McKinzie to carry 123 pounds as Big Cap highweight

ARCADIA, Calif. – McKinzie, the winner of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26, will carry top weight of 123 pounds in Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap.

The $600,000 Big Cap, run at 1 1/4 miles, will be McKinzie’s second start this year, preceded by a second to Battle of Midway in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 2. The Santa Anita Handicap will be McKinzie’s first start at 1 1/4 miles since a 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.

Trained by Bob Baffert, McKinzie worked six furlongs in 1:13.80 on Monday.

The Big Cap, the richest of five stakes on Saturday, has an expected field of seven. Gift Box, the winner of the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on Dec. 26, has been assigned 122 pounds. The remaining weights are Dabster, at 118; Prime Attraction, at 116, and Campaign, Noble Commander, and Sonneteer, all at 115.

Last year, Accelerate won the Big Cap by 5 1/2 lengths as the 123-pound highweight. Accelerate later won the Breeders’ Cup Classic and was named the champion older male of 2018 for owners Pete and Kosta Hronis and trainer John Sadler, who will start Gift Box.