Santa Anita opens with Malibu, La Brea and Sir Beaufort

Flashback’s last trip to the winner’s circle came in the Robert B. Lewis in February (Benoit Photos)

With the closing of Hollywood Park, Santa Anita will open Thursday with an
expanded calendar that features racing at the Arcadia, California, track through
June 29.

There will be a special early first post of noon (PST), with admission gates
opening at 10 a.m. All on-track
attendees will receive a Santa Anita wall
calendar, free with paid general admission. This year’s
calendar theme is “Flying Silks,” as some of racing’s most
prominent owners will be honored by having their stable
colors displayed month by month.

Santa Anita’s popular free online “Showvivor” will launch on
Thursday, with a total of $10,000 in prize money highlighted by a $5,000
top prize to be awarded to the longest “show streak” achieved throughout the
course of Santa Anita’s winter/spring meetings. Players may sign up at
santaanita.com/showvivor.

Sweet Lulu (inside) is one of the top draws in the La Brea (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography)

Baffert will also send out Grade 2 hero Shakin It Up, who makes his first
appearance since a fourth in the Sunland Derby last March; and stakes winner Zee
Bros, who has not started since a fifth in the Woody Stephens in June.

Multiple stakes winner Zeewat exits a head victory over Flashback in the
November 2 Damascus on the Breeders’ Cup Saturday undercard and will also return
for the Malibu. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, the bay son of Harlan’s Holiday
will keep leading Southern California rider Rafael Bejarano in the saddle.

Other Malibu runners of note include Bakken, Demonic, Distinctiv Passion,
Holy Lute and Our Double Play.

Grade 1 winner Sweet Lulu, who exits a fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly &
Mare Sprint, tops a cast of seven in the La Brea. A chestnut daughter of Mr.
Greeley, the Hollendorfer charge will break from the rail with Bejarano.

Executiveprivilege was one of the leading two-year-olds fillies in 2012, but
the multiple Grade 1 winner is still seeking her best form this season. She
finished second when making her 2013 bow in a Del Mar allowance in July and
followed it with a fourth in the October 5 L.A. Woman. Mike Smith takes the
reins for Baffert on the First Samurai filly.

Gervinho will cut back in distance for the Sir Beaufort (Benoit Photos)

Devoid of a clear-cut standout, the Sir Beaufort attracted a
field of 10 which appears to be headed by California-bred Gervinho. The bay colt by Unusual Heat cuts back in
distance in the one-mile turf test after running a close fourth in the Grade 1 Hollywood
Derby going 1 1/4 miles on December 1.

Gervinho’s last win came in the grassy one-mile Oceanside on July 17, and he
placed in a pair of Grade 2 turf contests at nine furlongs prior to that.
Trained by Carla Gaines,
the bay retains the services of Bejarano, who has been aboard for all three of
his career wins.

Trainer Simon Callaghan will be well represented in the Sir
Beaufort as he sends out No Jet Lag. The Johar gelding captured his first two
U.S. starts in a pair of one-mile turf events, including the Grade 2 City of
Hope Mile, and then ran a respectable sixth, beaten six lengths, in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on November 2.

The Kentucky-bred bay will be
ridden for the first time by Rosario as he tries to get back on the winning
track in the Sir Beaufort.