Washington-bred Atta Boy Roy can show the world he is a top class horse Sunday against nine top rivals in the $300,000 Ancient Title Stakes in Arcadia, Calif.
A victory in the Grade I event at Santa Anita guarantees Atta Boy Roy a berth into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint Nov. 7, and entry into that $2-million race would be an exciting prospect for trainer Valorie Lund and owners Roy and Ellie Schaefer of Port Orchard.
A field of 10 is entered in the 25th running of the Grade I Ancient Title, a six- furlong event with a striking list of past winners that includes Cardmania, Elmhurst and Kona Gold, all of whom used the Ancient Title as a springboard to victories in the Breeders’ Cup.
Atta Boy Roy drew the No. 1 post-position with Emerald Downs riding champion Ricky Frazier again scheduled to ride. According to HRTV’s Jon White, also the Oak Tree line maker, “The (Pro-Ride synthetic) main track was not all that kind to early speed opening week at Oak Tree. It wasn’t horrible, but front-runners seemed up against it for the most part.”
That could spell trouble for the exceptionally fast Atta Boy Roy, but then again, the 4-year-old Tribunal colt enters the Ancient Title in sparkling form. He capped a spectacular meet at Emerald Downs with a state/track record of 1:07 for six furlongs in the Chinook Pass Sprint on Sept. 13. Shipped to Turf Paradise near Phoenix, Atta Boy Roy has maintained his fast tempo with two blistering half-mile workouts.
“We’ll leave for Santa Anita early Friday morning,” Lund said. “He’ll see the track Saturday morning and let’s hope he runs like heck on Sunday.”
Gayego, the 2008 Arkansas Derby winner, drew the No. 5 post and is probably the horse to beat, according to White. Cost of Freedom, upset winner of last year’s Ancient Title, drew the No. 7 post and looms as possible pace pressure for Atta Boy Roy. Red Arrow, the Los Angeles Handicap winner, and Supreme Summit, one of two 3-year-olds in the lineup, also figure to show speed.
Lund knows her horse, though, and said Atta Boy Roy is handling everything well these days, and she expects another big effort.
“He’s really matured this year,” she said. “He ran so well at Emerald Downs, I didn’t know if he could be any better than he was there, but I don’t know. Things are going really well with him.”
Who: Atta Boy Roy, Emerald Downs’ Top Sprinter & Top WA-bred
What: $300,000 Ancient Title Stakes, 6 furlongs, Grade I
When: 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11
Where: Oak Tree at Santa Anita, Arcadia, Calif.
TV: TVG, HRTV, and live simulcast @ Emerald Downs
Field: Atta Boy Roy, Ricky Frazier, 124 lbs; Nikki’sgoldensteed, Joe Talamo, 124; Delta Storm, Joel Rosario, 124; Red Arrow, Mike Smith, 124; Gayego, Garrett Gomez, 124; Crown of Thorns, Victor Espinoza, 124; Cost of Freedom, Tyler Baze, 124; Riley Tucker, Martin Garcia, 124; Supreme Summit, Richard Migliore, 123, and Square Eddie, Rafael Bejarano, 123
Interesting Stat: Horses that ran in the Aug. 16 Longacres Mile have compiled nine wins and one second in 12 subsequent starts. Most recently Kruger Park, 10th in The Mile, romped in the Oct. 5 Inaugural Handicap at Portland Meadows.
