A total of $750,000 will be on the line Saturday when the Santa Anita Handicap is spotlighted in California. This race opened up when Arrogate decided to pass on this event.
The rest of the best older runners on this side of the country will vie for the glory in the Grade 1 mile and a quarter fixture.
The Santa Anita Handicap that has been won by some legends over the decades. Probably the dominant figure in the early years of the race was Seabiscuit, who lost his first two attempts to win the Santa Anita Handicap in 1937 and 1938 in close photos. He suffered what was believed to be a career-ending injury while preparing for the 1939 edition but returned to run in the 1940 Big ‘Cap, finally winning in what would be his last race.
Other legends like Cougar 11, Vigors, Affirmed, Spectacular Bid, John Henry (twice), Best Pal, Tiznow and Lava Man (twice) earned glory in the Santa Anita Handicap. Monster Shared Belief won this race in 2015 and last year trainer Dave Hofmans’ student Meletonin graced the winner’s circle.
Midnight Storm, who is trained by Phil D’Amato, just may reign over this group. He has valid speed but doesn’t need the lead to win and he has been in the exacta at Santa Anita in seven of eleven starts. The good news for this runner is that he catches a race pretty much devoid of speed. He went 1:08 and change last time and just kept on going winning the Grade 2 San Pasqual. And he was not disgraced the other time he tried this distance since he hooked the champion Beholder that day.
If Gangster is going to win the Santa Anita Handicap, he better bring something more than a knife to a gunfight. His only win vs. winners came on grass in a much softer spot.
Shaman Ghost, who is coming off a second to Arrogate in the Pegasus World Cup, may like it in the Santa Anita Handicap. He proved his class taking the Woodward last year and he has a nice turn of late foot. Shaman Ghost is owned by Santa Anita owner Frank Stronach and his trainer James Jerkens is one of the best in the business. Shaman’s Ghost conditioner is confident, Jerkens: “Most of the time, it’s pretty fast and speed favoring at Santa Anita, but I like the way my horse ran in the Pegasus. He usually breaks very well. In the Pegasus, he was up with the top flight, in front of California Chrome, into the first turn and then they ran away from him a little down the backside. I think they’ll have to go fast early and if they come back, a mile and quarter is a great distance for my horse. If any horse fits the distance, it should be him.”
Forced to miss the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 5 due to illness, Shaman Ghost’s will be ridden by Javier Castellano, who was aboard for the Woodward.
Isotherm will have to do something he never has done and that is win on the dirt. All of his wins have come on grass but he did overcome trouble last time.
Hard Aces has not been a good poker player of late. He only won once in 2016 and lost his only start this year.
Follow Me Crev will have to probably run the race of his life. He lost his last two stakes attempts but four of his six wins have come at Santa Anita.
It’s hard to see Twentytwentyvision in the Santa Anita Handicap. The runner is in the good hands of Richard Mandella but his only win last year was in the $50,000 Rolling Green on grass at Golden Gate.
Hi Happy was a monster in his native Argentina but the form has not translated so far.
Imperative has not ducked anybody in his career. He has faced stars like Dortmund and California Chrome but is only one for seventeen at Santa Anita.
Look for the race to unfold like this. Rafael Bejarano will ask Midnight Storm from the rail at the sound of the bell and he will be engaged. This runner has fired fresh before so that will be no problem. It will be up to the other riders to decide to chase Midnight Storm or hope he gives way.
Gangster may show brief speed, Hi Happy could fall into a good spot, but the Shaman Ghost will have to make his own racing luck.
The forecast is for Midnight Storm to be in front at the first call, at the top of the lane and at the finish.
Good luck.
Santa Anita Handicap Spotlighted
