SANTA ANITA STAKES PREVIEWS

By Mike Willman —-

SENSIBLE CAT HEADS FIELD OF 10 SOPHOMORE FILLIES GOING MILE ON TURF IN SATURDAY’S $200,000 LEIGH ANN HOWARD CALIFORNIA CUP OAKS

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 13, 2021)—Well accomplished Sensible Cat heads a field of 10 sophomore fillies going one mile on turf in Saturday’s $200,0000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks at Santa Anita.

Leigh Ann Howard, who passed away this past Sept. 3 at 79, was an avid animal lover and past president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT) who was also a longtime owner/breeder and trainer in California. While still a trainer, she managed Valley Creek Farm and later, San Luis Rey Downs. The Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks is part of the CTBA’s lucrative Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired sophomore fillies.

Beaten 13 ¼ lengths in her six furlong debut on dirt Sept. 7, the Carla Gaines-conditioned Sensible Cat transitioned to grass in her second start, and she registered a two length victory with Mike Smith aboard versus Cal-bred maiden fillies at one mile. Ridden by Juan Hernandez in the one mile Soviet Problem Stakes Dec. 12 at Los Alamitos, she rallied for an impressive 1 ¾ length score on dirt and is thus two for three.

Owned by Irvin Racing Stable and bred in California by their C-Punch Ranch, Inc., Sensible Cat is by Bluegrass Cat and is out of the Street Sense mare Sensible Girl. Off at 9-2 in the Soviet Problem, she figures to be a shorter price on Saturday with Smith up.

Second, beaten 1 ¾ lengths by Sensible Cat in the Soviet Problem the Walther Solis-trained Governor Goteven is a highly accomplished two-time stakes winner who will be trying turf for the first time in her sixth start. Owned and bred by Templeton Horses, LLC, Governor Goteven is by Governor Charlie and is out of the Time to Get Even mare Time Linda Goteven. The leading money earner in the field with $171,000, she be handled by regular rider Tiago Pereira.

Off as the 5-2 favorite, trainer Neil French’s Dylans Wild Cat led turning for home and ended up third, beaten 2 ¼ lengths by Sensible Cat in the Soviet Problem. Second, beaten a head in the seven furlong Golden State Juvenile Fillies Nov. 6, Dylans Wild Cat has a win, a second and a third from three tries since being transferred to French following her first start on Aug. 23 at Del Mar.

Owned by Sunnyside Capital Ventures, this chestnut daughter of Ministers Wild Cat retains the services of Flavien Prat as she tries turf for the first time.

Fourth, beaten three lengths by Sensible Cat at 3-1 in the Soviet Problem, KMN Racing’s homebred I’m So Anna took a one mile turf stakes two starts back at Golden Gate Fields and rates a big look for trainer Steve Sherman.

THE $200,000 LEIGH ANN HOWARD CAL CUP OAKS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 6 of 10 Approximate post 2:30 p.m. PT

Dylans Wild Cat—Flavien Prat—124
Smoothlikebuttah—Ruben Fuentes—124
Super Game—Kent Desormeaux—124
Warrens Candy Girl—Drayden Van Dyke—124
I’m So Anna—Ricardo Gonzalez—124
Closing Remarks—Umberto Rispoli—124
Sensible Cat—Mike Smith—124
Del Mar Flash—Abel Cedillo—124
Governor Goteven—Tiago Pereira—124
Westward Breeze—Juan Hernandez—124

MARGOT’S BOY, HECK YEAH & INDIAN PEAK ALL PROMINENT AMONG FIELD OF 11 IN SATURDAY’S $200,000 UNUSUAL HEAT TURF CLASSIC MILE AND ONE EIGHTH

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 13, 2021)—A Grade II stakes placed gelding by red hot sire Clubhouse Ride, Margot’s Boy, along with multiple stakes winning Heck Yeah and long fused Indian Peak all rate big chances among a wide open field of 11 older horses going a mile and one eighth in Saturday’s $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic presented by City National Bank. The Turf Classic is one of five Cal Cup stakes on Saturday.

Presented by City National Bank, the Unusual Heat Turf Classic is part of the CTBA’s lucrative Golden State Series, for eligible California-bred or sired horses four and up.

Owned and bred in California by Alfred Pais, Margot’s Boy is trained by Craig Lewis, who also conditioned Clubhouse Ride throughout a distinguished career that resulted in more than $1 million in earnings. A 4-year-old gelding, Margot’s Boy is out of the English-bred mare Margot Machance and comes off a close third place finish versus older horses in open allowance company going one mile on dirt Dec. 20 at Los Alamitos when ridden for the first time by Juan Hernandez.

With all three of his career wins coming around two turns on grass, Margot’s Boy’s best performance came five starts back when second, beaten a head in the Grade II Del Mar Derby at a mile and one eighth on turf.

Third, beaten a head by Indian Peak in the mile and one eighth turf Snow Chief Stakes here on June 20, Margot’s Boy rates a big look with Hernandez riding him back.

A winner of the 2018 Cal Cup Derby, lightly raced Heck Yeah’s lone win from three turf starts came in the 2018 Cal Cup Turf Sprint when trained by Bob Baffert. A winner of the Cal-bred Echo Eddie on April 7, 2018, Heck Yeah then went to the sidelines for nine months, making just two starts at age four before an 11 month hiatus until Feb. 2, 2020.

Transferred to Steve Sherman at Golden Gate Fields, Heck Yeah, a 6-year-old full horse by Acclimation out of the Maria’s Mon mare Lutess, seemed to have found new life on synthetic Tapeta, as he comes off a pair of impressive allowance scores—at one mile on Oct. 17 and at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 7. With career-high Beyer Speed figures of 86 in those two wins in-hand, Heck Yeah bids for his third consecutive win in what will be his 13th career start.

Bred in California by Michael Pageler, Heck Yeah is owned by Constance Ann Pageler, Bob Baedeker and Michael Sigband. He’ll be reunited with Drayden Van Dyke.

Idle since well beaten in the Grade III La Jolla Stakes Aug. 9 at Del Mar, Dr. and Mrs. William T. Gray’s homebred Indian Peak had been headquartered at Golden Gate Fields with trainer Quinn Howey, but will be making his first start for Brian Koriner on Saturday. A winner of the mile and one eighth Snow Chief versus Cal-breds on June 20, Indian Peak, a 4-year-old colt by Comic Strip, out of the Roar mare Ms. Booty, is proven at the trip and he’ll be ridden for the first time Joel Rosario.

THE $200,000 UNUSUAL HEAT TURF CLASSIC PRESENTED BY CITY NATIONAL BANK

Race 8 of 10 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT

Brandothebartender – Umberto Rispoli – 122
Ward ‘n Jerry – Flavien Prat- 124
Fly to Mars – Jose Valdivia, Jr. – 124
Indian Peak – Joel Rosario – 124
Marckie’s Water – Abel Cedillo – 124
North County Guy – Mario Gutierrez – 122
Heck Yeah – Drayden Van Dyke – 124
Acclimate – Tyler Baze – 124
Tropical Terror – Geovanni Franco – 120
Margot’s Boy – Juan Hernandez – 122
Cono – Ricardo Gonzalez – 122

KRULJAC’S THE CHOSEN VRON HEADS SATURDAY’S $200,000 CALIFORNIA CUP DERBY AS NINE SOPHOMORES GO MILE AND ONE SIXTEENTH

RACE IS PART OF CTBA’s LUCRATIVE GOLDEN STATE SERIES

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 13, 2021)—A lights-out first time maiden winner going 6 ½ furlongs on Dec. 27, trainer Eric Kruljac’s The Chosen Vron merits top billing among a field of nine in Saturday’s $200,000 California Cup Derby at a mile and one sixteenth.

Sponsored by the CTBA, the California Cup Derby, which is one of five Cal Cup Day Stakes on Saturday, is part of the lucrative Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired three-year-olds. The Cal Cup Derby, originally run in 1990, was won by eventual two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome in 2014.

A chestnut gelding by Vronsky out of the Tiz Wonderful mare Tiz Molly, The Chosen Vron was off as the 2-1 favorite with John Velazquez on Dec. 27 and never looked a loser in an impressive front-running effort that resulted in a 6 ¾ length win and a lofty 86 Beyer Speed figure. With Velazquez back at his Gulfstream Park base, Joel Rosario will take over on Saturday as The Chosen Vron stretches out to a mile and one sixteenth in his second start.

Although well beaten after stumbling early in the Grade II Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 19, the Paddy Gallagher-trained Positivity, a winner of Del Mar’s Graduation Stakes three starts back on Aug. 2, rates a huge chance with Drayden Van Dyke up as he takes a big drop in class and tries two turns for the second time in what will be his fifth start.

Owned by Charles and Annie Winner, Positivity is a bay colt by Paynter, out of the City Zip mare Sam’s Sunny City.

A non threatening fourth in the one mile turf Eddie Logan Stakes here Dec. 27, the David Hofmans-trained Big Fish was a close fifth two starts back in the Grade III Cecil B. DeMille Stakes at one mile on turf Nov. 29 and rates a huge chance if he can act on dirt. A one mile turf stakes winner four starts back, he was second and third, respectively, this past summer in maiden dirt sprints and has run at a mile on grass in his last five starts.

Owned by Legacy Ranch, Inc., Big Fish is by Mr. Big and is out of the Into Mischief mare Perched and he’ll be ridden for the first time by leading man Juan Hernandez.

THE $200,000 CALIFORNIA CUP DERBY WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 10 Approximate post time 3 p.m. PT

The Chosen Vron—Joel Rosario—124
Mischievous Path—Abel Cedillo—124
Big Fish—Juan Hernandez—124
Good With People—Ricardo Gonzalez—124
Play Chicken—Mario Gutierrez—124
None Above the Law—Kent Desormeaux—124
Positivity—Drayden Van Dyke—124
Warrens Candy Man—Flavien Prat—124
Cozy Bear—Tyler Baze–124

First post time for a 10-race card on Saturday is at 12:00 p.m. All of Santa Anita’s races are offered free of charge at santaanita.com/live and fans can watch and wager at 1st.com/Bet.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horseracing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST RACING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, 1/ST LIVE and 1/ST PROPERTIES businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING drives the best-in-class horseracing operations at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, and Gulfstream Park West (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the newly formed operating group for all of 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, GWS and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is horseracing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST LIVE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality by delivering uniquely curated events such as InfieldFest and Pegasus LIV Stretch Village. 1/ST PROPERTIES is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred horseracing on and off the track. For more information please visit www.1st.com.