Sharp Samurai, Fly to Mars expected in City of Hope field

ARCADIA, Calif. – The field for the Grade 2, $200,000 City of Hope Mile is expected to include Sharp Samurai and Fly to Mars, who were second and third in the Del Mar Mile. Fly to Mars finished second, but was disqualified and placed third for causing interference in the stretch.

The City of Hope Mile is one of six Breeders’ Cup prep races at Santa Anita from Oct. 6-8.

Roy H, the 2017 champion sprinter, and Ransom the Moon, who won the Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar on July 28, are scheduled to start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs next Saturday. Roy H, who was second in this year’s Bing Crosby Stakes, won the 2017 Santa Anita Sprint Championship.

The winner of the Santa Anita Sprint Championship receives a fees-paid berth to the BC Sprint on Nov. 3. Next Saturday’s program includes the $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes for 2-year-olds at five furlongs on turf. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint on Nov. 2.

Next Sunday’s program is led by the Grade 3 L.A. Woman Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs, a prep for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 3. The L.A. Woman Stakes will include the multiple stakes winner Skye Diamonds, who is scheduled to be sold at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, trainer Bill Spawr said.

The Columbus Day program on Monday, Oct. 8, has two $100,000 turf races for 2-year-olds at a mile – the Zuma Beach Stakes and the Surfer Girl Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Those races are preps for the BC Juvenile Turf and Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 2.

– additional reporting by Brad Free