Santa Anita: Secret Circle pointing to Sham

Secret Circle, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint in November, worked six furlongs in 1:10.80 on Wednesday and is likely to make his 3-year-old debut in the $100,000 Sham Stakes over a mile on Jan. 7.

“We can find out if he likes the mile,” trainer Bob Baffert said.

Secret Circle’s workout on Wednesday was the fastest of 26 recorded works at the distance. By Eddington, Secret Circle is unbeaten in three starts, all sprints, for owners Mike Pegram, Paul Weitman and Karl Watson.

Baffert said that Liaison, the winner of the CashCall Futurity on Dec. 17, is being pointed for the $200,000 Robert Lewis Stakes over 1 1-16 miles on Feb. 4. The race is also expected to draw Rousing Sermon, the runner-up in the CashCall.

The Baffert-trained 3-year-old Prayer for Relief worked six furlongs in 1:12.40 on Wednesday, and can win the fourth stakes of his career in the $150,000 San Fernando Stakes for 4-year-olds over 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 14.

Prayer for Relief won three stakes earlier this year, including the Grade 2 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs. He was ninth in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25.

Santa Ysabel next for Killer Graces

Killer Graces, the winner of the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes on Dec. 10, is being pointed for the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 28, according to Dan Ward, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s assistant.

Both Baffert and Hollendorfer have promising 2-year-olds starting in divisions of one-mile maiden races on Friday.

In the second race, Baffert starts Fed Biz, a $950,000 yearling purchase who was fourth in a maiden race over six furlongs at Hollywood Park on Nov. 27.

In the fourth race, Baffert starts Castaway, a $425,000 yearling purchase who is winless in four sprints. He must beat the Hollendorfer-trained Candy’s Jewel, as well as Cloud Hopper, trained by Art Sherman. They were both second in maiden races in their last starts.