Santa Anita: Indianapolis set for one more sprint in San Pedro

ARCADIA, Calif. – With a maiden win in his debut in November, Indianapolis has the fewest career starts of the five runners in Monday’s $75,000 San Pedro Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters at Santa Anita.

He has a reputation much loftier than his experience.

Indianapolis will be a strong favorite in the San Pedro, run over six furlongs on dirt. For trainer Bob Baffert, the San Pedro is a springboard to longer, and more important, stakes in coming weeks.

“The second race is always important,” Baffert said. “After this, we can stretch him out.”

Indianapolis races for Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith – owners frequently associated with the finest horses in Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien’s stable.

By Medaglia d’ Oro, Indianapolis was purchased for $490,000 at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale. In his debut, Indianapolis closed from seventh in a field of nine to win a six-furlong race by a length.

“He ran very well and he ran hard,” Baffert said. “I gave him time, and he’s doing great.”

Indianapolis has had fast workouts in recent weeks, reflective of a Baffert-trained runner. Indianapolis worked four furlongs in 46.80 seconds Jan. 9, the fastest of 25 works at the distance. Last Wednesday, Indianapolis worked six furlongs in 1:12.60.

Baffert said he would have preferred to start Indianapolis in an allowance race for his second start.

“There was no allowance race,” he said. “I didn’t want to run him a mile” this time.

Martin Garcia will ride Indianapolis, who drew post 2. The other runners are a diverse group, comprised of Turf Paradise stakes winner Rockin Home, undefeated Elmonte Cristo, and maiden race winners Beach Hut and Papa Turf.

Rockin Home won 3 of 7 starts and earned $49,384 at Turf Paradise last year for trainer David Van Winkle. Rockin Home won the Arizona Breeders’ Futurity over six furlongs in November, but was fifth as the 6-5 favorite in the Lost in the Fog Juvenile there Dec. 28.

Rockin Home has been trained by Kory Owens in recent weeks. Owens said Rockin Home had a three-furlong workout in 36 seconds earlier this month that was not recorded by clockers.

“When they come from Arizona, they need to work on this surface to get used to it,” he said.

Elmonte Cristo won his first two starts over 5 1/2 furlongs at Golden Gate Fields – a $20,000 maiden claiming race Dec. 12 and a starter allowance Jan. 10.

Beach Hut and Papa Turf were beaten in stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park last fall.

Beach Hut, trained by Baffert, was a troubled seventh behind Tamarando in the Real Quiet Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 23. Beach Hut returned to finish last of five in an optional claimer over six furlongs here Dec. 27. A colt by First Defence, Beach Hut races without blinkers for the first time Monday.

Papa Turf was fourth behind Shared Belief in the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue Stakes over seven furlongs Nov. 10 and third in the same race as Beach Hut on Dec. 27.