Smooth Like Strait, Goliad rematch in Santa Anita's Eddie Logan Stakes

Cannon Thoroughbreds’ speedy homebred Smooth Like Strait, Ramona and Perry Bass’s Goliad, Hronis Racing’s well-accomplished Encoder and C R K Stable’s first-out maiden winner Royal Act headline Sunday’s $75,000 Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita.  For 2-year-olds at one mile on turf, the Logan has attracted a field of nine.

The race honors the memory of the legendary Eddie Logan, Santa Anita’s iconic “footman” who manned his shoeshine stand near the racing office from opening day on Dec. 25, 1934, until shortly before his passing at the age of 98 on Jan. 31, 2009.  A truly beloved figure in the history and lore of Santa Anita Park, Logan would often proclaim, “If you got the leather, we can get it together.”

SMOOTH LIKE STRAIT

Owner: Cannon Thoroughbreds, LLC                                                   

Trainer: Michael McCarthy

A front-running 2 ¼-length maiden special weight winner going 5 ½ furlongs on turf here two starts back on Oct. 31, this homebred colt by Midnight Lute went straight to the front at odds of 15-1 in the Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (G3) on Dec. 1 at Del Mar and responded with a rousing 2 ½- length win going one mile on grass while earning a Logan best last-out 81 Beyer Speed figure at odds of 15-1 in a field of 13.  With talented veteran Geovanni Franco back aboard, look for similar tactics to be employed in what will his fifth career start.

GOLIAD

Owner: Ramona S. and Perry R. Bass                       

Trainer: Richard Mandella

Most recently second in the DeMille, this homebred colt by War Front has a stalking style that should serve him well on Sunday. A first-out maiden special weight winner by a neck versus 10 rivals going one mile on turf here Sept. 28, Goliad was then second by the same margin in a one-mile turf allowance at Del Mar on Nov. 14. The likely favorite, Goliad will be making his fourth start, all at a mile on turf, in the Eddie Logan. Goliad will be ridden for the third time by Flavien Prat. 

ENCODER

Owner: Hronis Racing, LLC                                    

Trainer: John Sadler

The leading money earner in the Logan lineup with $112,951 banked, this Kentucky-bred colt by English Channel was a debut winner going five furlongs on turf Aug. 7 at Del Mar. Subsequent to that, he stalked the pace and rallied to take the one-mile turf Del Mar Juvenile Turf by a head as the 3-5 favorite on Sept. 1. Close, but off the board in three subsequent turf stakes, the most recent a seventh-place finish behind the top choice in the DeMille.

ROYAL ACT

Owner: C R K Stable, LLC                                        

Trainer: Peter Eurton

A $500,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase, this colt by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah was dispatched as the 5-2 favorite in a one mile turf maiden special weight affair at Del Mar on Nov. 10 and he proved gamest late versus eight rivals in winning by a half length.  With a well-earned 72 Beyer Speed figure to his credit, Royal Act has the look of a horse who’s capable of big things in 2020.

THE $75,000 EDDIE LOGAN STAKES IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 6 of 10; approximate post time 2 p.m. PT  

1. Goliad—Flavien Prat--120

2. Encoder—Joel Rosario—124

3. The Stiff—Abel Cedillo—120

4. Liar Liar—Drayden Van Dyke—120

5. Royal Act—Rafael Bejarano—120

6. Hariboux—Umberto Rispoli—120

7. Air Force Jet—Evin Roman—120

8. Kanderel—Mike Smith--120

9. Smooth Like Strait—Geovanni Franco—124