Giant Expectations pointing for Santa Anita Handicap

ARCADIA, Calif. – Giant Expectations is a probable starter for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 10, while Hayabusa One is doubtful, and Dalmore is bound for Oaklawn Park, their trainers said on Wednesday.

Giant Expectations won the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/16 miles here on Dec. 26, and was ninth as a longshot in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 27.

Trainer Peter Eurton said on Wednesday that Giant Expectations is more likely to start in the $600,000 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles than the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes, a $400,000 race at seven furlongs the same day.

“I’m leaning toward the route,” he said. “It comes down to who is running in it.”

The Big Cap will be the first start at 1 1/4 miles for Giant Expectations. Eurton believes the 5-year-old horse can handle the distance “if he paces himself.”

“I think he has a really nice cruising speed,” Eurton said. “In Florida, he got away from that. In the San Antonio, I think he could have gone around again.”

In the Big Cap, Giant Expectations will be ridden by Corey Nakatani, Eurton said. Nakatani has never ridden Giant Expectations, who has won 4 of 14 starts.

The Big Cap is not expected to draw West Coast, the leading older horse in California. West Coast, the champion 3-year-old male of 2017 and the runner-up in the Pegasus, is expected to have his next start in the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 31.

The Big Cap candidates include Accelerate, Fear the Cowboy, Hoppertunity, Mubtaahij, Pavel, Prime Attraction, and Top of the Game.

Hayabusa One, second in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf on Feb. 3, will work this weekend at Del Mar for a likely start in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf on March 24.

“We’re either in the Big Cap, depending on how he works this weekend, or the San Luis Rey,” trainer Peter Miller said. “He has to wow me to go in the Big Cap.”

Dalmore was recently bought by Ron Paolucci and will start in the $300,000 Essex Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park on March 17, trainer Bob Hess Jr. said in a text message.