bulls as a boy and anybody that can do that has a lot of inner strength. I admire that.” . . . Accelerate, training up to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, worked five furlongs Saturday for John Sadler in 1:02 flat . . . Agent Nelson Arroyo is back representing his brother, Norberto Jr., as well as Jaime Theriot.