BC Saturday card kicks off early with pair of juvenile stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. – For horseplayers on the other side of the continent, the Saturday card at Santa Anita starts at a normal time.
But with the first race leaving the gate at 10:15 a.m. Pacific here on the West Coast, well, it might be a tad early for some to go sorting through their Daily Racing Form, running to place a bet, popping open a beer, and screaming for their horses down the homestretch.
Still, it’s Breeders’ Cup Saturday, so “Get tied on, jock,” as they say.
The card begins with the $100,000 Juvenile Turf Sprint, a ridiculously wide-open race that figures to set a frantic tone for an incredible afternoon. An oversubscribed field of 2-year-olds will go 6 1/2 furlongs down the turf-course hill in what shapes up as a fascinating handicapping exercise.
The second of 12 Saturday races, the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile at seven furlongs, doesn’t appear nearly as difficult, as a trio of logical favorites – Acceptance, Wake Up Nick, and Mischief Clem – have combined for a perfect 8-for-8 record among a field of eight California-bred 2-year-olds.
The Golden State Juvenile (post, 10:50 Pacific) was run as a two-turn mile last year. The sixth-place finisher after an awful start was a budding star named California Chrome, who is back Saturday at Santa Anita for the 12th and final race, the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
JUVENILE TURF SPRINT (RACE 1)
KEY CONTENDERS
Cool Comfort (Last 3 Beyers: 64-83-61)
◗ Julien Leparoux has a couple of tricky assignments with this rail-drawn filly facing males: overcome that tough post while also getting her to rate kindly. If he can manage both of those, trainer Wesley Ward (who also runs the filly Lamontagne in here) could win this race with a filly for the second straight year, after Richies Party Girl in 2013.
Crown the Kitten (Last 3 Beyers: 68-64-59)
◗ Another Ward trainee, this one a Ramsey Farm homebred gelding, already has developed a closing kick that could prove very useful in a field seemingly full of early speed.
Guilty (No Beyers)
◗ One of a handful of European unknowns in the lineup, he gets first-time Lasix and figures to take his share of tote action when well drawn toward the outside while making his stateside debut for top Southern California connections.
Faithful Creek (No Beyers)
◗ Irish-bred colt adds blinkers and Lasix while getting top European jockey Kieren Fallon and a favorable post when making his U.S. debut as a potential late-running threat.
GOLDEN STATE JUVENILE (RACE 2)
KEY CONTENDERS
Acceptance (Last Beyer: 76)
◗ This dark bay colt really made ’em stand up and take notice when he blew doors in his first and only race here Oct. 5, earning a co-field-high Beyer Speed Figure. He must overcome the tricky rail slot in a lineup with quite a bit of early speed, but superior talent can do that, if indeed that’s the case here.
Wake Up Nick (Last 3 Beyers: 71-69-71)
◗ Undefeated in five career starts, this Reddam Racing color-bearer faces his toughest task so far, given the introduction of a few promising newcomers to these statebred ranks. Aside from the relatively low Beyers, his race record is unassailable, especially the way he’s been willing to rate.
Mischief Clem (Last 2 Beyers: 67-68)
◗ The ever-productive trainer-jockey team of Bob Hess Jr. and Kent Desormeaux steps up with a highly regarded colt whose proven surge makes him viable in his stakes debut, especially if a quick pace unfolds ahead.