Up-and-coming Lambeau, return of Eight Rings highlights Triple Bend

Fresh off a rousing gate to wire allowance win at one mile, the John Shirreffs-trained Lambeau is well positioned to make his stakes debut as he cuts back to a sprint for the first time in his career in Saturday’s $200,000 Triple Bend Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita. Also set for the Triple Bend is the return of Grade 1 winner Eight Rings, who has not started since last August's Allen Jerkens (G1) at Saratoga.

Originally run at Hollywood Park, the Triple Bend will be run for the 70th time on Saturday as a field of five older horses will compete at seven furlongs.

In a wide open affair, Peter Eurton’s Exaulted also appears to be in with a big chance.

Owned by Jerome S. Moss, Lambeau, a 5-year-old full horse by First Samurai, was off at 16-1 in a second condition allowance on April 10 and he led every step of the way to win by one length when ridden for the first time by Edwin Maldonado, who rides him back in the Triple Bend.  A winner of three out of his seven starts, Lambeau is untested at the trip and level, but has never been better.

A runaway winner of the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at age two in September, 2019, Eight Rings has been idle since well beaten in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1) going seven furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 1.  With an outstanding work tab to his credit, Eight Rings will be ridden for the first time by Flavien Prat in what will be his seventh career start.

A 4-year-old colt by Empire Maker out of the Pure Prize mare Purely Hot, Eight Rings is owned by Coolmore Stud, Golconda Stable, Madaket Stables, LLC, SF Racing, LLC and Starlight Racing.

Third, beaten four lengths by runaway winner Brickyard Ride in the San Carlos Stakes (G2) at seven furlongs March 6, Exaulted rates a huge chance and will be ridden for the first time by Abel Cedillo.  A 4-year-old colt by Twirling Candy, out of the Gilded Time mare Gilded Miracle., Exaulted is owned by C R K Stable and has trained well since the San Carlos, evidenced by a pair of bullet five furlong works on May 8 and May 15.