Trainer Scott Becker sends out a trio of geldings for owner William Stiritz in the $100,000 Sun Power Stakes on Saturday at Hawthorne. The Sun Power is for Illinois-bred juvenile colts and geldings and will be contested at six furlongs on the main track.
Leading the way for the Becker trainees is Ghaaleb’s Winner as the 2-1 morning-line favorite will be ridden on Saturday by Chris Emigh. An impressive debut winner at Fairmount Park on Aug. 15, Ghaaleb’s Winner shipped to Arlington Park to contest the Arlington Washington Futurity in his next start. After being bumped at the start and dropping back to last early, he rallied to finish a solid third in that seven furlong event. His most recent start came at Hawthorne on Oct. 19 as he got a perfect trip en-route to a two-and-a-half length victory against optional claiming allowance company. Ghaaleb’s Winner will be joined in the race by Becker entrants Gita’s Lad (8-1) and Caleb’s Heir (15-1).
The second and third choices in the morning line come from the Larry Rivelli barn in Demand Ransom and Pass the Gravy. Demand Ransom was a solid winner on debut at Arlington on Aug. 3, defeating $25,000 maiden claimers by nearly seven lengths. His most recent race was a third-place effort behind Ghaaleb’s Winner after contesting the pace with Pass the Gravy on Oct, 19. Julio Felix gets the call once again on Demand Ransom, who is the 9-2 second-choice.
Pass the Gravy is the second Rivelli entrant in the Sun Power Stakes as Rodney Prescott gets the call on the 5-1 morning-line third choice. Pass the Gravy also got off to a fine start on his racing career, winning at first asking over the polytrack at Arlington on Sept. 2. After a six-week break, he was pushed along in his most recent race by Demand Ransom, tiring in the lane to finish fifth to Ghaaleb’s Winner.
Sir Anthony is the 6-1 fourth choice in the line in the Sun Power for owner Richard Otto Stables, Inc. and trainer Anthony Mitchell. Sir Anthony debuted at Arlington on Sept. 2, finishing third in a maiden race won by Pass the Gravy. He tried the turf at Hawthorne on Oct. 20, chasing the early pace around two turns before tiring to finish fifth in that spot. He enters the Sun Power off a maiden score at Hawthorne on Nov. 1. Santo Sanjur takes the return ride on Sir Anthony.
The field for the Sun Power Stakes:
PP Horse Jockey Trainer M/L
News
1 Run for Charlie J. Lopez S. Manley 20-1
2 Gita’s Lad V. Santiago S. Becker 8-1
3 Ghaaleb’s Winner C. Emigh S. Becker 2-1
4 Mr. Luv Maker F. Giles T. Dorris 8-1
5 Im The Best I Know E. Perez W. Catalano 12-1
6 Demand Ransom J. Felix L. Rivelli 9-2
7 Caleb’s Heir V. Bailon S. Becker 15-1
8 Sir Anthony S. Sanjur A. Mitchell 6-1
9 Pass the Gravy R. Prescott L. Rivelli 5-1