River Boyne Headlines Mathis Brothers Mile Field

Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal's River Boyne has only finished off the board once in 10 North American races and will next take on a field of 10 other 3-year-olds Dec. 26 in the Mathis Brothers Mile Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park.

River Boyne raced three times in the United Kingdom as a 2-year-old before being purchased by his current owners for $97,359 from the 2017 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale.

Since making his North American debut at Del Mar in November of last year, the Dandy Man colt has won six times. He added the Aug. 5 La Jolla Handicap (G3T) going 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar and the 1 1/8-mile Twilight Derby (G2T) Nov. 4 at Santa Anita to his résumé most recently.

Coming into the Mathis Brothers Mile off a runner-up finish in the Dec. 1 Hollywood Derby (G1T), the Jeff Mullins-trained River Boyne is the most consistent at the graded level among the group of sophomores.

He will be ridden by Flavien Prat from post 5.

Switching back to the turf, Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's Combatant will also take on the Mathis Brothers Mile field.

All but three of Combatant's 13 starts have been on dirt. Trainer Steve Asmussen has opted to try the grass again with the son of Scat Daddy after he finished fourth in the Sept. 30 Oklahoma Derby (G3) going 1 1/8 miles and third in the Nov. 21 Zia Park Derby going 1 1/16 miles.

In his grass efforts, Combatant finished fourth over firm turf in his debut in September 2017 and, more recently, fifth over yielding turf in the 1 1/16-mile National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T) and fourth over firm turf in the one-mile Better Talk Now Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in August.

Combatant is no doubt a frustrating prospect for his connections after showing enough talent to place in five stakes, including a second in the Southwest Stakes (G3) and a third in the Rebel Stakes (G2) at the beginning of the year. However, Combatant has only his maiden victory in the win column.

With the services of Jose Ortiz aboard, Combatant will race from post 6.

Trainer John Sadler has entered Hronis Racing's newly acquired Sejo, who will make his North American debut after two handicap wins at Longchamp over the summer.

The son of Nathaniel will be the question mark in the race as he leaves the gate with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard from the rail.

Others entered in the race include last-out Hollywood Derby runners Fight On (sixth) and Desert Stone (eighth), multiple stakes winner Gidu, and Silky Sullivan Stakes winner Hardboot.

Entries: Mathis Brothers Mile S. (G2T)

Santa Anita Park, Wednesday, December 26, 2018, Race 7

• Grade IIT
• 1m
• Turf
• $200,000
• 3 yo
• 2:50 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Sejo (IRE)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	120	John W. Sadler	6/1
2	2Choo Choo (KY)	Joel Rosario	122	Jerry Hollendorfer	12/1
3	3Gidu (IRE)	John R. Velazquez	122	Todd A. Pletcher	4/1
4	4Hardboot (CA)	Angel Cruz	122	Michele Dollase	30/1
5	5River Boyne (IRE)	Flavien Prat	124	Jeff Mullins	8/5
6	6Combatant (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	120	Steven M. Asmussen	6/1
7	7Desert Stone (IRE)	Geovanni Franco	120	Richard Baltas	12/1
8	8Fight On (KY)	Rafael Bejarano	120	Doug F. O'Neill	20/1
9	9Gemonteer (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	122	Jena M. Antonucci	12/1
10	10Shivermetimbers (KY)	Mike E. Smith	120	Jerry Hollendorfer	8/1
11	11Snazzy Dresser (FL)	Edwin A. Maldonado	120	George Papaprodromou	30/1