Jeranimo Takes On Obviously in Shoemaker Mile
Jeranimo will try to become the first repeat winner of the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile in 13 years when he takes on four opponents Saturday at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Owned by Robert V. LaPenta and B.J. Wright and trained by Mike Pender, Jeranimo won the 2012 Shoe Mile by 1 ¼ lengths, rallying from last at nearly 9-1.
A 7-year-old son of Congaree and the Jeblar mare Jera, Jeramino has won nine of 33 and banked $1,202,864. The last horse to repeat in the race was 1999 and 2000 winner Silic.
A triple Grade II winner in the United States, Obviously will seek his most significant victory for owners Anthony Fanticola and Joseph Scardino and trainer Mike Mitchell.
The Irish bred dominated five opponents in his return to Betfair Hollywood Park last month, winning the Grade II American Handicap by 2 ½ lengths May 25.
A gelded son of Choisir and the Montjeu mare Leala, the 5-year-old has won seven of 14 and earned $668,361.
Za Approval, who has won three of four in 2013, will make his first start in California for owner-breeder Live Oak Plantation and trainer Christophe Clement.
A 5-year-old gelded son of Ghostzapper and the With Approval mare Win Approval, Za Approval enters off a pair of Grade III successes. The gray won the Appleton by one length March 30 at Gulfstream Park prior to a three-quarters of a length victory in the Red Bank May 18 at Monmouth Park.
The Kentucky bred, who has won half of his eight starts on turf at the Shoemaker distance, is 6-for-13 with earnings of $302,165.
Wilkinson, who has won both of his races over the local grass, steps up after winning an optional claimer by a half-length May 2.
Trained by Jeff Mullins for owner Edward K. Gaylord II, the 5-year-old Lemon Drop Kid horse out of the Afternoon Deelites mare Tasha’s Delight has six wins in 23 outings and earnings of $407,998.
The biggest victory for the Kentucky bred came in the 2012 American Handicap. Wilkinson won by 1¼ lengths at 44-1 in his first start for Mullins, who won the 2005 Shoemaker Mile with Castledale.
Lucayan was second behind Obviously in his U.S. debut in the American.
Trained by Hall of Famer Neil Drysdale for Pandora Stud, LLC, the 4-year-old son of Turtle Bowl and the Grand Lodge mare La Vitava has won three of nine. The French bred has banked $435,275.
A win by Lucayan would be the fourth in the Shoemaker Mile for Drysdale. The trainer scored with Labeeb in 1998 as well as Irish Prize (2001) and Aragorn (2006).
From inside out, the field for the Shoemaker Mile: Jeranimo, Rafael Bejarano rides, 124 pounds; Za Approval, Victor Espinoza, 124; Wilkinson, Martin Pedroza, 124; Lucayan, Julien Leparoux, 124 and Obviously, Joe Talamo, 124.