BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Narrowly missing when fourth in the Grade 3 Honeymoon at Santa Anita is her last race, Augustin Stables’ Florida-bred As Catch Can will have the opportunity to avenge her loss against the top three finishers that day when she returns for the Grade 2 San Clemente at Del Mar Saturday. Nine 3-year-old fillies will race a mile on the turf in pursuit of the winner’s share of the $200,000 purse.

As Catch Can raced two lengths behind Jungle Peace (Ire), who set the pace on the grass in the nine-furlong Honeymoon, before Firenze Flavor and Miso Phansy made late runs to get first and second as the top three fillies finished noses apart. As Catch Can also made up ground in the stretch but finished just a three-quarters of a length farther back in fourth.

As Catch Can will also have another chance at Casalu after finishing second to her in the $102,000 Sweet Life going six-and-a-half furlongs on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita on Feb. 25. In one start between those two, As Catch Can was second to Bless the Broken in the $280,000 Burbonette Oaks (Listed) going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on synthetic at Turfway Park on March 22.

Last year, As Catch Can also just missed in her stakes debut when second, a neck behind Somethinabouther in the Grade 3 Mazarine going eight-and-a-half furlongs on the all-weather course at Woodbine on Nov. 3.

Bred in Florida by Loren Nichols, As Catch Can has two wins, three seconds and third in nine career starts with earnings of $169,895. She took a first condition, $75,000 optional claiming on the Woodbine synthetic in December and broke her maiden in her third career start at Colonial Downs in August of last year.

 

She is a graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales having been purchased by Donato Lanni as agent for $210,000 out of the Top Line Sales consignment at the 2024 Spring Sale.
(As Catch Can’s Under Tack Video)

Vincent Cheminaud will ride As Catch Can for the first time Saturday when they depart post four.

Firenze Flavor, Miso Phansy and Jungle Peace also all make their first start since the Honeymoon.

Patrick Gallagher trains Firenze Flavor, who won a first condition, $100,000 optional claiming going a mile on the grass at Santa Anita on April 25 before winning the Honeymoon.

She is by Liam’s Map out of Summer Escape, by Giant’s Causeway and is owned Oda Racing and U.S. Equine.

Drayden Van Dyke gets the mount and they have post eight.

Miso Phansy also won two starts back in a first condition, $50,000 optional claiming going six furlongs on the grass at Santa Anita on April 18.

She has post three, is trained by Leonard Powell and Armando Ayuso will be in the saddle.

After two starts in her native Ireland as a 2-year-old, Jungle Peace came to the Santa Anita where she won a maiden special weight in February, a first condition $100,000 optional claiming in March and the Grade 3 Senorita on April 27 before going in the Honeymoon.

Antonio Fresu will guide her from post seven for trainer Phil D’Amato.

Casalu, who hails from the barn of Bob Baffert, won the $101,000 Blue Norther going a mile on the grass at Santa Anita in December and the San Clemente is her second start this year after the Sweet Life.

She breaks from post two and Kazushi Kimura has the assignment.

Rounding out the field are Will Then and jockey Mike Smith, Thought Process with Hector Berrios up, Juan Hernandez will be in the saddle for Amorita and Silent Law with Mirco Demuro taking the reins.

Return to the July 17 issue of Wire to Wire