Glatt hopes to keep Santa Anita hot streak alive

A month into the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, trainer Mark Glatt has one of the hottest stables in Southern California.

Through Thursday, Glatt had won with 11 of 27 starters since Dec. 26, good enough to be tied for first-place in the standings with Phil D’Amato, who had 55 runners in the same span.

“We’ve hit a hot streak,” Glatt said on Friday. “I know it won’t continue, but we hope it will.”

Glatt’s stable could have a big weekend. From Friday through Sunday at Santa Anita, Glatt has nine entrants, including the well-regarded Judge Miller in an allowance race on Saturday, and possibly I’m A Gambler in the $100,000 Clocker’s Corner Stakes on the hillside turf course on Sunday.

:: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports

On Friday morning, Glatt cautioned that I’m A Gambler is not a certain runner in the Clocker’s Corner Stakes. The Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes, a $100,000 race at a mile on turf on Feb. 3, is another option, although there is concern about potential rain in California next weekend.

“With the current weather forecast, it looks ugly,” Glatt said. “Things can change.”

I’m A Gambler, a minor stakes winner in Britain in 2022, is winless in six starts in California, including one-length losses when third in the Wickerr Stakes at a mile at Del Mar last July, and a fourth in the Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main turf oval at Santa Anita in September.

“I think we’ve struggled finding the right distance for him,” Glatt said. “I am kind of anxious to see him go further again. That’s why my original thought was to run in the Thunder Road versus the race this weekend.”

I’m A Gambler could get a favorable trip from off the pace in the Clocker’s Corner Stakes, a factor in Glatt’s decision as to which stakes to target.

“Because of the rain and the unknown next weekend, and the way this race sets up, maybe we’re just as well off running this Sunday,” he said. “The race looks like it sets up well for him.”

Glatt mentioned the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf on March 2 as a late winter goal for I’m A Gambler.

On Saturday, the Glatt-trained Judge Miller will have his debut against winners in an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles. A 4-year-old colt purchased for $550,000 as a yearling, Judge Miller won his second start in a maiden race at seven furlongs on Dec. 26, earning a sharp Beyer Speed Figure of 95.

Saturday’s race will be Judge Miller’s first start around two turns. He is part of a field of nine that includes Flying Drummer, who was third in an allowance race at a mile for trainer Bob Baffert last summer in his most recent start. Flying Drummer has been gelded since that race.

Glatt’s stable had three wins on the Dec. 26 opening day, including a victory by Watsonville in the Grade 2 Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on turf, the colt’s seventh start of 2023.

Watsonville is midway through a two-month break.

“He’d had quite a little campaign and we felt like if he was going to be around for the summer and fall this year, why not now?” Glatt said of the reason for the rest.

Chatalas, a 3-year-old filly who won the Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on dirt, but has been beaten in her last three starts, is also on hiatus with the intent of a return for races later this year. She was beaten a neck when second in the Blue Norther Stakes at a mile on turf for 2-year-old fillies on Dec. 29 in her first start on the surface.

Last Sunday, the Glatt-trained Khinjani won her American debut with a come-from-behind move in an allowance race for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles on turf. Khinjani won two handicaps at 1 1/4 miles and 1 5/16 miles on turf in Britain in 2023.

“It was an eye-catching performance,” Glatt said of Khinjani. “You never know what to expect for sure first time U.S. I don’t see why she won’t develop into a handicap filly around here.”

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.