Proud Tower Too, Cambiocorsa in action on New Year's Day

Proud Tower Too, winning last year's Malibu, returns off a lengthy layoff in the El Conejo  (Alex Evers/Horsephotos.com)

Santa Anita will celebrate the New Year with a pair of $100,000 sprints on

Monday -- the

El Conejo

H. (G3) at 5 1/2 furlongs on the main track and the

Monrovia

H. (G3) for distaffers going about 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf

course. Both offer plenty of intrigue. The El Conejo marks the return of PROUD

TOWER TOO (Proud Irish), who has not raced since taking the Dubai Golden Shaheen

(UAE-G1) on March 25. The Monrovia could be billed as the venue for downhill

specialist CAMBIOCORSA (Avenue of Flags) to get back on track, but a deep and

talented field stands in her way.

Proud Tower Too blossomed in late 2005 for trainer Sal Gonzalez. The speedy

front-runner dueled his foes into submission in last year's On Trust H. and

repeated the feat even more decisively in the Malibu S. (G1). After an attempt

to carry his speed two turns in the Sunshine Millions Classic ended in dismal

failure, Proud Tower Too reverted to sprinting and landed the off-the-turf

Sensational Star H., his prep for Dubai. At Nad al Sheba, the bay rolled to a 1

1/4-length score over Thor's Echo (Swiss Yodeler), his third conquest of the

eventual Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner.

Freshened for a summer and fall campaign, Proud Tower Too was sidelined by

injury in June. He has been training forwardly in advance of his reappearance,

most recently drilling six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 at Hollywood Park on December

23.

On his fifth birthday, Proud Tower Too will tote the top weight of 121 pounds

along with regular rider David Cohen in the El Conejo, spotting his eight foes

between three and eight pounds. Among those seeking to take advantage of the

weights, and a recency edge, are three from the Doug O'Neill barn -- 2005 El

Conejo winner AREYOUTALKINTOME (Smokester), exiting a fourth in the On Trust;

Grade 2 hero HARVARD AVENUE (You and I), who has been rounding into form after a

14-month layoff; and Grade 2-placed ROI CHARMANT (Evansville Slew), another

recent return from off the bench.