Santa Anita: Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint; Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks

By Mike Willman —-

Rose Maddox; Benoit

ALEXANDER HOPING SATURDAY’S $150,000 SUNSHINE MILLIONS FILLY & MARE TURF SPRINT COMES UP ROSES AT ABOUT 6 ½ FURLONGS DOWN HILLSIDE TURF

ARCADIA, CA (Jan. 10, 2024)—Owner/breeder Nick Alexander is hoping Saturday’s $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint comes up roses as his homebreds Rose Maddox and Rose Dawson figure prominently among eight older fillies and mares going about 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s one-of-a-kind hillside turf course.

The Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint, is part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series, for registered California-bred or sired horses.

When last the pair met, it was all Rose Maddox, as she rallied from well off the pace to take the Cal Cup Distaff down the hill, winning by two lengths while her stablemate checked in fourth, beaten 5 ¼ lengths.

Subsequently an even fourth, beaten 2 ¾ lengths down the hill versus open company in the Senator Ken Maddy on Nov. 3, Rose Maddox, who is trained by Steve Miyadi, gets a new rider in Flavien Prat.

A three-time stakes winner, Rose Maddox, a 5-year-old mare by Grazen out of the Unusual Heat mare Heat the Rocks, is one for three down the hill and 19-6-8-1 overall with earnings of $425,782.

Trained by Phil D’Amato, Rose Dawson, like her stablemate, is also a 5-year-old mare by Grazen. Most recently second as the 2-1 favorite in the statebred Betty Grable Stakes going seven furlongs on dirt at Del Mar Nov. 12, she’s out of the Bertrando mare Sudden Sunday and will be ridden for the fifth consecutive time by Juan Hernandez.

A winner in her second career start of the Cal Cup Oaks at a mile over the Santa Anita turf, Rose Dawson seeks her second career stakes victory. With one second place finish from three tries down the hill, she has three wins and as many seconds from 13 overall starts—good for earnings of $270,080.

Steve Specht’s Tam’s Little Angel, a troubled fourth at 36-1 in last year’s Turf Sprint, will be ridden for the first time by Joel Rosario and would appear to rate a big look on Saturday.

Owned and bred by Larry and Marianne Williams, Tam’s Little Angel drew off to a resounding 5 ¼ length second condition allowance win going one mile on synthetic Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields two starts back, earning a career-best 87 Beyer Speed Figure.

Most recently fourth, beaten 3 ¼ lengths going six furlongs versus statebreds in the Bear Fan Stakes at Golden Gate Dec. 9, Tam’s Little Angel could be on the move late if she gets a hot pace to run at. A 5-year-old mare by Tamarando out of the Lucky Pulpit mare Angel Diane, Tam’s Little Angel has banked $247,054 from and overall race record of 25-5-4-7.

THE $150,000 SUNSHINE MILLIONS FILLY & MARE TURF SPRINT WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS

Race 7 of 9 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT

Madiha—Victor Espinoza—122
Rose Maddox—Flavien Prat—124
Rose Dawson—Juan Hernandez—124
Unwritten Code—Tiago Pereira—122
Chismosa—Kyle Frey—124
Stay and Scam—Mario Gutierrez—122
Tam’s Little Angel—Joel Rosario—124
Chancery Way—Antonio Fresu—124

First post time for a nine-race card on Saturday is at 12:30 p.m. with admission gates opening at 10:30 a.m.

Grand Slam Smile; Benoit
WELL ACCOMPLISHED GRAND SLAM SMILE STRETCHES OUT AND HEADS SATURDAY’S $200,000 LEIGH ANN HOWARD CALIFORNIA CUP OAKS AT ONE MILE ON TURF

ARCADIA, CA (Jan. 10, 2024)—Among California’s most successful breeders for many years, Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams are very well represented indeed in Saturday’s $200,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks, as their homebred Grand Slam Smile stretches out and looms a solid favorite among eight rival sophomore fillies at one mile on turf.

The Cal Cup Oaks is part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for registered California-bred or sired horses.

Unbeaten in two starts on the Santa Anita main track, Grand Slam Smile, who is trained by Steve Specht, had her biggest career moment here two starts back on Nov. 3, as she dominated nine rivals in taking the seven furlong Golden State Juvenile Fillies by 7 ¼ lengths while earning a solid 70 Beyer Speed Figure.

Subsequently trailered back to her Golden Gate Fields base, she was a disappointing second as the 2-5 favorite in the six furlong Golden Gate Debutante on Nov. 25.

Freshened since, Grand Slam Smile will not only be trying two turns for the first time on Saturday, but will also be running for the first time on turf as well. By Smiling Tiger out of the Grand Slam mare Royal Grand Slam, Grand Slam Smile should be forwardly placed under regular rider Frank Alvarado. With three wins and two second from five starts, she has earnings of $219,900.

Owned by CYBT, Rafter JR Ranch, LLC, STD Racing Stable and Michael Nentwig and trained by Peter Miller, Madison Rae comes off a solid win versus statebreds in the one mile Soviet Problem Stakes Dec. 10 at Los Alamitos, a race she took by a half length in gate to wire fashion when ridden for the first time by Edwin Maldonado, who is not available Saturday due to a recent shoulder injury.

A six furlong maiden winner three starts back here on Oct. 8, Madison Rae appears to be on the improve for Miller and will likely be on the lead when trying turf for the first time on Saturday with Joel Rosario at the controls.

Peter Eurton’s Prancingthruparis, who will also be stretching out and trying turf for the first time, comes off a close second in a six furlong allowance versus statebreds here on Jan. 1 and will be ridden for the fifth straight time by Antonio Fresu.

A filly by Sir Prancealot owned and bred by Ciaglia Racing, LLC, SAF Racing and Harry Crusberg, Prancingthruparis has a win and two seconds from four starts with earnings of $96,850.

With Flavien Prat engaged and plenty of two-turn experience, Repole Stable’s Sushi Sticks, who comes off a close third place finish versus open company in the one mile Gold Rush Stakes on synthetic Tapeta at Golden Gate Dec. 2, rates a huge chance in what will be her fourth career start.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Sushi Sticks is by Karakontie out of the Tapit mare Renewed Energy. A gutty neck maiden winner from off the pace in her one mile turf debut Aug. 25, she was subsequently a troubled ninth at a mile on grass in the Grade III Surfer Girl here Oct. 8.

THE $200,000 CAL CUP OAKS WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 5 of 9 Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PT

Petit Filet – Kazushi Kimura – 124
Prancingthruparis – Antonio Fresu – 124
R Sweet Candy – Aburto Jimenez – 124
Asada Fries – Juan Hernandez – 124
Sushi Sticks – Flavien Prat – 124
Recalcitrant – Lanfranco Dettori – 124
Madison Rae – Joel Rosario – 124
Putt for Dough – Mario Gutierrez – 124
Grand Slam Smile—Frank Alvarado—124

First post time for a nine-race card on Cal Cup Day, Saturday, is at 12:30 p.m. with admission gates opening at 10:30 a.m.
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