Petruchio Returns to Turf for Singletary

ARCADIA, CA – A graded stakes-placed runner on dirt and a winner on turf, Richard Mandella’s Petruchio returns to what may be his preferred surface as he heads a field of six sophomores going 1 mile on grass in Sunday’s $100,000 Singletary Stakes at Santa Anita.

Owned by his breeders, Perry R. and Ramona S. Bass, Petruchio broke his maiden 3 starts back going 1 mile on turf at Del Mar on Oct. 31 and was subsequently third, beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Spielberg in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at a mile and 1/16 on dirt December 19.

Off at 3/1 in the El Camino Real Derby at a mile and 1/8 on Tapeta February 13, Petruchio pressed the early pace and tired badly to finish sixth, beaten 13 1/4 lengths.

In what will be his second start of the year, Petruchio will be reunited with Mike Smith, who rode him in both his maiden win and in the Los Al Futurity. A Kentucky-bred gelding by Into Mischief out of the Distorted Humor mare Satirical, Petruchio, who was Triple Crown nominated, is 6-1-1-3 with earnings of $82,850.

John Sadler’s Irish-bred Sword Zorro, who was a fast-finishing fifth on turf in his U.S. debut (the 6 1/2-furlong Baffle Stakes here on February 5), could show marked improvement with Umberto Rispoli climbing aboard for the first time.

A 7-furlong turf maiden winner in his final Ireland start on October 24, Sword Zorro was off at 7/1 in the Baffle and was taken back to last, 12 lengths off the lead after the first 1/2-mile. In a better-than-looked effort, he made up much ground in a fashion that suggested he could benefit considerably from the experience.

Second going 1 mile on turf in his second start on July 23 in Ireland, Sword Zorro, who is currently owned by Zhang Yuesheng, is 6-1-3-1 and perhaps primed for an upset.

Trained by Richard Baltas and owned by Sanjay Racing, Gator Shining has been off the board only once in 5 starts, that being an eighth-place finish in the February 5 Baffle.

Away slowly and ridden to a third-place finish in a 6-furlong turf allowance on March 13, Gator Shining earned a much-improved 77 Beyer Speed figure and has attracted the services of leading man Flavien Prat. 

A Kentucky-bred colt by Noble Mission out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Underway, Gator Shining, who broke his maiden in his second start going 5 furlongs on turf at Del Mar November 13, will be trying two turns for the first time.

Sensemaker, Man Friday, and Coastal Kid complete the six-horse field.

The Singletary is slated as race 9 on Sunday’s 10-race card and has an approximate post of 5:00 PM Pacific.