Santa Anita: La Brea + 4 more opening-day undercard stakes
It’s now into the deep water for rising star Accuracy, who
makes her stakes debut against an all-star cast of 3-year-old fillies set to go
in the Grade 1, $300,000 La Brea Stakes at seven furlongs on opening day next
Thursday at Santa Anita.
The La Brea is 1 of 5 graded stakes in support of the Malibu (G1), the traditional feature on the first day of the winter-spring meet.
Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan headlines Malibu.
Trained by Michael McCarthy for New York-based owner Mike
Repole, Accuracy has won her previous two starts by a combined 22 1/4 lengths.
In her maiden win going 1 1/16 miles in October at Santa Anita, Accuracy aired
by 15 lengths when winning with a final time of 1:42.44. That effort earned a
lofty 107 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form, the
second-highest posted by a female horse this year. Only Thorpedo Anna, the
would-be horse of the year, earned a higher Beyer.
Accuracy will be cutting back to a sprint for the first time since her debut in
August at Del Mar. Most recently she romped by 7 1/4 lengths in a one-mile
allowance race at Del Mar on Nov. 29. By Arrogate she is 4: 2-0-2 with $83,400
in earnings. Regular rider Umberto Rispoli has the call on Accuracy from post 2
in the field of 11.
Set to take on Accuracy in the La Brea are seven stakes winners, six at the
graded level, including Grade 1 winner Tamara.
Trained by Richard Mandella, Tamara will make her
second start following more than a year layoff. On Nov. 15 she returned in a
one-mile classified allowance at Del Mar and was beaten by a nose by Sandy
Bottom, who also is entered in the La Brea.
Last year Tamara won the Del Mar Debutante (G1) going seven furlongs and then
finished seventh as the odds-on favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
in November at Santa Anita. By Bolt d’Oro, Tamara is 4: 2-1-0 with $261,400 in
earnings for owner-breeder Spendthrift Farm. She will have Hall of Famer Mike
Smith in the irons.
A pair of entrants, One Magic Philly and Sugar Fish, come
into the La Brea after running in separate races at the Breeders’ Cup.
One Magic Philly finished sixth in the seven-furlong Breeders’ Cup Filly
& Mare Sprint. Before that the Good Magic filly won her stakes debut in the
Chillingworth (G3) going 6 1/2 furlongs in October at Santa Anita.
Trained by Phil D’Amato, One Magic Philly is 5: 3-1-0 with $181,400 in earnings
for owner-breeder John Gallegos. She will have Flavien Prat aboard for the
first time.
Sugar Fish cuts back in distance after finishing fifth in the Breeders’
Cup Distaff at Del Mar. Trained by Jeff Mullins, she is 4-for-6 at Santa Anita including
wins this year in the Summertime Oaks (G2) in June and the Zenyatta (G2) in
September.
By Accelerate, Sugar Fish is 9: 4-1-0 with $370,040 in earnings for owners
Talla Racing and Sweetwater Stable. Regular rider Tyler Baze has the call.
Trainer Bob Baffert has four entered including graded-stakes winners Hope Road
and Kinza. Cavalieri and Splendora round out Baffert’s quartet.
Hope Road is a 4-for-4 this year including wins in the Torrey Pines (G3)
in August and the Bayakoa (G3) last month, each going a mile at Del Mar. Owned
by Cicero Farms, Hope Road is 7: 4-2-0 with $318,020 in earnings. The Quality
Road filly will be ridden by Juan Hernández.
Kinza has not started since finishing second as the odds-on favorite in
the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) in April. Before that the Carpe Diem filly won both
the Las Virgenes (G3) and the Santa Ysabel (G3) at Santa Anita.
Kinza is 4: 3-0-1 with $219,000 in earnings for trainer
Michael Lund Petersen. She will be ridden by Hall of Famer John Velázquez.
The La Brea is the 10th of 11 races Saturday with an
approximate post time of 6:30 p.m. EST. The first post is at 2 p.m.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start / Next start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Splendora Audible |
0.00 |
1st, DMR AOC (11/17/2024-R2) |
Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
1st, DMR AOC (11/17/2024-R2) |
|||||
| 2 |
|
Accuracy Arrogate |
5.84 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Kinza Carpe Diem |
6.24 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Sugar Fish Accelerate |
6.94 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Ultimate Authority Practical Joke |
4.34 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Kopion Omaha Beach |
5.42 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
One Magic Philly Good Magic |
6.56 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 8 |
|
Sandy Bottom Omaha Beach |
6.34 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 9 |
|
Hope Road Quality Road |
6.89 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 10 |
|
Tamara Bolt d’Oro |
6.81 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 11 |
|
Cavalieri Nyquist |
5.79 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
She Feels Pretty ships to American Oaks
She Feels Pretty, an eye-catching winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Keeneland in October, comes west to Santa Anita seeking more Grade 1 glory in the $300,000 American Oaks at 1 1/4 miles on turf.
The 23rd edition of the American Oaks, attracted 13 sophomore fillies.
Trained by Cherie DeVaux, She Feels Pretty romped by six lengths in the QEII going 1 1/8 miles on turf. Before that the Karakonite filly was second by a neck in the Lake Placid (G2) at Saratoga in August and third, beaten by three-quarters of a length, in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) in July, also at Saratoga.
Owned by Lael Stables, She Feels Pretty is 7: 4-1-2 with $948,317 in earnings. She will be ridden by Velázquez, who has been aboard for her previous six starts.
Kathynmarissa returns to Santa Anita after a series of starts in Kentucky and New York. Trained by Rick Dutrow, she most recently earned her first stakes win in the Dueling Grounds Oaks going 1 5/16 miles at Kentucky Downs in September.
By Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Kathynmarissa is 8: 3-1-2 with $1,147,185 in earnings for owner Michael Dubb. She will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, who was also aboard in the Dueling Ground Oaks.
Grade 3 winners Watchtower and Medoro, who finished one-two in the Autumn Miss (G3) going a mile Oct. 27 at Santa Anita, are the leading local hopes.
Watchtower, trained by Richard Baltas, rallied to edge Medoro by just a nose when making her stakes debut in the Autumn Miss. By Dubawi stallion Demarchelier, Kentucky-bred Watchtower is 7: 3-2-1 with $134,860 in earnings for owners Abbondanza Racing, Omar Aldabbagh and Michael Iavorone. She will be ridden by Diego Herrera, who has been aboard in her previous three starts.
Medoro was sparking last winter and early spring, reeling off four straight victories to start her career including the Providencia (G3), China Doll and Blue Norther, all at Santa Anita. Trained by Peter Eurton, the Honor Code filly is 7: 4-2-1 with $320,600 in earnings for owner C R K Stable.
Before being edged in the Autumn Miss, Medoro finished second in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) and third in the San Clemente (G2), both at Del Mar. She will have regular rider Antonio Fresu in the irons.
The American Oaks will the final next Thursday with the post time at about 7 p.m. EST.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start / Next start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Omaha Girl Omaha Beach |
5.87 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Sakura Blossom Classic Empire |
5.84 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Medoro Honor Code |
6.48 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Kathynmarissa American Pharoah |
6.19 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Watchtower Demarchelier |
6.56 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Strutting Frankel |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
Vibez Collected |
0.00 |
1st, DMR AOC (11/03/2024-R7) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, DMR AOC (11/03/2024-R7) |
|||||
| 8 |
|
She Feels Pretty Karakontie |
7.71 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 9 |
|
Baltic Fire Flameaway |
0.00 |
1st, DMR AOC (11/09/2024-R7) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, DMR AOC (11/09/2024-R7) |
|||||
| 10 |
|
Chatalas Gun Runner |
6.47 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 11 |
|
Mizzyaan Justify |
0.00 |
4th, DMR AOC (11/03/2024-R7) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
4th, DMR AOC (11/03/2024-R7) |
|||||
| 12 |
|
Valence Violence |
5.79 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 13 |
|
Rashmi Oscar Performance |
0.00 |
1st, DMR STR (11/17/2024-R9) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, DMR STR (11/17/2024-R9) |
|||||
Johannes stands out ahead of San Gabriel
Grade I winner and Breeders’ Cup Mile runner-up Johannes
headlines a field of nine entered in the $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes (G2) going
1 1/8 miles on turf.
Trained by Tim Yakteen, Johannes was beaten by just
three-quarters of a length by More Than Looks in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. It was
his only loss in five starts this year. Johannes, who is 6-for-6 at Santa
Anita, won this year in the American (G3), Shoemaker Mile (G1) and City of Hope
Mile (G2), all at Santa Anita, and the Eddie Read (G2) at Del Mar.
Owned by the Cuyathy stable, Johannes enters with an overall
record of 12: 7-1-1 and $1,033,859 in earnings. The 4-year-old Nyquist colt
will have regular rider Rispoli in the irons.
Johannes’s rivals include two previous winners of the San
Gabriel, Easter in 2023 for trainer Phil D’Amato and Dicey Mo Chara in 2022 for
trainer Leonard Powell.
Easter has gone winless in five starts since his victory in
last year’s San Gabriel. Most recently he was fourth, beaten by one length in
the Seabiscuit (G2) at Del Mar on Nov. 30. Mi Hermano Ramón, who won the
Seabiscuit, and Astronomer, who was third, also return in the San Gabriel.
Owned by Madaket Stables, Easter has a record of 24: 7-4-3
with $649,910 in earnings. The 6-year-old gelding by Exosphere will be ridden
by Antonio Fresu, who has been aboard for his previous seven starts.
Dicey Mo Chara exits an eighth-place finish in the Hollywood
Turf Cup (G2) going 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 29. This summer at Del Mar
the 6-year-old gelding was second to Johannes in the Eddie Read (G2) and also
second in the Del Mar Handicap (G2).
Owned by Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, Dicey Mo
Chara is 27: 4-7-4 with $654,277 in earnings. He will be ridden by Velázquez.
Mi Hermano Ramón earned his first stakes win when scoring at
11-1 in the Seabiscuit. That was in his third start after a 13 1/2-month
layoff.
Trained by Mark Glatt, Mi Hermano Ramón returned from the
sideline in August and finished off the board in a classified allowance going 1
1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar. Sandwiched between that comeback effort and his
Seabiscuit win was a close second in the restricted Lure Stakes going a mile on
turf Oct. 19 at Santa Anita.
Like Dicey Mo Chara, Mi Hermano Ramón also is owned by Red
Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal. The 4-year-old gelding by Creative Cause is
9: 4-1-1 with $321,480 in earnings. He will be ridden by Héctor Berrios, who
was aboard for the first time in the Seabiscuit win.
The San Gabriel is scheduled as the seventh race at about 5 p.m. EST.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Astronomer Air Force Blue |
6.18 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Easter Exosphere |
6.40 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Cabo Spirit Pioneerof the Nile |
6.60 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Johannes Nyquist |
7.86 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Escape Artist Good Magic |
0.00 |
4th, DMR AOC (11/17/2024-R3) |
Entered | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
4th, DMR AOC (11/17/2024-R3) |
|||||
| 6 |
|
Dicey Mo Chara Adaay |
6.40 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
Mi Hermano Ramon Creative Cause |
6.67 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 8 |
|
Nineeleventurbo More Than Ready |
6.07 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 9 |
|
Seal Team War Front |
6.04 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
These are the other two graded stakes on the Thursday card in support of the Malibu.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start / Next start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
American Admiral American Pharoah |
3.76 |
1st, Mt. Diablo S. |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, Mt. Diablo S. |
|||||
| 2 |
|
Ashcroft Munnings |
3.79 |
1st, SA AOC (04/27/2024-R10) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, SA AOC (04/27/2024-R10) |
|||||
| 3 |
|
J B Strikes Back Goldencents |
0.00 |
1st, DMR AOC (11/23/2024-R4) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, DMR AOC (11/23/2024-R4) |
|||||
| 4 |
|
Express Train Union Rags |
6.81 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Lammas Heeraat |
6.06 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Katonah Klimt |
6.60 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
Tarantino Pioneer Of The Nile |
5.62 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 8 |
|
Goldeneye Hard Spun |
4.12 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start / Next start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
King of Gosford Zoustar |
5.45 |
2nd, Hollywood Derby |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
2nd, Hollywood Derby |
|||||
| 2 |
|
Atitlan The Factor |
6.67 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Curlin’s Kaos Clubhouse Ride |
4.12 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Siennois Advertise |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Stay Hot Summer Front |
6.40 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Heart Headed Oscar Performance |
4.79 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
Call Sign Seven Speightstown |
0.00 |
1st, DMR MSW (11/23/2024-R9) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, DMR MSW (11/23/2024-R9) |
|||||
| 8 |
|
Cathal No Nay Never |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 9 |
|
Lord Bullingdon Lord Nelson |
6.06 |
6th, DMR AOC (11/17/2024-R7) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
6th, DMR AOC (11/17/2024-R7) |
|||||
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