ITSINTHEPOST & ASHLEYLUVSSUGAR HEAD GRADE II, $200,000 CHARLES WHITTINGHAM

By Mike Willman —-

ARCADIA, Calif. Back to Southern California following his second consecutive turf stakes score, French-bred Itsinthepost, along with consistent California-bred Ashleyluvssugar heads a deep and competitive field of 10 three year olds and up in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes, to be run at a mile and a quarter over the Santa Anita turf.

Named for the legendary late Hall of Fame trainer, the Whittingham, originally known as The Hollywood Turf Handicap, began in 1969 and was taken by the Elliot Burch-trained Fort Marcy, who was piloted by Manny Ycaza. Affectionately known as “The Bald Eagle,” Whittingham, a Marine combat veteran who passed away in 1999, won the Hollywood Turf a record seven times.

ITSINTHEPOST: A true stayer, Itsinthepost is a one-paced sort who comes off a 1 ¼ length win in the Grade II, 1 ½ miles turf Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland April 22. He also captured the mile and a half, Grade II San Luis Rey Stakes on turf two starts back here on March 25.A 5-year-old gelding, Itsinthepost is owned by Red Baron’s Barn, LLC and is 11-3-2-2 on the Santa Anita lawn.With earnings of $512,712, his overall mark stands at 25-5-6-5.

ASHLEYLUVSSUGAR: Ridden by Gary Stevens, he showed the way early in the Grade II San Luis Rey on March 25, but tired to finish third, 2 ¾ lengths behind Itsinthepost.A winner of the 2015 Whittingham, this 6-year-old California-bred gelding by Game Plan is a four-time graded stakes winner and he’s won five out of his 10 starts on the Santa Anita turf.Owned by his breeders, Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable and Ciaglia Racing, LLC, “Ashley” has been expertly managed, dating back to his debut in August, 2013, by trainer Peter Eurton.

THE GRADE II, $200,000 CHARLES WHITTINGHAM STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 7 of 9 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

1. Liam the Charmer—Victor Espinoza—122
2. Ashleyluvssugar—Gary Stevens—124
3. Itsinthepost—Tyler Baze—126
4. Prince of Arabia—Santiago Gonzalez—122
5. Syntax—Rafael Bejarano—122
6. Up With the Birds—Flavien Prat—124
7. Frank Conversation—Mario Gutierrez—124
8. Patentar—Martin Pedroza—122
9. A Red Tie Day—Corey Nakatani—122
10. Texas Ryano—Joe Talamo—124

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 1 p.m. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.

About Us
Santa Anita Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is North America’s premier supplier of virtual online horseracing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.