AIR FORCE RED GOES GATE TO WIRE AND WINS $80,000 LURE STAKES BY 1 ¾ LENGTHS, GETS MILE ON GRASS IN 1:33.78

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 29, 2022)—Reunited with Juan Hernandez, Air Force Red sped to the early lead in Saturday’s $80,000 Lure Stakes at Santa Anita and the 4-year-old ridgling by Air Force Blue made it look easy as he dominated throughout en route to a 1 ¾ win. Trained by Leonard Powell, Air Force Red got one mile on turf in 1:33.78.

Most recently an even fifth, beaten 2 ¾ lengths going about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course in the Grade II Eddie D Stakes Oct. 1, Air Force Red was off as the 2-1 second choice in a field of six 3-year-olds and up and paid $6.40, $4.00 and $2.40.

Owned by Eclipse Thoroghbred Partners and Holly Golightly, Air Force Red, who is out of the Mizzen Mast mare Mesana, notched his first stakes win in what was his ninth career start. With the winner’s share of $52,320, he increased his earnings to $204,140 while getting his fourth win from nine overall starts.

Next to last at the half mile, Irish-bred Prince Abama put in an impressive stretch run to finish second by two lengths over favored Gregorian Chant. Ridden by Hector Berrios, Prince Abama was off at 5-2 and paid $4.00 and $2.20.

With Umberto Rispoli up, Gregorian Chant was third by a neck over Carmelita’s Man and paid $2.20 while off at 2-1.

Fractions on the race were 23.06, 47.40, 1:11.18 and 1:22.57.