The penultimate weekend of racing for 2023 kicks off on Saturday with a pair of graded stakes at Gulfstream Park, Kentucky Derby and Oaks preps at Truthful Grounds, after which continues on Tuesday with Santa Anita’s conventional day-after-Christmas opening day that includes six graded stakes, together with three Grade 1.
Sprinters are within the highlight in South Florida, with a wide-open area of fillies and mares contesting the G3 Sugar Swirl at six furlongs, adopted by the G3 Mr. Prospector Stakes, the place Sibelius defends his title in a area of 9 colts and geldings going seven panels. Gulfstream additionally attracted large fields for the Tropical Park Oaks and Tropical Park Derby scheduled over Gulfstream’s new turf course.
There aren’t any standouts within the Untapable Stakes at Truthful Grounds, the place six 2-year-old fillies will race a mile and 70 yards in quest of qualifying factors for the Kentucky Oaks (10-5-3-2-1 to the highest 5). The 1 1/16-mile Gun Runner Stakes, remaining occasion of a 12-race card that includes eight stakes on the New Orleans monitor on Saturday, attracted eight soon-to-be sophomore colts led by Brad Cox-trained Nash, a son of Medaglia d’Oro coming off a ten 1/4-length profitable efficiency in a Churchill Downs maiden race in November that earned him a 97 Beyer Pace Determine. The highest 5 within the Gun Runner will earn 10-5-3-2-1 factors for the Kentucky Derby.
The ultimate three Grade 1 stakes of the 12 months spotlight Santa Anita’s opening day program, which gives a complete of 11 races (together with three Grade 2 stakes) and will get beneath approach at 11 a.m. Pacific/2 p.m. Japanese.
Not surprisingly, coach Bob Baffert holds a powerful hand within the G1 Malibu for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs, with G1 Breeders’ Cup Dash pacesetter Pace Boat Seashore main his trio of entries, together with $3,550,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old buy Hejazi, who returned from a seven-month hiatus to dominate an allowance area Nov. 3. Somebody will stroll away from the Malibu with G1 credentials to boost their stallion resume.
The G1 La Brea, the companion race for 3-year-old fillies, seems to be to be broad open, with a area of 10 that features only a single earlier graded stakes winner, Richard Mandella-trained Ice Dancing, a daughter of Frosted who gained the G3 Santa Ynez in January earlier than going to the sidelines. In her comeback race in late October, Ice Dancing got here up a half-length quick, ending second as a heavy favourite towards older fillies and mares.
Santa Anita’s different G1, the American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/4 miles on turf, equally has only one earlier graded winner, Anisette, most spectacular final summer time profitable the G1 Del Mar Oaks. East Coast-based Be Your Greatest has been knocking on the door towards high firm for coach Horacio De Paz, and he or she’ll ship west to tackle Anisette as soon as once more, having completed second to her at Del Mar.
Saturday
4:06 p.m. – Grade 3 Sugar Swirl Stakes at Gulfstream Park
After crisscrossing the nation with stops in Kentucky, California, Oklahoma and Ohio, a number of stakes winner My Future is again dwelling for what is anticipated to be her final race towards a area of eight within the $125,000 Sugar Swirl.
Educated by proprietor Sam Wilensky’s father, Herman, 6-year-old My Future will start her new profession as a broodmare in 2024, already booked to 2022 champion male sprinter Elite Energy. She is having fun with her greatest season up to now with 4 wins, two in stakes, from eight begins together with a career-best efficiency to seize the six-furlong Flashy Woman Handicap by 5 ¼ lengths Sept. 24 at Remington Park.
Two-time defending Championship Meet main coach Saffie Joseph Jr. wheels Ed Seltzer’s 7-year-old homebred mare Bluefield again simply two weeks off a decided neck victory within the seven-furlong FTBOA Metropolis of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
Joseph may even ship out 4-year-old Intrepid Daydream, a current personal buy by Miller Racing that has put collectively 4 consecutive wins together with the six-furlong Shine Once more and Politely and seven-furlong Maryland Million Distaff, all at Laurel Park. She arrived at Gulfstream Monday.
4:36 p.m. – Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Millionaire gelding Sibelius, who used his win final 12 months as a springboard to Group 1 glory in Dubai, returns to make a title protection towards a area of eight rivals in Saturday’s $125,000 Mr. Prospector (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Although winless in three tries since returning to North America, operating fourth within the June 3 Aristides at Churchill Downs, seventh by 4 ¼ lengths within the July 29 Bing Crosby (G1) at Del Mar and fifth within the Phoenix Oct. 6, Sibelius might be racing at his dwelling monitor for the primary time since a 2 ¼-length triumph within the Mr. Prospector on New 12 months’s Eve 2022.
On the reverse finish of the gate is Holly Crest Farm’s 3-year-old New Jersey homebred Nice Navigator, by no means worse than third in 9 profession begins with three wins. He’s twice graded-stakes positioned, having run second within the 2022 Sanford (G3) at 2 and third in his most up-to-date effort, the Oct. 1 Vosburgh (G2) at Aqueduct. Ending forward of him that day had been Cody’s Want, back-to-back winner of the Breeders’ Cup Filth Mile (G1) and a candidate for Horse of the 12 months, and three-time Grade 2-placed Accretive.
Grade 2 winner Howbeit and fellow a number of stakes-winning stablemate Winfromwithin, who’ve mixed for 12 wins and $767,591 in purse earnings from 52 begins; 2022 Gallant Bob (G2) winner Scaramouche; Hurricane J, a front-running winner sprinting 6 ½ furlongs Nov. 19 at Gulfstream; Dreaming of Kona, promoted winner of Gulfstream’s one-mile Mucho Macho Man Jan. 1; Grade 1-placed Gilmore and 2019 Insurgent (G2) winner Lengthy Vary Toddy full the sector.
6:30 p.m. – Gun Runner Stakes at Truthful Grounds
Off a dominant win in his second profession begin, the Godolphin homebred Nash has been put in as 7-5 morning line favourite towards seven rivals in Saturday’s $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes. Educated by Brad Cox, the son of Medaglia d’Oro sprinted on debut on October 7 at Keeneland. Nash sat a pocket journey and completed a transparent second behind the gate to wire winner Sales space. Stretched out to 1 1/16 miles for his follow-up begin 5 weeks later at Churchill Downs, Nash went proper to the lead and prolonged his margin of victory to the wire with each stride, romping up 10 ¼ lengths in entrance of his closest pursuer.
Catching Freedom, Cox’s different Gun Runner entrant, additionally deserves respect. Regardless of a compromised begin and an especially broad flip for dwelling over a one-turn mile in his profession debut at Churchill on October 1, the son of Structure rolled dwelling to win by 3 ¾ lengths.
Steve Asmussen, who skilled Gun Runner for whom the race was named and gained the inaugural version with Epicenter, has two stay runners within the race on Saturday.
It took Observe Phantom three tries to interrupt his maiden, however after ending third then second over the one-turn mile at Churchill, he took his sport to a brand new stage in his first route attempt final trip. In an ideal urgent place early on, he took full command late on the backstretch and drew away to a convincing 4 ¾ size win.
Asmussen’s different runner, the Gun Runner colt Danger It, is the category of the sector. A dominant winner on August 19 at Saratoga first out of the field sprinting, Danger It stretched out to a one-turn mile for the Iroquois (G3) 4 weeks later at Churchill. Despatched off because the 1.35-1 favourite, Danger It loved a transparent, stalking journey, however he may solely handle second behind the 12-1 longshot West Saratoga. Stretched out to two-turns for the primary time within the Kentucky Jockey Membership (G2) final out, he was a bit rank early on and was pressured to test repeatedly on the backstretch. He discovered clear crusing on the far flip, however completed a well-beaten fourth behind Honor Marie.
Along with the $100,000 purse, the Gun Runner will supply 2-year-olds, quickly to be three, 10-5-3-2-1 factors on the Street to the Kentucky Derby 150 introduced by Woodford Reserve.
Tuesday
3:00 p.m. – Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita
French-bred Easter, recent off probably the most spectacular turf performances of the 12 months in Southern California for coach Phil D’Amato, looms a standout versus 5 rivals at a mile and one eighth on turf.
Turning for dwelling within the G2 Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles over the Del Mar turf Nov. 25, it appeared that D’Amato’s high turf runner Hong Kong Harry had the race in-hand, however stablemate Easter pinned his ears beneath Antonio Fresu and powered to a half size victory whereas incomes a lofty 99 Beyer Pace Determine.
With Fresu set to experience him again, Easter, a 5-year-old gelding who had gained three of his 9 stateside begins with Maryland-based Graham Movement previous to the Seabiscuit, might be searching for his third consecutive stakes victory on Tuesday.
4:00 p.m. – Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita
Anisette seeks the most important win of her profession as she heads a area of seven sophomore fillies going 1 1/4 miles on the grass course. Educated by Leonard Powell, Anisette’s solely earlier attempt on the Oaks distance got here two begins again in Santa Anita’s G2 Rodeo Drive on Oct. 7, a race wherein she completed an in depth second. With common rider Umberto Rispoli again aboard, she in the reduction of in distance to 1 mile on grass Nov. 5, ending second by 3 ¼ lengths within the G3 Autumn Miss Stakes.
Coach Horacio De Paz’ Be Your Greatest is one other who would like to have a quick tempo to take advantage of in Tuesday’s Oaks. In her first and solely task versus male competitors, she was final of 13 for a lot of the journey within the G2 Twilight Derby at a mile and one eighth on turf right here Nov. 4 and got here rolling on the far outdoors to complete eighth, overwhelmed simply 1 ¾ lengths beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr., who rides her again.
4:30 p.m. – Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita
A 3-time Group 1 stakes winner and favored in 10 out of his 12 begins in his native Argentina, John Sadler’s Subsanador figures prominently as he makes his U.S. debut with Flavien Prat on the controls versus 5 rivals going 1 1/16 miles on the principle monitor.
Subsanador has been idle since profitable a Group 2 stakes in Argentina on July 29, however he enters the San Antonio on the power of a powerful work tab that included 4 consecutive bullet strikes. Subsanador’s Argentine resume reads 12-7-1-1 with incomes of $149,124.
Richard Mandella-trained Salesman was the runaway 8 ¼-length winner of the G2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes going the seldom-run distance of a mile and 5 eighths at Santa Anita on Nov. 4. Salesman, who earned a 92 Beyer Pace Determine that day, appears to have discovered a brand new dwelling on dust as a 6-year-old gelding. Raced practically completely on turf in France, Salesman was nicely overwhelmed in his first two stateside assignments on grass with Mandella, ending ninth within the G1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita Could 29 and twelfth within the restricted Wickerr Stakes July 23 at Del Mar.
Switched to dust at a mile and one sixteenth within the restricted Los Alamitos Particular Sept. 17 he ran a a lot improved third, adopted by his rollicking win on Nov. 4.
5:30 p.m. – Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita
A stakes winner on each turf and dust, versatile Pace Boat Seashore heads a strong three-horse contingent for coach Bob Baffert. Second, overwhelmed a head two begins again by high sprinter Dr. Schivel within the G2 Santa Anita Dash Championship on Sept. 30, Pace Boat Seashore made all of the early operating within the G1 Breeders’ Cup Dash on Nov. 4, however drained to complete fourth, overwhelmed three lengths.
Baffert’s different two entries are Fort Bragg, recent off a facile 2 ¼ size allowance rating at 4-5 going 6 ½ furlongs on Nov. 17 at Del Mar, and Hejazi, off because the 8-5 favourite in a primary situation allowance at six panels right here on Nov. 3 and he blew the competitors away, profitable by 5 ½ lengths.
All the time harmful beneath any circumstances, eastern-based coach Brad Cox will ship out Large Mischief, who might be ridden for the primary time by Kazushi Kamura, who led all riders at Woodbine’s not too long ago concluded meet with 161 winners.
6:00 p.m. – Grade 2 Mathis Mile Stakes at Santa Anita
Phil D’Amato’s hard-hitting English-bred Almendares retains the companies of Flavien Prat and figures to be powerful to disclaim amongst a area of seven sophomores going a mile on turf.
A 3-year-old gelding with a terrific stretch kick, Almendares rallied from far again to win going away by three quarters of a size in a one mile turf second situation allowance Dec. 3 at Del Mar—incomes a profession greatest 95 Beyer Pace Determine within the course of.
A tough-charging fifth, overwhelmed one size two begins again at 1 1/8 miles on turf within the G2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita Nov. 4, Almendares completed nicely to be third, overwhelmed one size three begins again within the G2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 3.
An authoritative 2 ¼-length one-mile maiden turf winner in his eighth profession begin Sept. 9 at Del Mar, the Jeff Mullins-trained Dandy Man Shines rallied for an additional 2 ¼-length one-mile turf win within the restricted Let It Experience Stakes on Nov. 10 and thus seeks his third win in a row with Umberto Rispoli on the controls on Tuesday.
6:30 p.m. – Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita
Coach Michael McCarthy’s Clearly Unhinged charges high billing amongst 10 sophomore fillies going seven furlongs. Most not too long ago sixth at 23-1 within the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Dash right here on Nov. 4, Clearly Unhinged, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Into Mischief, was second two begins again within the G3 Chillingworth Stakes Sept. 29, and in the very best race of her profession three begins again, she was second, overwhelmed a head going seven panels within the G1 Check at Saratoga on Aug. 5.
Two-time Eclipse Award profitable coach Brad Cox seems nicely represented by flippantly raced Howl, a daughter of Sensible Joke who ships in from her Kentucky base unbeaten in two begins, her most up-to-date triumph a one size rating going seven furlongs in an ungraded stakes at Laurel Park Nov. 25.
