SANTA ANITA: GRADE III LAZARO BARRERA, DESERT CODE STAKES TOP SATURDAY’S CARD

By Mike Willman —-

KIMBEAR & AMERICAN ANTHEM CUTBACK IN DISTANCE WHILE STAKES WINNING ARISTOCRATIC STRETCHES OUT A FURLONG IN SATURDAY’S GRADE III, $100,000 LAZARO BARRERA STAKES AT SEVEN FURLONGS

ARCADIA, Calif. (May 10, 2017)—Eric Kruljac’s Kimbear and Bob Baffert’s American Anthem cutback in distance from last month’s Grade I Santa Anita Derby while owner Kaleem Shah’s speedy Aristocratic stretches out a furlong off a solid local stakes score as they head Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes, which has attracted a field of six 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.

Off at 10-1, Kimbear overcame a troubled start to close much ground while running sixth by 5 ½ lengths. American Anthem, who was off at 7-1, pressed the early pace in the mile and one eighth fixture for West Coast 3-year-olds but tired badly to finish 12th in a field of 13.

Trained by Doug O’Neill when victorious by 4 ½ lengths in the six furlong San Pedro Stakes here on April 16, Aristocratic, who has been transferred by Shah to trainer Simon Callaghan, will likely employ similar front-running tactics in the Barrera on Saturday.

KIMBEAR: An impressive 4 ½ length maiden winner two starts back going seven furlongs on Feb. 25, this Kentucky-bred colt by Temple City bobbled at the break in the Santa Anita Derby and finished like a legitimate Derby prospect. Beaten five lengths by Santa Anita Derby runner-up Battle of Midway, Kimbear was flattered this past Saturday when “Battle” ran a solid third in the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs. Originally pegged as a turf runner, Kimbear made his first three appearances in maiden turf routes but is obviously well suited to the main track as well. With regular rider Joe Talamo re-engaged, Kimbear rates a huge look as he cuts back in distance to seven panels. Owned by Al Lewkowitz, Frank Lewkowitz, Lou Giordano and Eric Kruljac, Kimbear is 7-1-1-3 with earnings of $74,440.

ARISTOCRATIC: A Kentucky-bred colt by Malibu Moon, he ran the best race of his fledgling career in the San Pedro, as he earned a career-top 85 Beyer Speed figure. Originally trained by Baffert, he made his last four starts for O’Neill, but was unexpectedly transferred to Callaghan this past Monday for what will be his sixth lifetime start. A $475,000 Florida 2-year-old in training sale purchase 14 months ago, he’s the leading earner in the Barrera lineup with $99,950. The speed of the Barrera field, Aristocratic has two wins and two seconds from his five starts.

AMERICAN ANTHEM: A first-out maiden winner going six furlongs on Dec. 3 at Del Mar, he came back to run a close second at even money to eventual Santa Anita Derby winner Gormley in the Grade III, one mile Sham Stakes on Jan 7, but was subsequently well beaten in Oaklawn Park’s Grade II, 1 1/16 miles Rebel Stakes on March 18 and the Santa Anita Derby on April 8. Favored in three out of his four starts, the Kentucky-bred colt by Bodemeister fetched $435,000 at a Florida 2-year-old in training sale 14 months ago and will again be well supported as he cuts back to seven furlongs on Saturday. Owned by the China Horse Club and Head of Plains, LLC, American Anthem has a win and a second place finish from his four starts and has earnings of $54,545.

THE GRADE III LAZARO BARRERA WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 5 of 9 Approximate post time 3 p.m. PT

1. American Anthem—Mike Smith—120
2. Kimbear—Joe Talamo—120
3. Bobby Abu Dhabi—Norberto Arroyo, Jr.—120
4. Taxman’s Quest—Tyler Baze—122
5. Sutton Impact—Flavien Prat—120
6. Aristocratic—Rafael Bejarano–122

First post time for a nine-race card on Saturday is at 1 p.m. Admission gates open at 11 a.m. For complete racing information, please visit santaanita.com.

CLASSY CISTRON TRIES HILLSIDE TURF FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SATURDAY’S $75,000 DESERT CODE STAKES; RECENT WINNERS ARMS RUNNER & CITY STORM LEND DEPTH TO COMPETITIVE LINEUP

Trainer John Sadler’s versatile Cistron will try Santa Anita’s unique 6 ½ furlong hillside turf course for the first time as heads Saturday’s $75,000 Desert Code Stakes. Adding considerable depth to the Desert Code lineup are recent hillside winners Arms Runner and City Storm as they figure prominently among a field of seven sophomores.

A gate to wire minor stakes winner going a mile and a sixteenth over Oaklawn Park’s main track on April 15, Cistron has two wins and two third place finishes from four starts on grass and looms the horse to beat in the Desert Code.

CISTRON: Owned by Hronis Racing, LLC and Little Red Feather Racing, this Kentucky-bred colt by The Factor was a sharp third in the one mile turf Pasadena Stakes here two starts back and is easily the leading money earner in the field with a bankroll of $180,429. In addition to the most money-won, Cistron also has the most racing experience of all horses entered, as he sports an overall mark of 7-3-0-3.

ARMS RUNNER: An impressive first-out maiden winner over the course on April 20, this Florida-bred colt by the Tale of the Cat stallion Overdriven earned a Desert Storm-best last out Beyer Speed figure of 86 when prevailing by a half length under Norberto Arroyo, Jr. Trained by Peter Miller and owned by Gary Hartunian’s Rockingham Ranch, Arms Runner fetched $525,000 at the Ocala Breeders 2-year-old in training sale 13 months ago. With a proven affinity for the course and precocity in his corner, Arms Runner should prove plenty tough in his first assignment with winners.

CITY STORM: Trained by Phil D’Amato, he was no match for Derby prospect American Anthem in his six furlong debut on Dec. 3 at Del Mar, losing by 24 ¾ lengths at odds of 38-1 over the main track. A Kentucky-bred colt by City Zip, he showed ample gameness in breaking his maiden over the course by a head on March 2—his second career start. Owned by Gerald and Ronald Frankel, City Storm earned a Beyer Speed figure of 81 and will hope to improve upon that rating on Saturday.

THE $75,000 DESERT CODE STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 4 of 9 Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PT

1. City Storm—Stewart Elliott—120
2. Big League—Edwin Maldonado—120
3. Farley—Mario Gutierrez—120
4. Arms Runner—Norberto Arroyo, Jr.—120
5. What’sontheagenda—Tiago Pereira—120
6. Rebel War—Agapito Delgadillo–120
7. Cistron—Tyler Baze—124

First post time for a nine-race card on Saturday is at 1 p.m. Admission gates open at 11 a.m. For complete racing information, please visit santaanita.com.

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.