Despite being one of the few opportunities for those contemplating the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) in November to get a course and distance spin on the Del Mar turf, Friday’s $75,000 Green Flash H. at five furlongs is largely a local affair.
Won in 2009 by eventual Turf Sprint hero California Flag, the Green Flash features Richard’s Boy, the 2016 runner-up who makes his first home state outing since February. The Peter Miller trainee was a close fifth in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) in Dubai March 25, and followed up with narrow win in the Jim McKay Turf Sprint at Pimlico on Preakness weekend.
A subsequent score in the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup remains under review as he tested positive for methamphetamine following his elevation to first via disqualification. Last time, the gray gelding was a non-threatening sixth to Pure Sensation in the Parx Dash (G3). Richard’s Boy boasts a credible 3-2-1-0 mark on the Del Mar turf.
Guns Loaded, the 2016 San Simeon (G3) winner, makes his first start since running third as the favorite in an Eddie D (G3) division last September at Santa Anita. The Doug O’Neill trainee will have to win from the outside 11 post.
One slot in is Rocket Heat, winless in six outings since capturing the 2016 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G3) at Churchill Downs. A three-time winner on the Del Mar lawn, he weakened to last in the 2016 Green Flash, but has placed in both stakes outings this term.
St. Joe Bay, who took the Palos Verdes (G2) and Midnight Lute (G3) on dirt earlier this year, will again try a surface over which he is zero-for-six, albeit in longer races. Fourth in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) in March, he faded badly to eighth in last month’s Bing Crosby (G1).
Tribalist, two-for-two at this course and distance, makes his first start in more than a year for trainer Blake Heap, while K Thirty Eight and Horse Laugh are other possible contenders. The lone shipper testing the waters, the former Canterbury-based Shrewd Mover, will be a longshot to win his first grass race in his seventh attempt.
