Santa Anita Weekend Stakes January 12-13, 2008

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Santa Anita Weekend Stakes January 12-13

El Gato Malo wins the San Rafael Stakes

Photos courtesy of EquiSportPhotos.com

Date: 01/14/2008

Because of heavy rains the previous weekend which rendered the Cushion Track surface unsafe to race on, six stakes races were carded at Santa Anita this weekend to make up for the canceled races. Thankfully sunny skies and temperatures in the 70's served to dry out the track allowing the Winter Meeting at "The Great Race Place" to resume.

Kicking off the stakes action on Saturday before a crowd of 11,936 was the $150,000 San Rafael Stakes (G3) featuring a field of six 3-year-olds going 1 mile on the main track. 3-2 favorite Massive Drama set the early pace of 22.25, 44.34, and 1:07.90 while being stalked by 5-2 second choice Talk of a Cat. Entering the stretch, 2-1 El Gato Malo, who raced in fourth early, came out wide and swept to the front inside the furlong marker, and drew off to win by 6 1/4 lengths over late-running 9-1 Indian Sun in 1:33.37. It was another 3/4 length back to Massive Drama in third.
Results Chart

Winning jockey David Flores said, "I saw there was going to be a lot of speed, but I didn't think there would be that much speed. It was like there were three bullets in there. I was patient, and when I pushed the button, he was there for me. They were coming back to me, and my horse was full of run. I don't know how much he's got left, but he had plenty today." Trainer Craig Dollase added, "From Day One, this horse has shown that he's got it in him. He's the real deal and it doesn't look like there are any distance limitations for him. He could have gone around there again." Jeff Bloom, vice president of ownership group West Point Thoroughbreds said, “That first Saturday in May is looking pretty promising."

The $150,000 San Pasqual Handicap (G2) featured seven older horses going 1 1/16 miles on the Cushion Track. 5-2 favorite Well Armed was loose on the lead by 3 lengths setting quick fractions of 23.98, 47.50, and 1:10.80 while 13-1 Zappa sat back in second. Well Armed continued the lead at the 1/8 pole but Zappa had closed the gap and after a brief duel, prevailed by a length in 1:39.58. It was another 3/4 length back to 3-1 second choice Heatseeker.
Results Chart

Winning trainer John Sadler said, "He's much better on synthetic tracks than on turf or dirt. He's been very sharp. We ran him here because he doesn't have conditions, so he had to step up. We're thinking about (the Santa Anita Handicap), you bet." Jockey Joe Rosario celebrated his first Santa Anita stakes win, after coming to America from the Dominican Republic. He said, "Hopefully, it will help my business."

Closing out the stakes action on Saturday was the $200,000 San Fernando Stakes (G2) for 4-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Tiago, making his first start since finishing fifth behind Curlin in the Breeders' Cup Classic, was the 7-5 favorite. 9-2 second choice Johnny Eves set the early pace of 23.27, 46.38, and 1:10.04 while being stalked by 52-1 longshot Air Commander in second, with Tiago to the outside in third. Entering the stretch, Air Commander moved up alongside the pacesetter and took over the lead at the 3/16 pole, but Johnny Eves fought back. The pair battled for the final furlong but Air Commander got his nose down first at the line to pull off the upset in 1:40.16. It was 1 1/4 lengths back from Johnny Eves to Tiago in third.
Results Chart

Winning trainer Bob Baffert said, "He needed a couple of outs. He was training exceptionally well for this race. It was a big jump up in class, but he showed last year he was a good horse. This horse showed gameness today." Asked about the Santa Anita Handicap, Baffert said "As hard as he ran today, we'll just play it by ear."

Kicking off the stakes action on Sunday before just 7,206 spectators was the $150,000 Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies sprinting 7 furlongs on the main track. Undefeated 1-10 favorite Indian Blessing, making her first start since winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, sped to the early lead under regular rider Garrett Gomez while being challenged by 11-1 Peisinoe down the backstretch. At the top of the lane, Indian Blessing was pushed along and opened up a 3 length lead with a furling to go, after getting 6 furlongs in a brisk 1:07.14. 12-1 Golden Doc A put in a late run but Indian Blessing held her off late to win by a head in 1:19.89. It was a long 7 3/4 lengths back to Peisinoe in third.
Results Chart

Winning jockey Garrett Gomez said, "She was a little fresh today. Alex (Solis aboard Peisinoe) put quite a bit more pressure on us than I expected and I wasn't able to get her to settle like I wanted. I knew with the pressure we got somebody might be coming at us and at the 1/16 pole, I could feel (Golden Doc A) coming. At that point I had to get after her a little bit. She's a very honest filly." Trainer Bob Baffert added, "It was supposed to be an easy out, but those are the hardest ones to win, but she ran her heart out today. It's exciting to have a filly like that. She keeps winning, that's all she does. I thought they'd leave her alone, but Solis was on the outside just pressing her. She just digs in, she just keeps winning. She ran pretty hard today, so I'll let her dictate where she wants to run next, but we're not in a hurry with her."

The $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) also featured 3-year-old fillies but around two turns, at 1 1/6 miles on the main track. 6-1 third choice Kazamira led the field around the clubhouse turn and down the backstretch through fractions of 23.52, 47.04, and 1:11.09 while 9-2 second choice Grace Anatomy stalked her in second. Entering the stretch, Grace Anatomy took over the lead but 11-1 Final Fling, who raced in fourth early, came out in mid-stretch and rallied late to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:41.96. It was a long 3 3/4 lengths back to Kazamira in third, while 3-5 favorite Turn Away raced in third early but was eased in the stretch.
Results Chart

Winning jockey Joe Talamo said, "My filly is everything a jockey would want in a horse. She settled real nice. Coming out of those sprints, she laid close but she was relaxed. When I asked her turning for home, she just exploded. Jeff (Mullins) has been very patient with her and he's turned her around from being a sprint filly to what you saw today." Trainer Jeff Mullins added, "The Cal Championship Stakes was coming up and I didn't want to run her back in eight days. Actually, the timing for this race when it came up was a little too quick, but with the cancellation of races, it gave her a little more time and we got another work in her at Hollywood."

The $150,000 El Encino Stakes (G2) featured 4-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. 10-1 Dawn After Dawn battled on the pace with 3-1 third choice Tough Tiz's Sis through fractions of 24.51, 47.77, and 1:10.58. Tough Tiz's Sis took over the lead at the top of the stretch but the early pace duel took its toll, as 6-5 favorite Zenyatta, who raced at the back of the field early, came out three wide and closed with a rush to pass her late, winning by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:40.61. It was just a nose between Tough Tiz's Sis and 5-2 second choice Romance Is Diane in third.
Results Chart

Winning jockey David Flores said, "I really don't remember riding any other horse that covers so much ground. She has such a long stride and she does it easy. It was a slow pace, but I just wanted to keep her in behind. At the middle of the (far) turn, I asked her and she took off." Trainer John Shirreffs added, "As long as they handle the track, she's got that finish. We'll go race by race, but we'll look at the La Canada, absolutely. That's why she ran long at Hollywood, so she'd have a route race for this race. She hasn't uncorked her big stride yet, so we're still waiting for that."

Photos courtesy of EquiSportPhotos.com

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