ARCADIA, Calif. - When the 14 jockeys riding in Saturday's $1 million Santa Anita Handicap greet their mounts in the walking ring, many will think they are about to climb aboard the winner.
In a race that lacks a clear favorite or a nationally prominent horse, it is hard to argue with their optimism.
The richest race run at Santa Anita, the Big Cap has attracted a well-matched field that will provide bettors with a difficult puzzle to solve.
Few of the starters can be thrown out at a glance.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Between them, Val Royal and Irish Prize won two of the nation's biggest prizes for turf milers in 2001.
On March 23, the connections of the two horses are hoping to conquer the rest of the world in the $2 million Dubai Duty Free in the Middle East. And on Saturday, they are using the $300,000 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita as a prep for that race.
But the Grade 2 Kilroe is more than just a stepping-stone to Dubai. The Kilroe has drawn an outstanding field of 12, several of whom are capable of upsetting the big two if they falter.
ARCADIA, Calif. - One of the best races on Saturday's card at Santa Anita is not a major stakes. Three hours before the Santa Anita Handicap, Crafty C.T. and D'wildcat, both stakes winners in 2001, face off in a $54,000 allowance race/optional claimer over six furlongs.
Both colts are considered candidates for important sprint races this year, but their trainers were hoping to launch their 2002 campaigns in easier spots.
"It's the toughest allowance race in America," said Bob Hess Jr., who trains D'wildcat.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - More than 24,000 people were at Gulfstream Park last Sunday, but the vast majority were not here because of the solid field of 3-year-old fillies assembled in the Davona Dale Stakes.
No, they were here to see a concert by Cyndi Lauper. And many of the same people who otherwise have very little interest in horse racing will be here Saturday to see Creedence Clearwater Revisited, or Gato Barbieri and Chuck Mangione on Sunday.
HALLADNALE BEACH, Fla. - What Saturday's $200,000 Rampart Handicap lacks in quantity it certainly makes up for in quality. Grade 1 Stakes winner Forest Secrets and win machine Summer Colony headline a field of six older fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park.
Forest Secrets won the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes in only the third start of her career last spring at Belmont Park. She closed out her 3-year-old campaign defeating Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Unbridled Elaine in Churchill Downs's Falls City Handicap.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - The magical run of Arromanches is over. The mystifying run of Arthur Wendel continues.
Arromanches, the near-white 9-year-old horse who had won 10 consecutive races, finished fifth, beaten 12 3/4 lengths by Esteemed Friend in a $65,000 claiming race Thursday at Aqueduct. He was making his first start for trainer Arthur Wendel, who claimed Arromanches for $50,000 in his last start. The loss was the 98th straight for Wendel, dating back to May 5, 2000.
ALBANY, Calif. - Northern California's first main-track route stakes for older fillies and mares since last July, Saturday's $55,000-added Sacramento Handicap at Golden Gate Fields wound up with a full field of 12.
Highweights in the field at 117 pounds are stakes-winning Lindsay Jean and De Goddaughter, who won her last race. The vastly improved Miss Terasita and stakes-winning Constantly Classy are the lightweights at 112.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Stephen Margolis-trained entry of Request for Parole and Thunder on Land, first and third in the WEBN Frog Stakes at Turfway Park four weeks ago, will likely be favored in Turfway's next test for 3-year-olds, Saturday's $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial at 1 1/16 miles.
The Battaglia is the final local prep for the richest event of the meet, the $500,000 Lane's End Spiral Stakes on March 23.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Rylstone, who was expected to be a top contender in Saturday's $75,000 Southwest at Oaklawn Park, will miss the race after being diagnosed with a bone chip in his left knee following his final workout for the race last Saturday.
He is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the chip Tuesday, and is expected to be sidelined six to eight weeks, said trainer Lynn Whiting.
