Saudi Chroma possible Landaluce Stakes starter

ARCADIA, Calif. – Saudi Chroma, the most expensive filly at the Barretts March sale of select 2-year-olds in training, will have her stakes debut in early July after an impressive win in her first start at Santa Anita on Thursday.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Saudi Chroma ($7.80) led throughout a maiden race at 4 1/2 furlongs, pulling clear in the final furlong to win by 3 1/4 lengths over Show It N Moe It. Saudi Chroma was timed in 52.08 seconds.

By Lucky Pulpit, Saudi Chroma is a California-bred owned by Amr Zedan who was purchased for $360,000 in March. Trainer Doug O’Neill said the $100,000 Landaluce Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs for fillies July 2 is a goal. Later this summer, races against open company are more likely to be on Saudi Chroma’s schedule than California-bred races, O’Neill said.

“When you pay what we did for her, you have to think open,” O’Neill said.

Prat suspended three days

Flavien Prat, the leading rider in Southern California this year, has been given a three-day suspension for causing interference in the Fran’s Valentine Stakes at Santa Anita last Sunday.

Prat rode first-place finisher Pacific Heat, who was demoted to sixth for forcing three runners to alter course in the stretch. The suspension covers June 4, 8, and 9.

Through Thursday, Prat, 24, led all riders at the meet with 23 wins, three more than Joe Talamo and Rafael Bejarano.

Pacific Heat could start in the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes at a mile on turf for fillies and mares July 1, trainer Peter Eurton said. The race is also under consideration for Moonless Sky, the promoted winner of the Fran’s Valentine, trainer Eddie Truman said.

CHRB approves testing rule change

Horses who test positive for anabolic steroids or other banned substances in out-of-competition testing will be ineligible to start in Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar in November.

At its monthly meeting Thursday, the California Horse Racing Board approved the rule change at the request of Breeders’ Cup officials. Horses will be disqualified from participating if they test positive within six months of the Breeders’ Cup races on Nov. 3-4.

Last year, the sprinter Masochistic tested positive for an anabolic steroid in an out-of-competition test before the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita. Masochistic was administered the steroid stanozolol last August to add weight, with the expectation that the medication would not be in the horse’s system by the BC Sprint on Nov. 5.

Despite testing positive in an out-of-competition test, Masochistic was allowed to enter and showed a presence of the medication after finishing second.

Breeders’ Cup president Craig Fravel said the organization is seeking to avoid a repeat scenario this year.

“We felt it was imperative to get [the rules] in place well in advance of the championships to give horsemen notice that it will be in effect,” Fravel said. “We’re trying to move the clock forward and be proactive.”

Masochistic was later disqualified from the purse. Trainer Ron Ellis faces a possible sanction for the positive. A hearing in the case was conducted before Santa Anita stewards this week.