Monday morning's gallops were conducted under ideal racing conditions, sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 70's with minimal wind. As is typical for Santa Anita in the fall, the main track was fast and the was firm, although only one horse galloped there today. Todd Pletcher's New York-based horses were still en route to California and will test the Santa Anita track on Tuesday, while Aidan O'Brien's string will arrive Monday night.
Here are photos for 45 of the horses on the track Monday morning. Click the small picture to see a larger version. Final entries were taken and post positions were drawn for both Friday and Saturday, on Monday afternoon.
Footbridge worked 5/8 in 1:00 1/5 under exercise rider Iggy Puglisi in preparation for the Classic. Trainer Eoin Harty said, "The work went very well. It wasn’t anything too fancy. Just five-eighths in a minute." Footbridge exits a third-place finish in the Awesome Again Stakes over the local course. Jockey Rafael Bejarano gets the return call in the Classic.
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Imperative went out on the main track for a gallop in preparation for the Classic. He drew post 3 and is a 30-1 morning line longshot. Winless since the Charles Town Classic (G2) in April, new rider Frankie Dettori gets the call for trainer George Papaprodromou, who said, "I love it. I was hoping for anything five and under."
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V.E. Day jogged on the main track Monday. The Travers Stakes (G1) winner drew post 5 for the Classic, with new jockey Joe Talamo aboard for trainer Jimmy Jerkens.
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Bronzo worked 5f in 59 4/5 Monday in preparation for the Dirt Mile on Friday. Luis Torres will be aboard out of post 7. The Chilean invader comes here off a 2 race win streak including the Gran Premio Hipodromo Chile (G1) and the Copa de Oro (G2).
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Carve went out on the main track before drawing the 2 post in the Dirt Mile. New jockey Mike Smith gets the call for trainer Brad Cox aboard the Cornhusker Handicap (G3) winner.
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Fed Biz galloped on the main track before drawing the 8 post in the Dirt Mile. He comes in off a close second in the Awesome Again (G1) and will have regular rider Martin Garcia aboard for trainer Bob Baffert.
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Handsome Mike galloped Monday morning over the main track in preparation for the Dirt Mile. Trainer Leandro Mora (normally the assistant to Doug O'Neill who is serving a suspension) said of his drawn post 5, "Last year (stablemate, also entered) Goldencents drew post 12, and we got around it. Handsome Mike drew a great number. He will be second to last to load."
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Pants On Fire went out on the main track before drawing the 4 post in the Dirt Mile. He comes to Santa Anita off a win in the Wild and Wonderful Stakes at Charles Town. Regular rider Paco Lopez retains the ride for trainer Kelly Breen.
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Don't Tell Sophia was out for a jog Monday morning in preparation for the Distaff. Trainer Phil Sims said of her drawn post 7, "That’s fine. I was not overly concerned about it. It is nice to get in the middle and it looks like most of the speed has drawn outside of us."
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L'Amour De Ma Vie jogged 1 mile under trainer Pia Brandt in preparation for the Distaff. Brandt said, "She is very relaxed and has settled in very well and I am very happy with her."
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Stanwyck jogged on the main track at Santa Anita on Monday. She drew post 6 in the Distaff and will have new rider Corey Nakatani in the irons Friday. Winless in over a year, she comes off a 4th place finish in the Beldame (G1).
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Unbridled Forever galloped on the main track on Monday in preparation for the Distaff. Trainer Dallas Stewart said of her drawn post 5, "I’m happy with the draw. She runs in mid-pack so the post will give her a chance to get good position."
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Valiant Emilia galloped on the main track on Monday. Trainer Gary Mandella said of her drawn post 8 in the Distaff, "The post is fine. I didn’t come into this that worried about it. She’s a pretty easy filly to ride and can be wherever she’s comfortable." The Peruvian import will be making her United States debut, and will have new jockey Rafael Bejarano in the irons.
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Sweet Reason worked 4f in 47 seconds on the main track in preparation for the Juvenile Fillies Sprint. Trainer Leah Gyarmati said of her drawn post 1, "I would have preferred not to be inside with Sweet Reason. That one is kind of tough, but her running style is to be back early so she just has to let them go and then get outside of it. It is what it is."
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One Lucky Dane, entered in the Juvenile, worked 4f in company with stablemate Indianapolis in 47 2/5 under jockey Rafael Bejarano. Trainer Bob Baffert said of his horses, "They're all ready."
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Private Prospect was out for some light work on Monday in preparation for the Juvenile. Jesse Campbell will be in the irons out of post 2 for trainer Mike Campbell. He won both major juvenile stakes at Prairie Meadows before finishing a close second in the Arlington Washington Futurity (G3).
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Souper Colossal worked a bullet 5f in 57 2/5 on the Santa Anita main track, before drawing the 8 post for the Juvenile for trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. Undefeated in 3 starts at Monmouth including the Sapling (G3), regular rider Paco Lopez retains the ride.
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Angela Renee galloped on the main track in preparation for the Juvenile Fillies. Trainer Todd Pletcher said of her drawn post 2, "Obviously we had hoped to draw more in the middle of the field, but there’s nothing we can do about it and we’re going to do the best we can from what we got. Sometimes horses pull bad trips from good posts and vice versa."
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Cristina's Journey galloped at Santa Anita on Monday morning. She goes next in the Juvenile Fillies and drew post 5 for trainer Dale Romans. A perfect 2 for 2 including the Pocahontas (G2), regular rider Miguel Mena retains the mount.
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Danette went out for some light work over the main track. She is a 20-1 longshot in the Juvenile Fillies and will break from post 3 for trainer Keith Desormeaux. Regular rider Kent Desormeaux retains the mount aboard the maiden, third in the Chandelier (G1) last out.
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Majestic Presence galloped on the main track in preparation for the Juvenile Fillies. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said, "I am happy with both (Majestic Presence and Parranda) draws. In races like that, I like those positions."
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Wonder Gal worked worked 4f in 47 4/5 on the main track in preparation for the Juvenile Fillies. Trainer Leah Gyarmati said of her drawn post 10, "Wonder Gal won’t have to stand in the gate too long. Her post is fine because with her running style (off the pace) it won’t matter too much. I’m sure Mike (Smith) will find a spot to get over and save a little ground."
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Conquest Harlanate was out for a gallop on Monday in preparation for the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Trainer Mark Casse said of her drawn post 11 said, "We would have loved to have Conquest Harlanate a little more inside, but we’ll take it. It’s not terrible and it’s certainly not like last year when My Conquestadory drew the 14 (in the Juvenile Fillies Turf)."
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Flying Tipat is the first of two also-eligibles in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. She was the only horse to gallop over the turf on Monday. She comes here off her maiden win after finishing 6th in the P.G. Johnson at Saratoga. New rider Jose Ortiz has the assignment for trainer Dale Romans.
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Rainha Da Bateria jogged on the main track in preparation for the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Trainer Graham Motion said of her drawn post 7, "The post that I’m most happy with is Rainha Da Bateria’s. The seven is a good post. I didn’t want her to draw outside."
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Sunset Glow went out for a gallop over the main track in preparation for the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Trainer Wesley Ward said of her drawn post 3, "I’m elated and flying, I’m so happy. It may take me a while to come down from this!"
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Conquest Typhoon galloped on the main track in preparation for the Juvenile Turf. Trainer Mark Casse said of his drawn post 6, "That’s a really nice post for Conquest Typhoon. He should have enough speed where Patrick (Husbands) can put him in the right spot."
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Imperia went out for a jog on the main track. He goes next in the Juvenile Turf out of post 11. Neil McLaughlin, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said, "The good news is that with those posts we can stay out of trouble. Imperia likes to come from off the pace and we’ve got one of the best turf riders in the country in Javier Castellano on him. What’s even better with this draw is that’s the post Invasor drew when he won the (2006) Classic for us, so it’s going to be a very good feeling when we put on those purple saddle towels with the number 11 on them."
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Lawn Ranger galloped on the main track before drawing the 13 post in the Juvenile Turf. He won the Bourbon Stakes (G3) at Keeneland last out. Regular rider Chris Landeros retains the mount for trainer Ken McPeek.
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Anodin jogged one mile the wrong way in preparation for the Mile. Trainer Freddy Head said, "I am very pleased with him. He was a bit on his toes this morning but he will soon get used to his surroundings. He travelled over really well and has eaten up all his food and I am pleased with the way he looks. I think the flat track at Santa Anita will really suit him well, and if he gets a good run, I think he will take all the beating."
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Kaigun went out for a gallop Monday before drawing post 7 in the Mile. Regular rider Patrick Husbands gets the call for trainer Mark Casse. He finished 4th in the Shadwell Mile (G1) after finishing 2nd in the Woodbine Mile (G1).
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Karakontie cantered one lap the wrong way along the outside rail in company with the other French horses in preparation for the Mile.
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Sayaad went out for a jog on the main track. He goes next in the Mile out of post 11. Neil McLaughlin, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said, "The good news is that with those posts we can stay out of trouble. What’s even better with this draw is that’s the post Invasor drew when he won the (2006) Classic for us, so it’s going to be a very good feeling when we put on those purple saddle towels with the number 11 on them. We hope for a clean break and then want to save ground and not get caught out wide."
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Veda cantered one lap the wrong way along the outside rail in company with the other French horses in preparation for the Mile.
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Indianapolis worked 4f in 46 under jockey Mike Smith in company with stablemate One Lucky Dane. Trainer Bob Baffert said of the Sprint entrant, "I got (Indianapolis) in 46 flat. Mike (Smith) rides him and I wanted him to get a good feel on him."
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Mico Margarita worked 4f in 49 1/5 in preparation for the Sprint. Trainer Steve Asmussen called the work "spot on. He drew well (post 7), excellent in fact."
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Mr. Sexy was pre-entered in both the Turf Sprint (first preference) and Sprint (second preference) but failed to draw into either field as both races drew the maximum 16 (14 plus 2 also-eligibles).
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Palace worked 4f in 46 2/5 under exercise rider Danny Rojas in preparation for the Sprint. Trainer Linda Rice said by phone, "I actually watched (the work) on HRTV. I instructed him to go a half in 47 or 48. It was a little quicker than we wanted, but I understand that the track is pretty fast there in comparison to the New York tracks. I wanted (post) five through eight and we got 8. I'm really happy with it."
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Private Zone worked an easy 4f in 49 2/5 under jockey Martin Pedroza in preparation for the Sprint. Trainer Alfredo Velazquez said, "It was what I wanted. I would rather him be too slow than too fast. He worked very fast last week from the gate. We’re right in the middle (post 5) and to me that’s good. I’m really happy with the post. I know there’s a lot of speed outside of him, but he’s got speed of his own. He’s a good break horse."
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Rich Tapestry went out on the main track Monday before drawing the 6 post in the Sprint. The Hong Kong invader shipped over to win the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1). Regular rider Olivier Doleuze gets the call for trainer Michael Chang Chun-Wai.
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Secret Circle worked 4f in 47 seconds under jockey Martin Garcia in preparation for the Sprint.
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Flintshire cantered one lap the wrong way along the outside rail in company with the other French horses in preparation for the Turf.
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Caspar Netscher jogged one mile and toured the barn area in preparation for the Turf Sprint. Ian Russell, assistant to trainer David Simcock said, "We did our own thing this morning and tried to keep everything low key."
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Marchman went out for a gallop on the main track in preparation for the Turf Sprint, before drawing post 7. New jockey Kent Desormeaux gets the call for trainer Bret Calhoun.
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