Unrivaled Time is the only graded stakes winner in Saturday’s $125,000 Snow Chief Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at Santa Anita. It’s a fine status, but no guarantee he will beat nine rivals in a turf race at 1 1/8 miles, the longest distance of his brief career. Unrivaled Time, trained by Leonard Powell, won twice at a mile on turf last fall, including the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes at Del Mar in November. This year, Unrivaled Time has been beaten in two starts against open company at a mile on turf – a third in the Eddie Logan Stakes on Jan. 8 and a sixth-place finish in a field of nine in the Pasadena Stakes on Feb. 22. “He did misfire a little bit in the Pasadena,” Powell said. “He got sick after that race and we backed off.” The timing of the Snow Chief Stakes allows Unrivaled Time a chance for a second stakes win in advance of the Del Mar summer meeting that begins on July 17. “It’s a good spot,” Powell said of the Snow Chief. “He should be tough in there.” For the Snow Chief Stakes, Unrivaled Time will be fitted with blinkers for the first time. The colt has worked with the equipment in recent weeks. “I thought he’d get a bit of confidence [with blinkers,]” Powell said. “In his last race, he wasn’t the bravest. It seems to be working in the morning.” :: Play Santa Anita racing with confidence. Get DRF Past Performances, Clocker Reports, and more. Unrivaled Time, owned by Innergy Racing Corp. and Sonny Pais, drew the inside post in the Snow Chief, one of five stakes for statebreds on Saturday’s program. Aside from Unrivaled Time, the focus in the Snow Chief Stakes will be on the unbeaten colt He’s a Knockout, who has won two turf sprints. He won his debut at Del Mar last August and an allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs in his first start at 3 against statebreds at Santa Anita on April 19. “He’s met expectations so far,” trainer Carla Gaines said. He’s a Knockout is quick and almost certain to set the pace in the Snow Chief. It is possible He’s a Knockout will be too tough to catch. Jockey Juan Hernandez has the task of rationing the colt’s speed. Other prominent runners are Smoovin Saturday, who was second in the Mind That Bird Derby on dirt at 1 1/8 miles at Sunland Park on April 5; Third Beer, the winner of an allowance race for statebred milers on turf Feb. 21; and Ventry Strand, who was second by a nose in an allowance race for statebred milers on turf April 5. The Snow Chief Stakes is Ventry Strand’s first start in a two-turn stakes. “I like that he’s been running along,” trainer John Sadler said. “We like him at a mile and an eighth.” Melair Stakes She hates turf, adores racing on dirt and can sprint with the best California-breds of her age group. On Saturday, Mohaven will be tried in a different sort of race, her first start at 1 1/16 miles in the $125,000 Melair Stakes for 3-year-old statebred fillies. Judging from her five-length win on the front end in the Evening Jewel Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on April 4, the move to a longer trip may be within reach for Mohaven. “She has plenty of speed,” Sadler said. “She’s a not a run-off. “The question is how she handles the trip.” Mohaven, owned by Legacy Ranch, has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $259,750, by far the most among the seven entrants in the Melair. The lone runner in the Melair with solid stakes form around two turns is Cecilia Street, who was second in the Soviet Problem Stakes for statebred fillies at a mile at Los Alamitos in December and third in the California Cup Oaks at a mile on turf for statebreds in January. Cecilia Street finished last of eight after a slow start in the Evening Jewel, but rebounded to finish second by three lengths behind the undefeated Run With Liberty in an allowance race at a mile on turf April 24. Run With Liberty, who has started twice on turf, runs from slightly off the pace, which gives her a chance for a good trip in pursuit of Mohaven. Kyle Frey has the mount. A switch in surfaces is a concern, however. “Kyle seems to think she’ll be fine on dirt,” trainer Jeff Mullins said. “But she’s never had dirt in her face.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.