Saturday’s $200,000 City of Hope Mile on turf at Santa Anita will have a large field but will not include three graded stakes winners in the last year on this circuit – Obviously, Silentio, and Tom’s Tribute. They are being held out for the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 1.
The candidates for the City of Hope Mile include the 2014 stakes winners Avanzare, Grand Tito, Pepper Crown, Soi Phet, and Trend; as well as Big Bane Theory, Rock Me Baby, Schoolofhardrocks, and Starspangled Heat, who have placed in stakes this year.