Sharp Samurai, Vending Machine, Double Touch square off in Singletary

Recent local winner Sharp Samurai, battle tested Vending Machine and promising Double Touch all figure prominently in Saturday’s $75,000 Singletary Stakes as a wide open field of 10 sophomores contest one mile over the Santa Anita turf.

While Sharp Samurai will be cutting back in distance a furlong off a an impressive 2 ¼ length win in a turf allowance going 1 1/8 miles here on April 6, Vending Machine, a one mile turf stakes winner three starts back, will transition from dirt back to grass and Double Touch, a promising second in his U.S. debut, will try to turn the tables on the top selection.

SHARP SAMURAI: In his second start with winners and his first try on turf, he broke cleanly but stumbled badly a couple jumps out of the gate, veering out and nearly unseating Tyler Baze.The Kentucky-bred gelding by First Samurai recovered quickly however and won in a manner that suggests he’ll be running on turf for the foreseeable future.Trained by Mark Glatt and owned by Al and Sandee Kirkwood, Sharp Samurai rates top billing off of an overall record of 4-2-0-0.

VENDING MACHINE: Trained by Peter Miller, he pressed the pace en route to a three quarter length win in the one mile turf Eddie Logan Stakes on Dec. 30, but disappointed on synthetic Tapeta in the 1 1/16 miles California Derby at Golden Gate Fields Jan. 21 and was distanced at 57-1 in the Grade II, 1 1/16 miles San Felipe Stakes March 11.With the Logan being the lone turf race on his resume, a return to the lawn seems a logical step for this Kentucky-bred gelding by Hard Spun.Owned by Sinnott Family Trust, Vending Machine is 9-3-1-0 overall and will be ridden back by Norberto Arroyo, Jr.

DOUBLE TOUCH: Bred and originally raced in England, he kept to his task when second, beaten 2 ¼ length by Sharp Samurai going 1 1/8 miles on turf here on April 6 and will hope to benefit from the outing.Trained by Dan Blacker, his last English start came at Goodwood on Oct. 9, so he had a six month gap between starts.Owned by Radley Equine Inc. and Roadrunner Racing, Double Touch is 6-1-1-1 overall and will be ridden back by Israel Ocampo.

THE $75,000 SINGLETARY STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 10 of 11 Approximate post time 5:30 p.m. PT

1.   Ventry Bay—David Flores—120

2.   Double Touch—Israel Ocampo—120

3.   Vending Machine—Norberto Arroyo, Jr.—122

4.   Bird is the Word—Rafael Bejarano—120

5.   Fashion Business—Stewart Elliott—120

6.   Kenzou’s Rhythm—Edwin Maldonado--120

7.   Sharp Samurai—Joe Talamo--122

8.   Bowies Hero—Tiago Pereira—124

9.   Comma Sister—Martin Pedroza—120

10. Monster Man—Santiago Gonzalez--120