It looks like we will be wrapping up the year with a few interesting stakes races, although not as interesting as we would have hoped:
All of these races will be on Sunday 12/26/2021.
At Santa Anita:
The Malibu Stakes was being looked forward to as a potential draw of some big names, but it came up short in name but not in talent:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...9/summary.html
[Oneill URL above, Sunday December 26, 2021, Santa Anita Park - Race 10, PPs]
This 7f race was expected to draw the likes of Triple Crown big name
Hot Rod Charlie, but instead it will give us a battle of late developing star
Dr. Shivel vs. the big buzz
Flightline.
Last we saw Dr. Shivel,, he was losing the BC Sprint to an out of the clouds performance by
Aloha West in the BC Sprint.
Flightline, not quite as experienced, will be making only his 3rd start; but in his last start he won by 12 and was awarded a 114 Beyer!!!
Jackie's Warrior never had a 114 Beyer!!!
That is other worldly. What are we going to see in this race? Worth the price of admission.
OK, so where is
Hot Rod Charlie anyway?
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...9/summary.html
[Oneill URL above, Sunday December 26, 2021, Santa Anita Park - Race 6, PPs]
Hot Rod Charlie will be appearing earlier on the card, in the San Antonio Stakes, against older horses, at 1 1/16 miles.
He is ducking the sprinters for $100k less, but for an easier field. How about that? Free Money I think!!
There is a really interesting maiden race on the card in the 4th race:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...99/summary.htm
[Baffert URL above, Sunday December 26, 2021, Santa Anita Park - Race 4, PPs]
A couple of expensive Baffert three (yes 3) year olds, who will be turning 4 next week, one of them at least will still be a maiden (assuming no dead heat).
Hopkins was a $900k yearling, showing 4 bullet workouts, with Juan Hernandez up.
Shaaz is only a $1.1M yearling son of Uncle Mo, showing only 3 bullet workouts, with John Velasquez up; evidently JV will be based this winter out of Santa Anita.
Which of these two johnny come latelies will get it done for BB? They both looked primed, although Shaaz has the better jockey/John and longer workouts.
We turn to the Fair Grounds to see some 2YO news, the lead in to the KYD:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...9/summary.html
[BCox URL above, Sunday December 26, 2021, Fair Grounds - Race 11, PPs]
This is the Gun Runner Stakes. Some lightly raced, but promising 2YOs, ready to turn 3.
Tejano Twist and
Rocket Dawg look like they have the best shot at moving forward on the Bayou trail to the KYD.
For the 2YO fillies, is the Untapable:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...7/summary.html
[Malibu Moon URL above, Sunday December 26, 2021, Fair Grounds - Race 10, PPs]
California Angel closed nicely in the BC2YO filly Turf; let's see how she does on the dirt.
Larry
DevilHorse