Santa Anita notes: Argentine import Di Giorgio to ease into U.S. racing

The American debut of Argentine Group 1 winner Di Giorgio in Sunday’s $75,000 Clockers’ Corner Stakes is unlikely to result in a win.

Trainer Ron McAnally said on Friday that Di Giorgio will need a start to be at his best in this country. The Clockers’ Corner Stakes is run at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.

“He’s going to need a race,” McAnally said. “It’s a start for him. He’s fit enough to go 6 1/2 furlongs.”

Owned by Jose Cerillo, who races as Pozo de Luna Inc., Di Giorgio has won 4 of 10 starts and earned $246,662. He won the Group 1 Republica Argentina at 1 1/4 miles on dirt last May in his final start in that country. Earlier in his career, Di Giorgio raced against Indy Point, who was third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf here in November. Di Giorgio beat Indy Point in a Group 3 race in June 2012, and finished behind Indy Point in two group stakes later that year.

Di Giorgio won sprinting, in a six-furlong race, on March 2012. Di Giorgio is by Star Dabbler, a son of Saint Ballado.

“He needs to run longer even though he’s won sprinting,” McAnally said.