Santa Anita: Grade 1’s Santa Anita Handicap, Kilroe Mile Previews

By Mike Willman —-

SADLER SEEKS RECORD THREE-PEAT AS HIGH WEIGHTED GIFT BOX DEFENDS CROWN IN SATURDAY’S GRADE I, $600,000 SANTA ANITA HANDICAP

ARCADIA, Calif. (March 4, 2020)—One of eight trainers dating back to 1940 to have saddled consecutive winners of the storied Santa Anita Handicap, John Sadler will seek an unprecedented three-peat this Saturday at The Great Race Place as his high weighted Gift Box defends his title in the 83rd running of the Grade I, $600,000 classic for older horses at a mile and one quarter.

First run in 1935, the Big ’Cap, America’s longest continually run “hundred grander,” has attracted an outstanding field of eight, including C R K Stable’s talented Midcourt, who has been assigned 123 pounds, three less than Gift Box.

Kiaran McLaughlin’s up and coming Endorsed, Sadler’s Combatant, Bill Mott’s Florida-based Hofburg, the Richard Baltas-trained Two Thirty Five and others make this year’s Big ’Cap a compelling affair.

In addition to Sadler, those trainers that have won two consecutive Big ’Caps are as follows: “Silent” Tom Smith (Kayak II, 1939 & Seabicuit, 1940), Ron McAnally (John Henry 1981 & 82), Charlie Whittingham (Lord At War 1985 & Greinton 1986), Richard Mandella (Siphon, 1996 & Malek 1997), Bobby Frankel (Milwaukee Brew 2002 & 03), Doug O’Neill (Lava Man 2006 & 07) and Bob Baffert (Game On Dude 2013 & 14).

GIFT BOX

Owner: Hronis Racing, LLC
Trainer: John Sadler

Originally trained by Chad Brown and purchased privately prior to winning the December, 2018 Grade II San Antonio Stakes in his first start for Sadler, this 7-year-old colt by Twirling Candy outdueled Bob Baffert’s McKinzie to take last year’s Big ’Cap by a nose under regular rider Joel Rosario. Idle since running fourth as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade II Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs June 15, Gift Box unleashed a monstrous effort in winning the San Antonio for a second time on Dec. 28, winning by 3 ¾ lengths while earning a Big ’Cap-best last out Beyer Speed figure of 107. A winner of three out of his five starts for Sadler, Gift Box, who took the San Antonio in gate to wire fashion, will attempt to join John Henry (1981-82), Milwaukee Brew (2002-03), Lava Man (2006-07) and Game On Dude (2013-14) as the fifth two-time winner of the Santa Anita Handicap.

MIDCOURT

Owner: C R K Stable, LLC
Trainer: John Shirreffs

A true training challenge by any accounting, Midcourt’s fortunes began a steep ascent following a near 16-month freshening, which spanned from Oct. 28, 2017 until Feb. 24, 2019, an interlude which included the momentous decision to geld the now 5-year-old son of Midnight Lute. A handful both in the mornings and afternoons, Midcourt, who had been beaten a combined 27 ½ lengths in his first two starts, comes off the best race of his career, a 3 ½ length, gate to wire score in the Grade II San Pasqual Stakes on Feb. 1, which brought his record since the ultimate equipment change to five wins from seven starts. Although well fancied at 2-1 versus Gift Box in the Dec. 28 San Antonio at 1 1/8 miles, Midcourt broke slowly and never threatened while beaten 7 ½ lengths. With a 102 Beyer in hand following his triumph in the mile and one sixteenth San Pasqual, he’ll need to break running under regular rider Victor Espinoza if he’s to turn the tables on Gift Box in his first try at a mile and one quarter Saturday.

ENDORSED

Owner: Godolphin, LLC
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin

Lightly raced, this 4-year-old homebred colt by Medaglia d’Oro would appear to have tremendous upside, as he comes off an impressive two length allowance score going a mile and one sixteenth at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 11—his first start since running a creditable fourth in the Grade I Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 24. A first-out maiden winner going six furlongs on an off track at Saratoga Aug. 18, Endorsed, who won his most recent race in stylish off the pace fashion, has three wins from six starts and would appear to rate a huge chance on Saturday.

COMBATANT

Owner: Hronis Racing, LLC
Trainer: John Sadler

Conditioned by Steve Asmussen through his first 22 starts, this 5-year-old ridgling by Scat Daddy closed much ground in his first start for Sadler, a third place finish behind Midcourt in the Grade II San Pasqual on Feb. 1. Although he would appear to be best suited at middle distances, Sadler has excelled in recent years with acquisitions of this kind and Combatant can be expected to step forward off of his San Pasqual run. A winner of a one turn mile allowance two starts back on Nov. 8 at Churchill Downs, Combatant, who with three wins from 23 starts, is in search of his first stakes win, would be flattered by a fast early pace in the Big ’Cap.

HOFBURG

Owner: Juddmonte Farms, Inc.
Trainer: William Mott

Favored in two out of his last three starts, this Florida-based homebred 5-year-old horse by Tapit appeared to have a rough trip when seventh at 7-2 in his most recent race, the Grade III, 1 1/16 miles Mineshaft Stakes at Fairgrounds in New Orleans. Seventh, beaten 8 ¾ lengths by eventual Triple Crown winner Justify in his only try at a mile and one quarter, the 2018 Kentucky Derby, Hofburg skipped the Preakness and was third, beaten 3 ½ lengths in the Belmont, which would suggest distance shouldn’t be a problem on Saturday. A winner of three out of his 10 starts, Hofburg, who calls Payson Park home, will be seeking his first graded stakes win in the Big ’Cap.

TWO THIRTY FIVE

Owner: Richard Baltas, Tom Mansor, Tammi Nielson & Kim Rasmussen Trainer: Richard Baltas

On the improve for Baltas at age six, this gelding by Stay Thirsty has been competitive facing Midcourt in his last three starts, most recently finishing second, beaten 3 ½ lengths by Midcourt in the San Pasqual Feb. 1 at odds of 22-1. Third, beaten seven lengths two starts back in the 1 1/8 miles Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 23, he was second, beaten a neck by Midcourt three races back in the one mile Comma to the Top here on Oct. 27. Well beaten in his lone try at a mile and quarter, Two Thirty Five, who is 21-5-4-5 and a reformed claimer, is in with a puncher’s chance from a hot barn.

THE GRADE I SANTA ANITA HANDICAP IN POST POSITION ORDER WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS

Race 10 of 12 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

1)Multiplier—Tyler Gaffalione—113
2) Two Thirty Five—Ruben Fuentes—118
3) Brown Storm—Hector Berrios—114
4) Gift Box—Joel Rosario–126
5) Midcourt—Victor Espinoza—123
6) Combatant—Umberto Rispoli—116
7) Hofburg—Flavien Prat—115
8)Endorsed—Drayden Van Dyke–115

Special early first post time for a 12-race card on Saturday is at 11:30 a.m., with admission gates opening at 9:30 a.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

REJUVENATED RIVER BOYNE HEADS WIDE OPEN FIELD OF TEN OLDER HORSES IN SATURDAY’S GRADE I, $400,000 FRANK E. KILROE MILE ON TURF

ARCADIA, Calif. (March 4, 2020)—Trainer Jeff Mullins’ rejuvenated Irish-bred River Boyne heads a wide open field of 10 older horses in Saturday’s Grade I, $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe mile on turf.

Others who rate tremendous chances are recent one mile turf allowance winner Sellwood, Kilroe Mile defending champ Ohio and recent graded stakes winner Desert Stone.

RIVER BOYNE

Owner: Red Baron’s Barn & Rancho Temescal, LLC
Trainer: Jeff Mullins

Winless in eight starts prior to running what may’ve been the best race of his career—an emphatic 2 ½ length score in the Grade III Thunder Road Stakes at one mile on turf Feb. 8, this 5-year-old full horse earned a career-best 99 Beyer Speed figure and looks like the horse to beat with Abel Cedillo back in the irons. A three-time graded stakes winner in Southern California at age three, River Boyne was a close fourth in last year’s Kilroe and was a huge second in the Grade I Shoemaker Mile (turf) six starts back on May 27, 2019. A stone miler, he’s 12-4-3-2 at the trip and will surpass the $1 million mark in career earnings should he hit the board in what will be his 24th start.

SELLWOOD

Owner: Gulliver Racing, LLC
Trainer: Jeff Mullins

Breaking from the far outside in a field of nine, this 5-year-old ridgling by the A.P. Indy stallion Girolamo was taken in hand out of the gate and saved ground while about 10 lengths off the lead around the first turn. With Mike Smith orchestrating a perfect trip, he saved as much ground as he could with the rails at 30 feet and fairly exploded late to win like a horse who’s capable of much more while earning a 98 Beyer. With a one mile turf mark of 9-2-4-1, Sellwood appears more than ready for his career close up in what will be his first graded stakes assignment.

OHIO

Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Alan Treitman
Trainer: Michael McCarthy

Following a pattern that produced an upset win in last year’s Kilroe Mile. McCarthy wheeled this 9-year-old Brazilian-bred gelding over to Phoenix, AZ on Jan. 11, with the result being a repeat victory in the one mile turf Cotton Fitzsimmons Handicap. Seventh after the first half mile, Ohio moved into close attendance around the far turn and in a tough stretch battle, prevailed by a neck under Jose Valdivia, Jr., who rides back on Saturday. Winless in six starts following last year’s Kilroe win, Ohio’s connections are hopeful his Arizona confidence builder will produce his second Grade I trophy.

DESERT STONE

Owner: Zayat Stables, LLC
Trainer: Richard Baltas

Although he has but one win from seven one mile turf tries, this 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding rallied from off the pace to win the Grade II, 1 1/8 miles turf San Gabriel Stakes by a neck on Jan. 4, a huge effort, considering he had been idle since well beaten in the Grade I Shoemaker Mile on May 27, 2019.

THE GRADE I FRANK E. KILROE MILE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 5 of 12 Approximate post time 3 p.m. PT

1)True Valour—Umberto Rispoli—122
2)River Boyne—Abel Cedillo—122
3)Got Stormy—Tyler Gaffalione—119
4)Next Shares—Flavien Prat—122
5)Sellwood—Mike Smith—120
6)Ohio—Jose Valdivia, Jr.—122
7)Kingly—Mario Gutierrez—122
8)Frontier Market—Joel Rosario—120
9)Sash—Drayden Van Dyke—120
10)Desert Stone—Geovanni Franco–122

Special early first post time for a 12-race card on Saturday is at 11:30 a.m., with admission gates open at 9:30 a.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.