Strong Suit Draws Poorly in Arcadia

Simon Callaghan summed up the extreme outside 14 post position for Strong Suit in Saturday’s Grade II Acadia Stakes at one mile on turf in succinct fashion: “Fourteen’s a disaster.”

But, added the native of England who turns 28 on March 7, “That’s life. It’s tough from there but we’ll probably take back, drop in and hope to get some luck.”

Strong Suit, a 5-year-old Rahy horse bred in Arkansas, will be making his U.S. debut in the Arcadia, which drew its largest field since 1991, when 11 were entered.

Strong Suit will be ridden by 32-year-old Jamie Spencer, a champion jockey in England and Ireland who rode at Santa Anita in last year’s Breeders’ Cup.

“I spent the winter here back in 2000,” Spencer said. “Santa Anita is beautiful as always. You never get tired of it.”

The field for the Arcadia: Klisz, Mike Smith, 15-1; Forest Mouse, Edwin Maldonado, 20-1; Vagabond Shoes, Julien Leparoux, 8-1; Tribal Tribute, Gary Stevens, 30-1; Sebastian Flyte, Agapito Delgadillo, 30-1; Akkadian, Garrett Gomez, 8-1; Silentio, Rafael Bejarano, 6-1; Willyconker, Kevin Krigger, 12-1; Key Decision, Victor Espinoza, 20-1; Clubhouse Ride, Aaron Gryder, 20-1; Wilkinson, Martin Pedroza, 9-2; Chosen Miracle, Tyler Baze, 6-1; Suggestive Boy, Joe Talamo, 9-2; and Strong Suit, Spencer, 4-1.