ARCADIA, Calif. -- When Bright Thought ran 1 1/2 miles on turf in 2:22.72 when winning the San Luis Rey Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, he set a world record, according to the American Racing Manual, which listed the 2:22.80 time set over this course by Hawkster in 1989 as the previous mark.
Bright Thought was awarded a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 104.
The first three furlongs of a 1 1/2-mile race at Santa Anita is run downhill.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Joyful Victory, who earned the first Grade 1 win of her career in the Santa Margarita Stakes on Saturday, emerged from the race in good condition, Corey York, the assistant to trainer Larry Jones, said Sunday morning at Santa Anita.
“All’s well. She ate her dinner last night, ate all of her breakfast this morning,” York said. “She was a little tired, but I guess she’s supposed to be.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – In his first work since his breathtaking victory in the Santa Anita Handicap earlier this month, Game On Dude cruised through a half-mile in 49.20 seconds on Sunday morning at Santa Anita.
Martin Garcia was aboard for the work, and he was standing tall in the saddle as Game On Dude effortlessly cruised through the lane.
“I needed to work him. He was getting pretty anxious,” said his trainer, Bob Baffert.
Game On Dude is being pointed to the Grade 2, $1.5 million Charles Town Classic on April 20, Baffert said.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Den’s Legacy, who finished third in the Rebel Stakes on Saturday, could return to Oaklawn Park next month for the Arkansas Derby, while Super Ninety Nine, who finished fifth as the 6-5 favorite, likely will head to the Santa Anita Derby, their trainer Bob Baffert, said Monday morning at Santa Anita.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
Legal Mind rallied up the rail to win the $50,000 Spring, the final stakes of the Sam Houston Race Park meet, by 2 1/2 lengths over Satin Gold. It was another half-length back in third to favorite Bilirrubina. Sam Houston closes its season Monday.
Legal Mind ($18.40) stalked the pace in fourth in the one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies and went on to cover the distance in 1:39.76. Gerardo Mora rode the winner for Tom Durant and trainer Jack Bruner.
“She's been training really well and my crew has been touting her strongly,” said Bruner.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Will Take Charge and Oxbow were separated by inches Saturday in the Grade 2, $600,000 Rebel at Oaklawn, but the horses are now expected to go in different directions for their final Kentucky Derby preps. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said on Sunday that Will Take Charge is being considered for the Blue Grass, while Oxbow could go in the Arkansas Derby.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
ARCADIA, Calif. – Bright Thought hasn’t hit his ceiling yet, and that’s a scary thought because he turned in a freakish performance in the Grade 2, $150,750 San Luis Rey Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, powering to a course-record win by 3 1/4 lengths in the 1 1/2-mile grass race.
Bright Thought ($7.40) was on or near the lead throughout under Victor Espinoza, and though this was his first time at the distance, he kept on motoring and won comfortably in 2:22.72, 0.08 seconds faster than the previous record held by Hawkster since Oct. 14, 1989.
ARCADIA, Calif. – It took 17 races and some frustrating near-misses over the course of a couple years, but the ambitious, cross-country schedule mapped out for Joyful Victory by trainer Larry Jones and owner Rick Porter finally earned a Grade 1 dividend on Saturday when Joyful Victory crushed four rivals in the $294,250 Santa Margarita Stakes, the championship race of the Santa Anita meet for older fillies and mares.
