A ten-race card at Santa Anita on Saturday could be hampered by torrential rain, but will be highlighted by a pair of important stakes races: the Robert B. Lewis (G3) and the San Pasqual Stakes (G2). The first has Kentucky Derby implications, the latter is expected to send some horses to the Dubai World Cup (G1) in late March.
A small field of six will go postward for the 1 1/16-mile Lewis, a $150,000 race for three-year-olds. #4 Gunmetal Gray (9-5) is coming off an impressive mild upset of the Sham Stakes (G3) on January 5; before that he was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Exchange Rate colt was grade 1 placed last year, and retains the services of rider Mike Smith. He has won from just off the pace and from well behind the leaders, so he is a versatile sort with back class.
#5 Mucho Gusto (8-5) is also a grade 3-winner, his victory coming over seven furlongs at Del Mar in the Bob Hope (G3) last November. The son of Mucho Macho Man was second to stablemate Improbable in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) last out, and has worked well for trainer Baffert in the interim. He was a $625,000 juvenile purchase last year, and will have Joe Talamo aboard.
#6 Nolo Contesto (5-2) is coming off a maiden victory for John Sadler, as is #2 Magnificent McCool (8-1). #3 Easy Shot (8-1) was fifth in the Sham Stakes last out.
The co-feature on the card is the $200,000 San Pasqual (G2), which has drawn one of the deeper fields of older horses in the state in a while. #7 McKinzie (4-5) is coming off a brilliant victory in the grade 1 Malibu Stakes on opening day; the Baffert-trainee is three for four over the track and won his lone try at the distance. He will have to beat a tougher field here, as #8 Battle of Midway (5-2), is a two-time stakes winner in his return to the races following a brief retirement. The 2017 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner was second by a half-length in the San Antonio (G2) last out; that rival Gift Box isn’t here today.
#5 Giant Expectations (12-1) only ran four times in 2018, but is a grade 2 winner over the course. The Peter Eurton-trainee has earned over $1.1 million, but is only one for nine at Santa Anita.
#3 Dabster (5-1) was third in the San Antonio behind Gift Box and Battle of Midway. His record shows that he is two for six at Santa Anita, but he has actually won here three times since he was disqualified out of a maiden win in 2016. Dabster has been no worse than third in his last six starts.
The ten-race program begins at noon Pacific.
No comments:
Post a Comment