Artislas, Sabertooth Renew Rivalry in Zuma Beach

Artislas and Sabertooth, the 1-2 finishers in last month's Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes (G3T), are set to battle again in the Oct. 6 $100,000 Zuma Beach Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park. Racing for the partnership of Irving Ventures, William Meathe, Michelle Arthur, and Jeanne Tumanjan, Artislas prevailed by a half-length over his rival in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf. The stakes score followed a sharp debut victory going five furlongs on the turf for the Jeff Mullins-trained son of Catalina Cruiser. Reylu Gutierrez, 2-for-2 with Artislas, retains the mount for the one-mile Zuma Beach. Sabertooth, who closed from last of 13 in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf, will be looking to turn the tables on Artislas this time around. The Maryland-bred Grazen colt gets the weight advantage over his chief rival, toting 118 pounds to Artislas' 124. Trained by Tim Yakteen for George Sharp, Sabertooth enters the Zuma Beach still a maiden, having finished second in his three trips to the post. Kazushi Kimura has the call. Leading the trio of last-out maiden winners drawn into the Zuma Beach is Little Red Feather Racing's Iron Man Cal. A son of Collected, the Phil D'Amato trainee rolled to a 2 1/2-length win traveling a mile at Del Mar. He earned an 89 Equibase Speed Figure for the effort. Thought Process Looks to Make it Back-to-Back Stakes Wins in Surfer Girl Thought Process, a decisive two-length victress of the Sept. 7 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes, looks to take her second consecutive stakes tally in the $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes (G3T) for 2-year-old fillies. A $57,000 RNA as a yearling, Thought Process has been flawless in her two starts on the turf after finishing third in her dirt debut. Facing a small field of six, Thought Process should likely be heavily favored in Sunday's one-mile affair. Hector Berrios will ride the daughter of Collected, who Phil D'Amato trains for the ownership group of Madaket Stables, Little Red Feather Racing, and The Estate of Brereton C. Jones. Casalu, fourth in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf, returns for trainer Bob Baffert. An impressive debut winner on the dirt, the Cararaco filly led for most of the way last time out before buckling late in her first try on the turf. Among the recent maiden winners stepping into stakes company are Del Mar maiden winner Ce La Vi Charli and California-bred Tequilaandtherapy.