Santa Anita, located beneath the picturesque backdrop of the San Gabriel
Mountains in Arcadia, California, opens Tuesday with plenty of stakes action to
begin its 85-day meet. The $250,000 Malibu S. (G1) is the main attraction, along
with the $100,000 Sir Beaufort S. (G3) on the lawn and the $125,000 California
Breeders’ Champion S. for juveniles. First post on Tuesday is noon (PST).
The seven-furlong
Malibu
has attracted a contentious field of 13 sophomores, led by multiple Grade 1 hero
BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark). The Dan Hendricks charge is coming off a fifth in the
1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and will be cutting back sharply in trip
here while reverting to his own age group. The Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner
loves the Arcadia oval, boasting four wins and a second from five starts over
the track, all in graded stakes company.
For the first time in his career, Brother Derek will not have the services of
jockey Alex Solis, but will instead be ridden by Garrett Gomez.
Solis found himself squarely on the horns of a dilemma when another of his
regular mounts, ARSON SQUAD (Brahms), also entered the Malibu. Highly regarded
by horseman Bruce Headley, Arson Squad captured the Swaps Breeders’ Cup S. (G2)
in July. After an abortive attempt on the turf resulted in a dull fourth in the
La Jolla H. (G2), he returned to sprinting on the main track and posted a sharp
allowance win over older rivals at this venue in October. Arson Squad has been
burning up the worktab in preparation for the Malibu, and Solis opted to stick
with him.
“I left it up to Super Agent there,” Solis said, pointing to Scott McClellan.
“That’s his job. Seriously, it was a tough decision. They are two really good
horses. You don’t want to lose any of them, but I think it was more or less that
we gave Bruce a call. We thought Brother Derek would run on the grass (in the
Sir Beaufort) and that didn’t happen.”
Brother Derek and Arson Squad rank as co-highweights at 121 pounds.
Trainer Bob Baffert will send out the uncoupled pair of DA STOOPS (Distorted
Humor) and MIDNIGHT LUTE (Real Quiet). A four-time stakes winner, the
California-bred Da Stoops is seeking his first score in open stakes company. The
Malibu will be his last chance, however, as he will be heading off to stud in
2007. The once-beaten Midnight Lute was last seen romping by 4 3/4 lengths in
the Perryville S. (G3) at Keeneland.
Other contenders include SAILORS SUNSET (Petionville), who upset older stars
Siren Lure (Joyeux Danseur) and Declan’s Moon (Malibu Moon) in the Vernon O.
Underwood S. (G3) in his latest; Lazaro Barrera Memorial S. (G2) winner NORTHERN
SOLDIER (Yankee Victor); Grade 2-placed LATENT HEAT (Maria’s Mon) representing
Bobby Frankel; and the well bred SPRING AT LAST (Silver Deputy) from the Todd
Pletcher barn.
The Malibu is the first leg of the Strub series for horses foaled in 2003. The second leg, the San
Fernando Breeders’ Cup S. (G2) going 1 1/16 miles, is set for January 13 while
the 1 1/8-mile Strub S. (G2) completes the series on February 3.
The
Sir Beaufort showcases 14 sophomores who prefer the grass. GET FUNKY
(Straight Man), unraced since taking the September 3 Del Mar Derby (G2), and
multiple stakes hero KIP DEVILLE (Kipling) will each tote the top weight of 122
pounds in the one-mile affair. Stakes veterans IN SUMMATION (Put It Back),
LIGHTNING HIT (Ire) (Orpen), PORTO SANTO (Fr) (Kingsalsa) and TO SENDER
(GB) (King’s Best) also hold strong claims.
Rounding out Tuesday’s stakes action is the
California Breeders’ Champion S.
for state-bred juveniles at seven furlongs. Baffert will saddle stakes winner
PIRATES DEPUTY (Bertrando), who is exiting a strong runner-up effort in the
Delta Jackpot S. (G3). Also noteworthy are stakes victors SUPER IMAGE (High
Brite) and STREET LIGHTS (High Brite). Note that Street Lights is coupled in
the wagering with stakes-placed RIVER ECHO (Swiss Yodeler).
A wall calendar will be given away on opening day to all paid admissions
while supplies last. This year’s theme is “The Origins of the Stakes Races.”
Overall, 73 stakes have been scheduled for the meet, including 46 graded
events. The track’s signature race, the $1 million Santa Anita H. (G1) for four-year-olds and up
at 10
furlongs, headlines a four-stakes card on March 3. The day also features the $300,000
Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) on the turf for four-year-olds and up, the $200,000
Robert B. Lewis S. (G2) at 1 1/16 miles for sophomores (formerly known as the
Santa Catalina) and the $75,000 China
Doll S. for three-year-old fillies going a mile on the grass.
Those sophomores vying for a spot on the Triple Crown roster will get their
chance on April 7 when the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby is staged over 1 1/8 miles. Also scheduled on the day are the $200,000 Potrero Grande
Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) at 6 1/2 furlongs for four-year-olds and up, the $150,000
Arcadia H. (G2) sending four-year-olds and up a mile on the grass as well as the $100,000 Providencia S. (G3) going a mile on the turf for sophomore fillies.
The first four-stakes Saturday is January 27, Sunshine
Millions Day, when California-breds do battle with Florida-breds in eight rich
contests split between Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park. Santa Anita
will be the site of the Sunshine Millions Turf and Sunshine Millions Distaff,
each worth $500,000, as well as the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint and
$250,000 Sunshine Millions Oaks.
A total of 10 Grade 1 events are on the stakes schedule. The other premier
contests are the $250,000 La Brea S. (G1) on December 30
for three-year-old fillies; the $250,000 Santa Monica H. (G1) for distaffers
four years old and up on January 28; the $250,000 Las Virgenes S. (G1) for
sophomore fillies and the $250,000 Santa Maria H. (G1) for older distaffers,
both slated for February 10; the $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational H. (G1)
on March 10 for older fillies and mares; and the $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G1) on March 11 for
three-year-old fillies.
Closing day, April 22, features the $250,000 San Juan Capistrano Invitational
H. (G2) at about 1 3/4 miles on the turf.