Straight No Chaser gets a break in Palos Verdes

Straight No Chaser faced a tall task for his stakes debut when he took on the likes of Taiba and Forbidden Kingdom in the Grade 1 Malibu on opening day Dec. 26. For his second stakes try on Sunday, the now 4-year-old Speightster colt gets class relief and a cutback in distance to six furlongs for the Palos Verdes (G3).

Trained by Dan Blacker, Straight No Chaser was a debut winner sprinting on turf last summer at Del Mar before switching to dirt two starts later and capturing a first-level allowance at 6 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 29 at Santa Anita.

Sent off at 15-1 in the Malibu, Straight No Chaser pressed the pace under Edwin Maldonado until the final furlong, where he faded to seventh behind winner Taiba. Straight No Chaser earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort, which is a snug fit for the Palos Verdes.

“He gave us a thrill,” Blacker said of the Malibu. “He was the only horse really that properly challenged Taiba and paid the price.”

Straight No Chaser will break from the rail in the Palos Verdes with Maldonado in the irons. He is the 5-1 fourth choice on the morning line. Blacker said Straight No Chaser, who has worked three times since the Malibu “is truly doing well right now.” He is also encouraged by the cutback to six furlongs.

“My gut feeling is seven furlongs is probably too far for him. I think six furlongs is probably his best distance,” Blacker said. “He won at five-eighths first out and those types of horses are usually pure sprinters. I think that’s what he is at this point.”

Straight No Chaser was a $110,000 auction purchase as a 2-year-old and is campaigned by My Racehorse. Blacker expects to see him setting the pace in the Palos Verdes.

“He drew a good post. He has speed and is probably going to the lead,” Blacker said. “I’m excited to see what he can do against these types of horses.”

The Palos Verdes goes as the seventh race on Sunday with an approximate post time of 6:38 p.m. EST.