Mt. Veeder Looms Large in Contender
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Impressive first out winner Mt. Veeder will step into stakes company in the $75,000 Contender Sunday at Los Alamitos.
Restricted to 2-year-olds and scheduled for six furlongs, the Contender is the eighth of nine races. Post time Sunday is 2 p.m. Approximate post time for the afternoon’s feature is 5:30 p.m.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert for Stonestreet Stables LLC and George Bolton, Mt. Veeder pressed the pace before drawing clear late to win by 2 ¼ lengths in his Aug. 15 debut at Del Mar.
Purchased for $200,000 at the Keeneland September 2014 sale, the son of Ghostzapper and the Gold Case mare Greenbriar Girl earned $42,000 for the victory at 5 ½ furlongs.
After winning consecutive races last month at Del Mar, Bully Pulpit will try to keep his roll going for new connections.
The gelded son of Lucky Pulpit and the Good Journey mare Brave Journey was claimed for $50,000 by Six-S Racing Stable and trainer Craig Lewis out of his last victory Aug. 26.
Formerly owned by breeder Larry Stein and trained by Steve Miyadi, Bully Pulpit is 2-for-4 with earnings of $95,680.
Panther Creek finishd nearly nine lengths behind Bully Pulpit a little over two weeks ago when third as the 7-5 favorite.
Owned by Springhill Farm and trained by Gary Sherlock, the Silver City gelding out of the El Prado mare Summer of Seventy has one win in three attempts and a bankroll of $26,508.
Paynes Prairie drops into a softer spot after finishing sixth and last in the Grade II Best Pal Stakes in his California debut Aug. 8.
Trained by Mike Pender for McShane Racing LLC, the Tale of Ekati colt out of the Songandaprayer mare Prayfromthewordgo has one win in four races and earnings of $108,570.
A Florida bred, Paynes Prairie broke his maiden by 3 ½ lengths July 4 at Belmont Park for trainer Steve Asmussen a month after finishing second behind Cocked and Loaded in the Tremont Stakes.
Bistraya, a maiden after two starts, finished fourth in the Best Pal, 10 ¼ lengths behind winner – and eventual Del Mar Futurity hero – Nyquist.
Owned by LeeAnn Ohanesian and trained by Ricky Agarie, the son of Haynesfield and the Broad Brush mare Lady Giselle has earned $13,400.
Phantom Heat is a nine-race maiden for owner Bryan Carney and trainer Charles Stutts. The Sierra Sunset gelding out of the Unusual Heat mare Passionate Heat has yet to finish better than fifth. He’s banked $7,616.
From inside out, the field for the Contender Stakes: Phantom Heat, Gonzalo Nicolas rides, 118 pounds; Bistraya, Santiago Gonzalez, 118; Phantom Creek, James Graham, 118; Bully Pulpit, Tiago Pereira, 120, Mt. Veeder, Martin Garcia, 120 and Paynes Prairie, Flavien Prat, 120.
Source: Los Alamitos Race Course
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