Santa Anita: Seven Seek Derby Points in Grade 3 Sham

By Rick Francis —-

A field of seven sophomore colts and geldings looking for a starting berth on the first Saturday in May, are set to battle in the running of the Grade 3 Sham Stakes; let’s have a look at the starters.

Race 7), 1 Mile. Sham-G3 Sham S. Grade III. Purse $100,000 FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS .
$1 Exacta / $1 Trifecta / $2 Rolling Double /$1 Rolling Pick Three (Races 7-8-9)/ $1 Superfecta (.10 Min.)
Post Time: 6:30/ 5:30/ 4:30/( 3:30)

American Anthem (1), Baffert/Smith; stalked the pace and then closed nicely to take debut score last month at Los Al. Bodemeister colt has posted four solid works in prep for this, and today gets the services of Mike Smith for his run to Kentucky.

Term of Art (2), O’Neill/Talamo; first of two here for the O’Neill barn, and this
Tiznow colt enters having won 2-of-3; bullet work here on the 29th.

Bird Is the Word (3), Almeida/; maiden surrendered the lead late last out missing by a half-length; appears overmatched at this time.

Colonel Samsen (4), Harty/Prat; son of Colonel John rolls in on a two race win streak and today gets his first taste of lasix for his graded debut; hot jock Prat gets the call.

Gormley (5), Shirreffs/Espinoza; Grade 1 Frontrunner winner tired badly in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last out, but has been on a steady conditioning pattern since; Malibu Moon colt will be ready.

Big Hit (6), D’Amato/Gonzales; Super Saver colt cruised last out to break his maiden at Del Mar; another who’s been quick in the a.m., and with a maiden winner last out, trainer D’Amato goes to the winners circle next out at a rate of 29 percent.

Blabimir (7), O’Neill/Gutierrez; son of Tapizar also enters off his maiden score a tough effort to best a solid Los Al bunch; could this be the O’Neill colt that takes these connections to Churchill?

Selections: 5, 1, 6, 4

Cover Photo: Gormley; Benoit