2016 FrontRunner Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

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Dave Bond | OTB Writer

OffTrackBetting.com - The Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes goes down this Saturday, October 1 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Some of the best two year olds in the land will be featured when they take to Santa Anita's dirt track and race 1 1/16 miles searching for the winner's portion of the $300,000 purse.

Seven juveniles will give it a go in the FrontRunner Stakes - race 6 on Santa Anita's stacked Saturday schedule. Post time is 3:00 PM. Let's take a glance into the past performances of all seven combatants for this Grade 1 stakes - a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" qualifier to the BC Juvenile.

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2016 FrontRunner Stakes Race Preview at Santa Anita Park

Klimt 6-5 - Bob Baffert trained colt has been impressive in his four career starts - three wins so far. He debuted with a fourth at Santa Anita June 25 and has since reeled off three good wins. Last time out was in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity by 4 1/4 lengths with a career best 103 Beyer Speed Figure September 5 after the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes by 6 1/2 lengths at Del Mar August 13 and a nice maiden score at Santa Anita July 10. Klimt is the only stakes winner in the field and looks like the one to beat Saturday in his first try around two turns. Rafael Bejarano tries to keep the roll going from gate 6 as the overwhelming morning line favorite.

Straight Fire 9-5 - Keith Desormeaux trained colt broke made in his second career start by an incredible 10 1/2 lengths August 6 after a second in his debut at Del Mar July 17. Straight Fire stepped into stakes company for the first time last time out and finished a very respectable second behind Klimt in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity September 5. He now has a win and two runner-up finishes in his three starts - competitive every time out and is expected to be a factor again Saturday. Flavien Prat has been tabbed to ride the morning line second choice.

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Midnight Pleasure 6-1 - Shelbe Ruis trained colt has a win and a third place finish in two career starts. He won his debut at Del Mar July 24 and followed that with an OK third last time out in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity September 5. Midnight Pleasure has been a factor in both of his career starts so far and hopes to graduate to graded stakes victor from gate 4 Saturday. Martin Garcia will be in the saddle of the co-third betting choice.

Plum Dandy 6-1 - Simon Callaghan trained colt finished eighth in his debut at Del Mar August 6 and followed that with a front-running maiden score in his only other race so far - also at Del Mar August 25. He has definitely shown improvement and will be out to make a statement from gate 2 Saturday. Mike Smith has the mount on the other morning line third choice.

Gormley 8-1 - John Shirreffs trained colt will hit the track for the second time having posted a nice win by 4 1/4 lengths at Del Mar in his debut - September 4. He looks to make it two-for-two in his step up in competition with Victor Espinoza in the saddle from the rail.

Secret House 20-1 - Doug O'Neill trained colt has three career starts with one win - that coming in his debut at Santa Anita May 27. His only other starts were a tad disappointing - a fourth in his stakes debut - a head back in the minor Santa Anita Juvenile July 9 was followed by a fifth in his graded stakes debut last time out - the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar August 13. Secret House has been OK and will be out to reverse an unflattering trend from post 3 Saturday with Santiago Gonzalez in the reins.

Vibe 20-1 - Keith Desormeaux trained colt will hit the track for the third time having posted one third place finish so far - that coming last time out in a MSW at Del Mar August 25. He was sixth in his debut July 24. Vibe hasn't been all that impressive but will be after a strong breakthrough from the outside post 7. Kent Desormeaux gets the call.


2016 FrontRunner Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 6 on Santa Anita's Saturday card with a Post Time of 6:00 PM.

Entry Horse Jockey Trainer
1 Gormley Victor Espinoza John Shirreffs
2 Plum Dandy Mike Smith Simon Callaghan
3 Secret House Santiago Gonzalez Doug O'Neill
4 Midnight Pleasure Martin Garcia Shelbe Ruis
5 Straight Fire Flavien Prat J. Desormeaux
6 Klimt Rafael Bejarano Bob Baffert
7 Vibe Kent Desormeaux J. Desormeaux