Albergatti heads deep field of maidens at Santa Anita

A strong group of maiden 3-year-olds are in Saturday’s third race at Santa Anita, most notably Albergatti, a highly regarded Steve Asmussen-trained colt who finished second in a fast maiden race on Jan. 16 in which the victorious Da Ruler sped 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.42. That was Albergatti’s first start. He stretches out to seven furlongs on Saturday.

“He’s a nice horse with a ton of talent. He just needs a little experience,” Asmussen, in town for a few days, said on Thursday morning. “I’d rather this race had been a mile, but there were no two-turn races in the book. He’s training super.”

David Hofmans has high hopes for the debuting My Dividend, a son of Bernardini who could do better the farther he goes.

“He’s a half-brother to Don’t Get Mad,” Hofmans said. “He’s nice. He’s definitely a true route horse. He can’t sprint. Going seven-eighths with Mike Smith, look out, he’ll be running late. I don’t think he can win. But he’s a nice horse.”