The Breeders’ Cup World Championship is one reason Santa Anita is poised for a pivotal meet, but that is not the only one. They will also offer a half-dozen ‘win and you’re in’ races over the first 2 weekends of the stand and that will set up the situation for the Breeders’ Cup. The legendary emporium will be hosting the Breeders’ Cup for an unprecedented 9th time on November 4th and 5th, and also will unveil a brand new turf course.
A total of 28 Graded stakes will be offered during the stand and Eddie D. will kick off the added-money action on opening day, September 30th. The Grade 3 event is carded down the tricky hillside turf course at about 6-1/2 furlongs and the race is named for the Hall of Fame rider Eddie Delahoussaye.
The turf course is comprised of a Bandara-Bermuda Turf mixture, but it is quite unlike the mix that Bill Murray was cooking up in the movie ‘Caddyshack’. The course was installed in June and the feeling is that it will play toward speed as the meet unfolds. The course got a ‘thumbs-up’ from Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who worked Curlin Rules on the course in mid-September.
The stable area re-opened at Santa Anita early this month and it has given runners an opportunity to get used to the renovated main track and inner training track.
For those who are lucky enough to live in the proximity of Arcadia, where Santa Anita is sure to excel, they should definitely take advantage of the morning workouts during this race meet.
Clockers’ Corner, which is located at the top of the stretch, is a welcoming area for trainers, jockeys and fans alike in the early hours. There may not be a better place in the world to get a feel of the racing game than Clockers’ Corner. One can sip the complimentary coffee, watch the racers workout with regularity, and even hobnob with some of horseracing’s true stars. Just through osmosis, the fledgling racing enthusiast will absorb a vast amount of knowledge during these mornings.
Santa Anita is poised for destiny this meeting because superstar California Chrome will be making his presence felt. He is North America’s leading money earner and will prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic in the Awesome Again Stakes on October 1. For the record the son of Lucky Pulpit has won 14 of 23 starts and has earned over $13 million. California Chrome has been freshened since his tour de force in the Pacific Classic and the runner will earn a $1 million bonus if he can win both of these huge events.
Since winning the Pacific Classic California Chrome has been put through his motions at his base at Los Alamitos. Early this month he basically just got his feet moving with a soft 4-furlong work. In his next morning effort, California Chrome went 5-furlongs in 1:00 4/5 and trainer Art Sherman tightened him up on September 17 with a best of the morning 6-furlong spin. That work was timed in 1:13 and small change and should have him on his toes for his return.
Few are truly expected to face California Chrome on October 1. Most of the local runners have already had their chances against the champ but would expect Bob Baffert to give Dortmund another shot at glory in this race.
Dortmund is no slouch. He has been first, second or third in 10 of his 12 starts and has won 8 times. He gave California Chrome a run for his money in the San Diego Stakes in July when he was rebuffed late. The bargain purchase was far from disgraced last time when he was third to the champ and just beaten 2 and a half lengths by Beholder, another champion.
The most obvious reason that Santa Anita is poised for a pivotal meeting is because of the superstar equine participants that will run during this stand. You can bet your bottom dollar that champions will be on display and they will do what they do best, run fast.
Santa Anita Is Poised for Pivotal Meet
