Shadow of Illinois bids for Santa Anita history in
Sensational Star
Grade 3 veteran SHADOW OF ILLINOIS (Illinois Storm) will attempt to write
another chapter to Santa Anita’s storied history on New Year’s Day. The gelding
will seek to become the first 10-year-old to win a stakes race at Santa Anita
Friday when he runs in the $100,000
Sensational Star H., an about 6 1/2-furlong
turf dash for California-breds.
“He’s doing as well as ever, and Anthony (trainer Anthony Saavedra) does a
great job with him,” said Alex Solis, who has ridden him 14 times in his 40-race
career, the last seven in a row.
Saavedra trains the durable campaigner for his wife, Jennifer. The couple
resides in Monrovia, California, where Shadow of Illinois has enjoyed occasional
R&R and sunshine at the Saavedras’ abode that caters to his every need.
Shadow of Illinois has won five of his 10 lifetime victories at Santa Anita,
among them the 2005 San Simeon H. (G3) over the downhill course. Since his
near-miss second in the 2006 Impressive Luck II H., the dark bay gelding has
mostly been plying his trade in claiming company.
After teaming up with Solis seven starts back, he has won five races and
finished second in the other two. Shadow of Illinois brings a three-race winning
streak into the Sensational Star.
“Right now, he’s really a different horse,” Solis said. “He’s willing. He
wants to win. Maybe he drank from the Fountain of Youth.”
Solis knows a good old stakes horse when he rides one. The 45-year-old jockey
rode Softshoe Sure Shot to victory at age nine in the 1995 San Carlos H. (G2),
and champion Kona Gold to victory at nine in the 2003 El Conejo H. (G3). Both
were trained by Bruce Headley.
“They were very competitive at that age,” Solis recalled. “They have to stay
sound to keep going that long, and it’s nice to see horses that old continue to
be successful at such a high level.”
Other horses to win Santa Anita stakes at nine were Super Diamond in the 1989
San Antonio H. (G1) and *Desert Chief III in the 1965 San Marcos H.
Standing athwart Shadow of Illinois’ quest for history are seven rivals,
including On Trust H. winner BESTDRESSED (Lit de Justice), who wheels back on
short rest after finishing second in a Sunday allowance; Silky Sullivan S.
victor FEISTY SUANCES (Suances [GB]), who cuts back in trip off a close third in
the one-mile Contested Bid S.; Snow Chief S. hero COMPARI (Redattore [Brz]); the
streaking LIVE SUNDAYS (High Brite), who has reeled off five wins in a row in
advance of his stakes debut; stakes veteran BIG BAD LEROYBROWN (Wild Again),
runner-up in the California Sky S. in his last turf try at the Oak Tree meeting;
and multiple stakes-placed ENRICHED (High Brite), a half-brother to $5.2 million
earner Lava Man (Slew City Slew).
Earlier on Friday, IN THE SLIPS (More Than Ready) figures to be the solid
favorite in the $65,000
Blue
Norther S. for newly-turned three-year-old fillies over a grassy mile. The
winner of a pair of nurseries in England in September, the bay made her American
debut a boldly rallying second in the Miesque S. (G3) at Hollywood Park. The
Jeff Mullins trainee will face six opponents, led by Miesque sixth FORBIDDEN
PARADISE (Ire) (Chineur) and recent maiden winner GLORY PRIDE (Candy Ride [Arg]).