Santa Anita: Grade II-Placed Look Forward Takes On Practical Dream

By Victor Ryan —-

Practical Dream and jockey Antonio Fresu win the $100,000 Desi Arnaz Stakes, Saturday, November 16, 2024 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar CA.
© BENOIT PHOTO

The race for 3-year-old fillies starts the road to the Grade II Fasig – Tipton Santa Anita Oaks, Kentucky Oaks

ARCADIA, CA (Dec. 31, 2024)—Look Forward, second in the GII Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos earlier this month, will return to sprinting for trainer Michael McCarthy when she takes on seven rivals in Sunday’s $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Santa Ynez Stakes going seven furlongs at Santa Anita.

The Fasig-Tipton Santa Ynez serves as the first step on the road to the Grade II Fasig- Tipton Santa Anita Oaks on April 5 and is also a point-paying prep for the Kentucky Oaks on May 2 at Churchill Downs. Qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks will be awarded on a scale of 10-5-3-2-1 to the top five finishers.

Look Forward won her debut sprinting six furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 8 when trained by the late Ben Cecil. She was subsequently transferred to McCarthy following Cecil’s death from cancer on Nov. 29. In the 1 1/16-mile Starlet, Look Forward dueled on the lead throughout with Grade I winner Tenma before yielding late to that rival to lose by 1 ¾ lengths.

Owned by Reddam Racing, Look Forward is by Bolt d’Oro out of the winning Into Mischief mare Troublesome. She will be ridden by Mario Gutierrez, who was aboard for both previous starts.

Practical Dream, trained by Tim Yakeen, finished sixth in the Starlet when making her two-turn debut. Prior to that effort, she won the seven-furlong Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar in November by 1 ¼ lengths over Silent Law, who is one of three entered in the Fasig-Tipton Santa Ynez for trainer Bob Baffert.

By Practical Joke, Practical Dream is 4: 2-1-0 with $123,986 in earnings for owners Leslie A. Amestoy, Jean Pierre Amestoy and Roger K. Beasley. She will be ridden by Antonio Fresu, who was aboard for both the Desi Arnaz and Starlet.

Silent Law was the 1-2 favorite when finishing second to Practical Dream in the Desi Arnaz. One race prior, in the Anoakia at Santa Anita going six furlongs, Silent Law beat runner-up Practical Dream by 3 ½ lengths.

By Tiz the Law, Silent Law is owned by CSLR Racing Partners LLC. She will have regular rider Juan Hernandez in the irons.

Baffert’s other entrants are stakes-placed Mawu and debut winner Howin.

Mawu was a no-threat fourth in the Starlet when making her two-turn debut. Previously, she finished third behind Practical Dream and Silent Law in the Desi Arnaz.

By Blame, Mawu is owned by Baoma Corp. She will have Hall of Famer Mike Smith aboard for the first time.

Howin rolled by 3 ¾ lengths when debuting at a mile on Oct. 12 at Santa Anita. The daughter of Gun Runner, also owned by Baoma Corp., was a $550,000 auction buy as a yearling. Howin will have Kazushi Kimura aboard for the first time after being ridden by Hernandez in her debut.

THE FASIG- TIPTON SANTA YNEZ WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 10 Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PT

Polythene Pam – Kyle Frey – 120
Howin – Kazushi Kimura – 120
A.Z. Wildcat – Flavien prat – 120
Practical Dream – Antonio Fresu – 122
Look Forward – Mario Gutierrez – 120
Mawu – Mike Smith – 120
Silent Law – Juan Hernandez – 122
Artisma – Abel Lezcano – 120

First post time for a 10 race card is 11:30 a.m. For more information please visit santaanita.com.

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