Wright considering several Santa Anita Stakes for Baja Sur

Baja Sur, a four-time stakes winner at Emerald Downs and Golden Gate Fields, will have his Southern California stakes debut at Santa Anita in coming weeks.

Trainer Blaine Wright said over the weekend he is considering three stakes – the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on Dec. 26, the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile for 3-year-olds on turf on Dec. 26, or the $150,000 California Cup Sprint for statebreds at six furlongs on Jan. 18.

Wright said he plans to review the nominations this week before finalizing a decision. Entries for the Dec. 26 program at Santa Anita will be taken on Saturday.

Baja Sur, who worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday, won the minor Oakland Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths there on Nov. 16. Owned by John and Janene Maryanski and Gerald Schneider, Baja Sur won his first four starts at Emerald Downs before finishing second in the Harris Farms Stakes for statebreds at six furlongs at The Big Fresno Fair on Oct. 5.

The Malibu and Mathis Brothers Mile are two of five stakes scheduled for the Dec. 26 opening day of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.