Rio King, nearly a longshot winner in previous race, eyes All American

Despite Rio King going off at odds of 51-1 in the Grade 3, $251,800 San Francisco Mile on April 29 at Golden Gate Fields in the horse’s stakes debut, trainer Samuel Calvario expected a lot from his charge.

Expectations were met, and perhaps even exceeded, when Rio King stormed from next-to-last place at the top of the stretch and finished second — losing to 7-5 favorite Balnikhov by a short nose.

“When I entered him in the race, the owners said, ‘Maybe you’re in the wrong place,’ ” Calvario said. “I said, ‘No, this is the correct place.’ They called me right away after the race and said, ‘Beautiful job.’ ”

Calvario expects another stellar performance Monday at Golden Gate Fields when Rio King runs in the $100,000 All American Stakes against another strong field headed by Southern California graded stakes winners Royal Ship and Tripoli.

Bob Baffert-trained Mastering and local stakes winners American Farmer, I’mgonnabesomebody and Royal ’n Rando complete the field for the 1-mile race on the Tapeta Footings synthetic main track.

“Everything looks to be perfect, and I think I have a good chance go win,” Calvario said. “The day after the SF Mile he probably thought he had won. He was so happy in his stall and on the walking machine. He’s actually been more aggressive and stronger in his gallops since that race.”

Calvario claimed Rio King for $20,000 out of a turf maiden race Oct. 2 at Golden Gate Fields on behalf of Huntertown Farms LLC — a partnership that runs horses in California, Ohio and West Virginia.

Rio King broke his maiden on grass two starts later then finished mid-pack in two starts on Tapeta before surging to decisive victories in two starter allowances and one allowance event on that surface. The SF Mile on grass would have given Calvario his first victory in a graded stakes, but he didn’t mind barely missing that.

“There was nothing negative from me about that race,” Calvario said. “I was feeling very happy, especially for the owners.”

A victory in the All American Stakes would be Calvario’s richest in a career that began after 21 years working under trainer Armando Lage, who died of a heart attack Jan. 31, 2017.

Calvario also considered Monday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Shoemaker Mile on grass at Santa Anita for Rio King. Balnikhov is running in it, along with three others from the SF Mile: Golden Gate Fields-based Il Bellator, who finished a half-length behind Rio King in third at odds of 56-1, fifth-place Flavius and sixth-place Lamplighter Jack. The 11-horse Shoemaker Mile field is headed by Grade 1 veterans Gold Phoenix, Hong Kong Harry, Du Jour and Cabo Spirit.

“I like it better here for this horse at this time,” Calvario said of Rio King. “The horses down south are a little tougher. We can stay here and maybe be the favorite or second favorite.”