Santa Anita

Express Train to follow up Big Cap score in the Californian

Steve Andersen|Mar 25, 2022

Express Train (left) wins the 2022 Santa Anita Handicap at Santa Anita Park

Emily Shields Express Train (left) outbattles Warrant to win the Santa Anita Handicap by a head. He is 3 for 3 since being forced to miss the Breeders' Cup.

Express Train, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap and two other graded stakes at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, is expected to have his next start in the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on April 30.

Friday, Express Train worked five furlongs in 1:02.60, his second workout since a win in the Big Cap at 1 1/4 miles on March 5.

“Today was just about him stretching a little bit and using his stride,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “I wasn’t looking for anything more than range of motion.”

Owned by Lee and Susan Searing, Express Train has been in the best form of his career in recent months.

The $200,000 Californian Stakes is a prep for the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on May 30.

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