Visit Our CDI Partners

Student Council, Tiago among 14 entered in Big 'Cap

Last updated: 2/28/08 4:16 PM

Tiago is seeking his first win of 2008

(Benoit Photo)

Saturday's $1 million Santa Anita H. (G1) drew a full field of 14, and the 1

1/4-mile event over Santa Anita's Cushion Track appears very contentious.

Pacific Classic (G1) hero STUDENT COUNCIL (Kingmambo) and multiple Grade 1

winner TIAGO (Pleasant Tap) are among the top draws, but both runners will be

attempting to rebound from recent setbacks over the track.

Student Council recorded noteworthy victories in the Pacific Classic and

Hawthorne Gold Cup (G2) last season, but skipped the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1)

and headed to the Far East for the Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1) in late November. He

rallied into a menacing position before weakening to eighth that day, and the

six-year-old horse returned from a 2 1/2-month freshening to finish fifth in the

February 9 San Antonio H. (G2) last out. Trainer Vladimir Cerin will give

regular rider Richard Migliore a leg up, and Student Council will tote 117

pounds on Saturday.

Tiago captured the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and finished third in the Belmont

S. (G1) early in his three-year-old campaign last year, and the John Shirreffs

runner captured the Goodwood S. (G1) at Santa Anita in the fall. Fifth in the

Breeders' Cup Classic, Tiago returned to action this year with a pair of stakes

placings, finishing third in the San Fernando S. (G2) and second in the Strub S.

(G2) most recently. Mike Smith will attempt to improve one spot on Saturday

aboard the 119-pound co-highweight.

Strub winner MONTEREY JAZZ (Thunderello) will also tote 119 pounds in the Big

'Cap. The four-year-old colt will enter on a roll for Craig Dollase, impressively

winning a grassy allowance/optional claimer at Hollywood Park before capturing

the Sir Beaufort S. (G3) on the turf at Santa Anita in late December. Monterey

Jazz crushed his rivals on the front end in the Strub, opening a clear lead

early en route to a 4 1/2-length decision, and he'll receive a rider switch in

the Big 'Cap to Russell Baze, who guided him to a maiden special weight victory

eight starts back.

CHAMPS ELYSEES (GB) (Danehill) will make his synthetic track debut for Bobby

Frankel in the Big 'Cap. A French Group 3 winner, the five-year-old horse

finished second when making his U.S. debut in the Hollywood Turf Cup (G1) two

starts back and rolled to a smart 1 1/4-length tally in the San Marcos S. (G2)

last out. New rider Ramon Dominguez will guide Champs Elysees.

Other contenders include GO BETWEEN (Point Given), who improved to

two-for-two on synthetic tracks when registering a two-length score in the

Sunshine Millions Classic, San Fernando winner AIR COMMANDER (Point Given), and

Breeders' Cup Classic third-placer AWESOME GEM (Awesome Again), who ran his

streak of graded stakes placings to six with a third in the San Antonio.

Champs Elysees will lead the post parade under a 117-pound impost. Next comes

Tiago; BIG BOOSTER (Accelerator), Michael Baze, 115; MEDICI CODE (GB) (Medicean),

Martin Pedroza, 115; Awesome Gem, David Flores, 117; Monterey Jazz; ZAPPA

(Afternoon Deelites), Joel Rosario, 114; SEMINOLE NATIVE (Lil Tyler), Jose

Valdivia Jr., 113; CELTIC DREAMIN (Game Plan), Alex Solis, 115; HEATSEEKER (Ire)

(Giant's Causeway), Rafael Bejarano, 116; Student Council; Go Between, Garrett

Gomez, 118; GREAT HUNTER (Aptitude), Victor Espinoza, 115; and Air Commander,

Aaron Gryder, 116.

Keeneland Opens SUNDAY

ADVERTISEMENT