Hero Status Post Race Update

Hero Status exited his fourth-place finish in the Oaklawn Mile in good physical order. He received an 87 Beyer Speed Figure, a slight improvement from his figure in the Razorback (a copy of his updated lifetime past performances can be seen above).

Pending all things continue well over the next two days, Hero Status will ship to Keeneland on Tuesday and target the previously mentioned third-level allowance race on Apr. 28. With that news we will also look to have Hero Status participate in our Paddock Parade event on Friday, April 7th at Keeneland. Click here for details.

Race Entry

Hero Status has been entered in Friday’s 6th race at Del Mar, an allowance for three-year old’s and up going one mile on the main track. Hero Status drew post 3 in a field of 9. Mike Smith has the mount for trainer Mark Glatt.

We’ll follow up with additional race day information in the coming days.

Zia Park Derby Nominations

Nominations for the Zia Park Derby were released yesterday afternoon. A total of 16 three-year-olds, including Hero Status, were nominated to this $250,000 listed stake going one-mile and one-sixteenth at Zia Park. Our team, along with trainer Mark Glatt and partner Dan Agnew will go through these nominations thoroughly to determine the likely candidates. At that point, we will make a final decision if we are going to purse this race.

Click here for the past performances of the horses nominated.

Opening Weekend Fun!

Join MyRacehorse this Saturday during Opening Weekend at Del Mar for the Bing Crosby meet.

Spend time between races in the MyRacehorse Lounge and enjoy the action from grandstand seating on the stretch run.

The Lounge features wagering, sportsbook-style screens showing multiple sports events, comfortable seating, and Instagram-worthy photo ops.

Tickets to this exclusive MyRacehorse experience are available NOW for $15.00 per person (non-refundable. Click here to purchase now!

Hero Status Post Race Update

Hero Status bounced out of Sunday’s win in good order. The 3-year-old colt earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure which is one point off his career top but did run a career top figure of an 8 on Thoro-Manager. Both versions of his past performances can be seen above.

Despite the quick turnaround, trainer Mark Glatt is still considering running Hero Status in the $250,000 Zia Park Derby on Nov. 22nd at Zia Park pending all continues well. Nominations close on Nov. 12th and will be available likely 24-48 hours later. One other major aspect to this decision is travel. We are currently investigating both plane and van options.

Hero Status Race Recap

It was back to back wins for Hero Status as the 3-year-old colt was victorious in Sunday’s 8th race at Santa Anita Park.

Ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, Hero Status found himself on the lead today and held on by a neck while defeating six rivals in the $63,000 first-level allowance race at the Great Race Place.

In a race which lacked early pace and Hero Status adding the blinkers, Smith took it to the field early after breaking sharply. The son of Flatter set fractions of 23.52 and 47.72 for the opening quarter and half mile, encountering his first test as he took the field into the far turn. With a quarter-mile to go, Smith cued Hero Status who responded willingly and started to open up at the top of the stretch. Hero Status was challenged a second time by Street Ruckus in the final sixteenth but fended him off gamely and galloped out well clear of the field. In a post race interview with Smith, which can be found above, he said, “When he gets on the lead by himself, he tends to look around. Next time around when he gets a target, I think he will focus even more.” Smith also indicated he had plenty under him, finding another gear once he was challenged late by the runner-up.

As the even money favorite, Hero Status returned $4.00 for a $2 win bet. He completed the mile distance in 1:36.45 (identical to his maiden win) over a track labeled fast.

Trainer Mark Glatt said: “Nice to pick up another win with this colt. He started to goof off a bit when he was clear in the stretch. As the competition gets harder moving forward, I believe it will be a benefit as he will get some faster horses to sit off of. As Mike mentioned after the race, I think he does his best running with a target.”

Additionally, you can order winner’s circle photos through Santa Anita’s track photographer here.

Hero Status Race Entry

Hero Status has been officially entered in Sunday’s 8th race at Santa Anita, a first-level allowance going one mile and one-sixteenth for three-year-olds and upward on the dirt.

The 3-year-old colt drew post 4 in a seven-horse field which has a 4:30 p.m. PT post time. Hall of fame rider Mike Smith will be returning in the irons.

If you plan on attending Sunday’s race, click here to join the paddock lottery. We also will be hosting a race day event in the Director’s room. Click here to purchase tickets.

Hero Status Workout Report

Hero Status had his final breeze this morning at Santa Anita Park in preparation for an allowance race next Sunday. The 3-year-old colt covered five furlongs in 1:01.20 with Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith aboard.

“It looked like he was just galloping out there. I had him in 11.40 for the final 1/8th of a mile,” said trainer Mark Glatt.

As previously mentioned, Hero Status wore a very small blinker (cheater blinker) for the first time and responded well. Both Smith and Glatt were thoroughly pleased with the work. Based on today’s breeze, Hero Status will add blinkers in Sunday’s race. Entries will be taken on Thursday, October 6th.

Hero Status Workout Report

Hero Status breezed a solo five furlongs this morning at Santa Anita Park, covering the ground in 1:01.20 under exercise rider Jonathan Hernandez. Trainer Mark Glatt considered this work to be perfect, continuing to reiterate his thought process with easier works benefiting him come race day. Hero Status remains right on schedule for the first-level allowance race on October 9th at Santa Anita Park which will give him one additional work next weekend.

When discussing the plan from now until then with Glatt, next week he will have Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith come out to breeze him with the possibility of adding a small cheater blinker which Smith recommended after his maiden score.

A Tough Beat

A tough beat today with Hero Status, who endured a poor trip and fell short narrowly at the wire to finish second to the upset winner, Go Joe Won.

In amongst and behind horses while racing down the backstretch of the one-mile dirt race, Hero Status never looked at ease with the position that he was put in by jockey Edwin Maldonado. The trip was in contrast to what trainer Mark Glatt had hoped to see as he told Maldonado he wanted him to be “aggressive” out of the gate, but he was not amongst the early leaders, even though the field was tightly bunched.

After a quarter mile in 22.85 seconds and half in 47.04 was run, Hero Status was set down to do some serious running, and he responded quickly, but was floated four-wide into the stretch, losing precious ground, while Go Joe Won was surging forward with the lead at the rail. Hero Status kept digging in, giving it his all, but ran out of real estate.

Mark was disappointed with the ride, but proud of Hero Status running so well, despite the adversity, and said: “[Maldonado} put him in a tough position, checking down the entire backside. The plan was to be more forwardly placed and even with the fast pace, he put the horse in an uncomfortable position.”

We will check in with the barn in the coming days to see how Hero Status exited today’s race. We may have lost this battle, but good things are surely ahead for our hard-trying colt.