BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Second in two stakes in her last two efforts, Augustin Stables’ As Catch Can is the 2-1 second choice to end that trend in Sunday’s Grade 3 Honeymoon at Santa Anita. Six 3-year-old fillies will race nine furlongs on the turf in the $100,000 Honeymoon.
In making her third start this year, As Catch Can returns to Santa Anita where in one previous race she was second, beaten a length-and-three-quarters by Casalu, in the $102,000 Sweet Life on Feb. 9. That was six-and-a-half furlongs on the downhill turf, so Thomas is hoping the extra distance is to the dark bay or brown filly’s benefit.
In her last start, she was second to Bless the Broken in the $280,000 Bourbonette Oaks going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the synthetic at Turfway Park on March 22.
Her last trip to the winner’s circle came three starts back going around two turns on the Woodbine synthetic in December when she won by a length against first level, $75,000 optional claiming fillies at a mile-and-70-yards.
As Catch Can has won two of eight career starts with three seconds and a third while earning $163,895. She is by Mo Town out of Just a Catch, by Justin Philip and was bred in Florida by Loren Nichols.
She was purchased by bloodstock agent Donato Lanni for $210,000 at the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company Spring Sale where she was consigned by Jimbo and Torie Gladwell’s Top Line Sales LLC based in Reddick, Fla.
(As Catch Can’s Under Tack Video)
Thomas has given the riding assignment on As Catch Can to Kazushi Kimura, who rides the filly for the first time from post two.
Jungle Peace (Ire) in undefeated in three starts in the United States, all at Santa Anita for trainer Philip D’Amato.
Most recently she won the Grade 3 Senorita going six-and-a-half furlongs on the downhill turf at Santa Anita in her last race on April 27.
Owned by CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Jerry McClanahan, Michael Nentwig and Jeremy Peskoff, Jungle Peace defeated special weight maiden fillies going six-and-a-half furlongs on the turf in her first start stateside in February then took a first level, $100,000 optional claiming going six furlongs on the grass on March 9.
She was unsuccessful in two starts in her native Ireland last year, finishing sixth and third against maiden fillies, first at Navan Racecourse in September then at Dundalk Stadium in October when trained by Paul Nolan.
Jungle Peace is by Bungle Inthejungle (GB) out of Peace Treaty (Ire), by War Command and has earned $138,906 in her five races.
Umberto Rispoli will ride the 6-5 morning line favorite from post one.
Also entered are Miso Phansy with jockey Hector Berrios, Firenze Flavor will be guided by Drayden Van Dyke, Juan Hernandez has the assignment on Atia and Schilflied will be ridden by Antonio Fresu.
Return to the May 17 issue of Wire to Wire
