Santa Anita: Di Giorgio gets more ground in one-mile turf feature

ARCADIA, Calif. – A third-place finish by Di Giorgio in the Clocker’s Corner Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Jan. 26 left Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally impressed. McAnally had modest hopes for Di Giorgio, an Argentine Group 1 winner, in his American debut over about 6 1/2 furlongs.

“I think he wants to run longer,” McAnally said. “He’s a big, strong horse.”

Di Giorgio won group stakes in Argentina in 2012 and 2013 at distances ranging from a 7 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/4 miles. He will race around two turns for the first time in the United States in Friday’s fifth race at Santa Anita, a third-level optional $80,000 claimer over a mile on turf.

The race could lead to another stakes appearance for Di Giorgio in coming months.

Owned by Jose Cerillo, who races as Pozo de Luna Inc., Di Giorgio was an 18-1 outsider in the Clocker’s Corner. He was fifth in a field of nine with a furlong remaining and rallied to finish 1 3/4 lengths behind Lakerville. McAnally said Di Giorgio emerged from the race with a minor eye wound.

“He got whacked pretty good on the eye,” McAnally said. “He ran very good last time.”

Gary Stevens will ride Di Giorgio for the first time Friday, replacing Tyler Baze. In Friday’s race, Baze rides Mr T Bird, winner of a second-level optional $62,500 claimer on turf at Hollywood Park on Dec. 13.

The race drew nine entrants, but will have a safety limit of eight starters since temporary rails on the turf course will be set 30 feet out from the permanent position, resulting in a narrower course.

Eight of the nine runners have stakes experience.

Drill won the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity in 2011, but is winless in his last 12 starts. Outside Nashville, winner of two stakes in Northern California, finished in a dead heat for third in the Grade 2 Sir Beaufort Stakes on Dec. 26, but was disqualified and placed fourth for causing interference.

My Best Brother is winless in six starts since a win in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby in September 2012. He was bred and co-owned by William Currin, who died Tuesday after a lengthy illness. The family plans to continue the racing stable.

Horizontalyspeakin, eighth in the Sir Beaufort in his stakes debut, and Peace and Justice, who has yet to run in a stakes, will ensure a quick pace.