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A rich start to the Santa Anita Meeting

3 minute read

Three Grade 2s and three Grade 1s to provide highlights.

Starting off with the Laffit Pincay Jr Stakes Gr 2 over 1700m with a field of 8.  A bit of a tricky one with the top three in the market all closely matched.  They are Katonah on 3/1 for O'Neill-Dettori, Tarantino 7/2 for Eurton-Maldonado and Express Train 4/1 for Shirrefs-Berrios.

The San Gabriel Gr 2 is on the turf over the 1800m and will see 9 runners start with Johannes a firm favourite on 4/5 for Yakteen-Rispoli.  Next best is Mi Hermano Ramón on 5/1 for Glatt-Berrios and Easter, a French import, on 6/1 for d'Amato-Fresu.

The Malibu Stakes is Gr 1 over 1400m for the 3yo with 8 contenders and here we see the return of Mystik Dan, the Goldencents colt with Kenny McPeek and Brian Hernandez – they are on 5/2.  Bentornato is by Valiant Minister  and on 3/1 for d'Angelo-Saez and on 9/2 there is Raging Torrent by Maximus Mischief for O'Neill-Dettori.  This is a last chance for the colts to get some money before they face the big boys next year.

And the same applies to the 3yos in the Mathis Mile, Gr 2 on the turf. 9 runners.  Bit of excitement for us Aussies as King of Gosford, the current favourite on 6/5, is by Zoustar.  He's with Phil d'Amato and Prat rides.  Stay Hot is by Summer Front and on 7/2 for Eurton and JJ Hernandez, and we quite like Siennois on 6/1 = by Advertise and is with d'Amato and Fresu rides.

The La Brea Gr 1  is over 1400m for 3yo fillies and there's 11 of them in this.  Hope Road, a Quality Road filly, is with Baffert and Fresu has the ride and they are on 3/1.  One Magic Philly is by Good Magic and on 4/1 for d'Amato-Prat and Accuracy is by Arrogate and on 5/1 for McCarthy-Rispoli.

The American Oaks Gr 1 is over 2000m on Turf and 13 to race.  She Feels Pretty, a

Karakonte filly comes with a good record and on 7/5 for de Vaux-Velazquez.  Kathymarissa is by American Pharoah and on 4/1 for Dutrow-Dettori, with Medoro, by Honor Code, on 6/1 for Eurton-Fresu.  We have a roughie here in the British bred Strutting, a Frankel daughter on 15/1 for McCarthy-Gonzalez.