Santa Anita Stakes Previews

By Mike Willman —-

LANE WAY HEADS GRADE II, $200,000 EDDIE D STAKES ON SATURDAY AS FIELD OF 11 GOES ABOUT 6 ½ FURLONGS DOWN HILLSIDE TURF

HILLSIDE SPRINT IS NAMED IN HONOR OF ALL-TIME GREAT HOF JOCKEY EDDIE DELAHOUSSAYE

ARCADIA, CA (Sept. 27, 2023)—Richard Mandella’s Lane Way, a restricted stakes winner down Santa Anita’s unique hillside turf course, heads a field of 11 older horses going about 6 ½ furlongs in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Eddie D Stakes.

Renamed in honor of retired all-time great Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye in 2012, the Eddie D was run as the Morvich Stakes from 1974 through 2011.

Owned by MyRacehorse, Lane Way, second in last year’s Eddie D, has two wins from as many seconds over the course and rates top billing with regular rider Mike Smith back aboard. A downhill winner of the Clockers’ Corner Stakes in his seasonal debut two starts back on Jan. 29, Lane Way, a 6-year-old gelding by Into Mischief, will be making his third start of the year on Saturday.

With an overall mark of 18-4-6-5, Lane Way, who was second in the Grade II Joe Hernandez coming down the hill three starts back on Dec. 31, 2022, has earnings of $370,560 and will be seeking his second stakes victory.

Talented Irish-bred Balnikhov, a two-time graded stakes winner routing on turf, will try the hillside course for the first time on Saturday as he sprints for the first time in what will be his 13th North American start for Phil D’Amato.

A huge second, beaten three quarters of a length by stablemate Gold Phoenix going a mile and one eighth on turf two starts back in the Grade II Eddie Read July 30 at Del Mar, Balnikhov was most recently beaten four lengths while finishing eighth in the Grade II Del Mar Handicap Sept. 2.

With Geovanni Franco taking over in the saddle for the first time, 4-year-old gelding Balnikhov, who is owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC and Old Bones Racing, LLC, is 20-6-5-2 overall with earnings of $639,843.

THE GRADE II EDDIE D WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 9 of 10 Approximate post time 5 p.m. PT

Balnihkov—Geovanni Franco—124
Bran—Juan Hernandez—122
Sumter—Umberto Rispoli—122
Mas Rapido—Edwin Maldonado—118
Noble Reflection—Mario Gutierrez—122
Lane Way—Mike Smith—122
I’m A Gambler—Antonio Fresu—122
Unconquerable Keen—Joe Bravo—122
Ah Jeez—Tiago Pereira—118
Packs a Wahlop—Hector Berrios—120
Radical Right—Diego Herrera—122

French-Bred Twist Prominent Among Field Of Nine In Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 City Of Hope Mile

ARCADIA, CA (Sept. 27, 2023)—A much-troubled fifth in his most recent start, Hronis Racing’s French-bred Twist could be the horse to beat among a field of nine 3-year-olds and up in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita.

Trained by John Sadler, Twist, who will be making his fourth stateside start and his seeking his first North American stakes victory, was fifth, beaten 2 ½ lengths following significant traffic trouble turning for home in the Grade II Del Mar Mile (turf) on Sept. 2. A convincing 1 ¾ lengths second condition allowance winner going a mile and one eighth on turf two starts back July 21 at Del Mar, Twist will be reunited with Hector Berrios, who did not ride him in his most recent outing.

A sharp second going a mile on turf in his U.S. debut here on June 4, Twist, a 6-year-old gelding, has earnings of $197,590 from an overall race record of 17-6-5-1.

Phil D’Amato’s Irish-bred Hong Kong Harry, a three-time graded stakes winner who has been idle since May 29, will no doubt garner plenty of pari-mutuel attention and could go favored off the bench. A 6-year-old gelding, diminutive Hong Kong Harry, at barely 15 hands and maybe 900 pounds, has the heart of a lion and a closing kick to match.

Dating back to his U.S. debut going a mile and one eighth on turf March 6, “Harry” won his first three starts and five out of his first six with D’Amato—three of which came in graded stakes. With Juan Hernandez taking over for the first time, Hong Kong Harry would relish a fast pace to run at and figures to be rolling late in what will be his 10th stateside engagement.

Owned by Scott Anastasi, Jimmy Ukegawa and Tony Valazza, Hong Kong Harry is 16-9-2-2 overall with earnings of $655,097.

THE GRADE II CITY OF HOPE MILE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 10 of 10 Approximate post time 5:30 p.m. PT

IL Bellator—Alejandro Gomez—122
War At Sea—Victor Espinoza—122
Hit the Road—Joe Bravo—122
Hong Kong Harry—Juan Hernandez—124
Astronomer—Antonio Fresu—122
Flavius—Jose Valdivia, Jr.—122
Twist—Hector Berrios—122
Cathkin Peak—Umberto Rispoli—122
Irideo—Mike Smith—122

First post time for a 10-race card that will include three other stakes on Saturday is at 1 p.m. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.
About The Stronach Group
The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE 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 & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings 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, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (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 operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’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 EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. 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 racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland).
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First post time for a 10-race card that includes three other stakes on Saturday is at 1 p.m. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.