Drysdale looking forward to late-season turf stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – The final two months of the year may provide the highlights of 2018 for trainer Neil Drysdale. Drysdale has several runners starting in major turf stakes next weekend and perhaps in December.

On Nov. 4, the final day of Santa Anita’s autumn meeting, La Sardane and Madame Stripes are candidates for the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes, a $200,000 race for fillies and mares at a mile on turf. The Goldikova is a prep for the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Dec. 2. The $300,000 Matriarch Stakes is the final Grade 1 race of the year for older fillies and mares on turf.

Also on Nov. 4, Drysdale plans to start Majestic Eagle in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf. The $200,000 Twilight Derby is expected to include River Boyne, a three-time stakes winner earlier this year for trainer Jeff Mullins.

The Del Mar autumn meeting begins a four-week run on Nov. 9. Drysdale has plans to start Vexatious there in the Grade 3 Red Carpet Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 3/8 miles on turf on Nov. 22.

Vexatious was promoted from second to first in the Grade 3 Dowager Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 21 after race winner Beach Flower was demoted for causing interference in the final furlong. Beach Flower finished a neck in front of Vexatious, who won the CTT and TOC Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Del Mar in August.

Drysdale said on Friday that he has long-range plans to run Californiagoldrush in the Grade 1 American Oaks in the final week of December at Santa Anita. Californiagoldrush won the Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes at Belmont Park on Sept. 15.

Early posts for closing weekend

Santa Anita will have a three-day racing weekend from Friday through Nov. 4 to close the autumn meeting. First post times will be different each day.

Friday’s program begins at noon Pacific on a day when the track will simulcast the first day of the Breeders’ Cup races from Churchill Downs. Saturday’s program begins at 10:30 a.m. and will be run in conjunction with the second day of Breeders’ Cup races.

Sunday’s card begins at 11 a.m. to accommodate what is expected to be a lengthy program and adjust for the end of daylight saving time.