Malibu, La Brea attract large fields as Santa Anita welcomes back the dirt

Malibu, La Brea attract large fields as Santa Anita

welcomes back the dirt

Both demonstrated class this season against the likely champion of the

division, Lookin at Lucky, with Noble's Promise falling a head short of that

rival in the Rebel S. (G2), while Thiskyhasnolimit also occupied the second slot

to the Bob Baffert pupil in the Indiana Derby (G2) two back. Despite a sub-par

seventh in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) last out, Thiskyhasnolimit must be

respected off wins in the Matt Winn S. and Smarty Jones S. during the campaign.

How the California-based contingent handles the return to dirt will be among

the major handicapping puzzles bettors will have to figure out. CARACORTADO (Cat

Dreams), who landed the Robert B. Lewis S. (G2) at last year's winter meet, was

a maiden breaker over the Fairplex Park dirt at two so has less of a learning

curve than some of his rivals. The gelding returned to the races November 11 to

take a six-furlong grass test at Hollywood following a layoff of nearly six

months.

Thirteen fillies were entered for the La Brea. The Eric Guillot-trained

CHAMPAGNE D'ORO (Medaglia d'Oro), who began her career in California, reached

new heights when able to run over dirt this season. Heroine of the Acorn S. (G1)

and Test S. (G1) this season, she also record second-place efforts in the

Prioress S. (G1) and Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), but was only fourth as the mild

favorite in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) after breaking from post

13. Her post in the La Brea, 11, is not much better.

SIDNEY'S CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]), whose wins this season include the Santa

Anita Derby and La Jolla H. (G2), figures to be an overwhelming favorite in the

$150,000

Sir Beaufort S. (G2) for three-year-olds over one mile on the turf. The

Sadler charge made a second unsuccessful venture to Churchill Downs last month

when a close sixth in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), but entered that race after

being withheld from his intended prep, the Oak Tree Mile (G2), due to a

impending sale that ultimately never materialized.

Hoping to upset are MAKE MUSIC FOR ME (Bernstein), who won the Pasadena S. on

the Santa Anita turf in March, and BLUE PANIS (Fr) (Panis), BOGIE (Ire)

(Pivotal) and SEBASTIAN FLYTE (GB) (Observatory), the respective runners-up in

the Oak Tree Derby (G2), Will Rogers S. (G3) and Hollywood Derby (G1).

The stakes action kicks off Sunday with the $100,000

California

Breeders' Champion S. for state-bred or sired two-year-olds going seven

furlongs.

Santa Anita, which hasn't hosted live racing since April 18, will have a total of 46 graded stakes, including nine Grade 1 events, during the 76-day meeting that will conclude on April 17. The $1 million Santa

Anita Derby (G1) on April 9 is the centerpiece of a strong three-year-old stakes

roster that is incorporated into the new Preakness 5.5 (million) incentive

program.

"We've added $450,000 to our three-year-old program, which makes Santa Anita

the nation's most attractive avenue to the Triple Crown," Santa Anita Racing

Secretary Rick Hammerle said. "Along with the news of increased purses, and due

in large part to the fact we are returning to a natural dirt main track, we're

getting very positive response from horsemen and fans from all over the country.

The Preakness 5.5 is going to be a big plus for us. It's going to incentivize

people to run in the Santa Anita Derby and in our Derby preps."

The new dirt track has attracted some high-profile stables to Santa Anita,

including the aforementioned Steve

Asmussen.

"We plan on having 30 horses here this winter, hopefully, they're the right

30," Asmussen said. "We want to do a better job on the top-end of racing. This

is a beautiful place. I think that there's a little excitement going with the

raise in purses and (with) going back to dirt. This is a great place to be this

time of the year."

Purses are up for the winter/spring meeting.

"When you factor in that we anticipate a 25 percent increase in overnight

purses, which gets us to a total distribution of about $425,000 a day, people

are seeing, hearing and recognizing that Santa Anita is going to be a great

place to run this winter and spring," Santa Anita Director of Racing Mike Harlow

said.

In addition to great racing action, fans will be treated on Sunday to a team

of aerial skydivers, who will parachute into the storied racetrack between races. In addition to the skydivers, fans of all ages will have an

up-close and personal chance to watch and enjoy the Budweiser Clydesdales, as

they perform in front of the grandstand throughout the day.