New turf shooter Avanzare from Arcadia Stakes

AVANZARE broke through with a career-best effort in last Saturday's Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes at one mile on turf at Santa Anita. Trained by the always-dangerous Tom Proctor, Avanzare handled a solid field that included millionaire ZA APPROVAL and graded stakes winners HOME RUN KITTEN, BACCELO, KAIGUN and EDGE OF REALITY. Utilizing his greatest asset, his positional speed, Avanzare tracked longshot leader EL NINO TERRIBLE from the outside through fractions of 23.05, 46.95, and 1:10.59. Avanzare forged to the front turning for home and always had enough to fend off ZA APPROVAL's late kick. Avanzare completed the distance in 1:34.17, good enough for a lifetime-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure. "I breezed him five days ago on the dirt and when I looked at the work, he had the second-fastest work that morning (at the distance.)," jockey Gary Stevens told track publicity following the Arcadia. "I thought he went in 1:01 and he actually went in 59 and usually when they do that they’re doing awfully well."

Avanzare is a 5-year-old gelding by Grand Reward, a regally-bred son of Storm Cat and Serena's Song. Grand Reward was Group 2-placed on turf in England, but blossomed once moved to the Wayne Lukas barn. Grand Reward finished fourth in the 2005 Santa Anita Handicap before grabbying the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap at nine furlongs on dirt with a 108 Beyer Speed Figure. Avanzare's third dam, Miss Turkana (by Turkoman), prevailed in six stakes races including the Grade 3 Hillsborough Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Bay Meadows. His fourth dam, Reigning Countess (by Far North), succeeded in the Grade 3 Railbird Stakes sprinting on dirt at Hollywood Park. Avanzare sold for a mere $1,100 as a yearling, but was purchased for $52,000 the following June. He has been a beacon of consistency throughout his career. From 12 starts, Avanzare boasts a record of 6-3-2. The only time he finished off the board was in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on July 12, 2014. In that race, he placed fourth, beaten only three-quarters of a length for the victory.

Not only is Avanzare consistent, but he has a versatile running style. He pressed the pace in the Arcadia, went gate-to-wire in the Grade 3 Washington Park Handicap at nine furlongs over Arlington's polytrack last summer, and rallied from midpack to win an 'n2x' optional claimer on turf at Churchill Downs last spring. Avanzare isn't the only horse that should be followed out of the Aracadia. While some might argue that Za Approval is getting a bit long in the tooth, he gave another good effort for trainer Mark Casse. Wide throughout at the back of the pack, Za Approval simply couldn't make up the tactical advantage Avanzare gained going into the first turn. He showed that he can still run. Avanzare and Za Approval likely punched their tickets to the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 7.