Santa Anita: Drill going back to one turn in San Pedro
ARCADIA, Calif. – The last time that Drill raced around one turn he won his stakes debut in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity last September.
That was his last win, followed by four losses in major stakes. Drill was second in the Norfolk Stakes, 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, seventh in the Delta Downs Jackpot, and ninth in the Cash Call Futurity in the final three months of 2011.
For his first start of 2012, Drill reverts to a one-turn race, in the $75,000 San Pedro Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs, Sunday’s fourth race at Santa Anita.
“I think he likes one turn,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “We’ll play it by ear.”
The San Pedro drew a field of six, including the stakes winners Got Even and Passing Game. There will be considerable support for Midnight Transfer, the winner of a six-furlong maiden race in his fourth career start here on Dec. 26. In that race, Midnight Transfer closed from third to win by 4 3/4 lengths under jockey Joel Rosario.
[bc_video_id:242427:]For the San Pedro, Midnight Transfer has drawn the rail, which left trainer Carla Gaines disappointed.
“I think he’s a two-turn horse,” Gaines said. “I’m not thrilled with the post position. I want to develop him, let him sit off horses and make a run. I don’t want him to go gate to wire from the one hole on a sloppy track. That won’t teach him anything.”
There is a chance for wet conditions at Santa Anita on Sunday, with rain expected on Saturday.
Got Even and Passing Game finished first and third in the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes over seven furlongs on Dec. 26. For Passing Game, it was his first loss preceded by a win in a maiden race in May and the Golden Nugget Stakes at Golden Gate Fields in November.
San Pedro S., Post Time: 2:03 ET Sunday
Purse: $75,000; 6 1/2 furlongs (T)
Post |
Horse |
Trainer |
Jockey |
ML Odds |
|
|
Midnight Transfer |
C. Gaines |
J. Rosario |
|
|
|
Drill |
B. Baffert |
M. Garcia |
|
|
|
Coach Sickie |
J. Mullins |
A. Quinonez |
|
|
|
Let's Get Crackin |
C. Dollase |
V. Espinoza |
|
|
|
Passing Game |
G. Sherlock |
K. Krigger |
|
|
|
Got Even |
P. Miller |
C. Nakatani |
|
