El Gato Malo to Race in Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park on March 1

West Point Thoroughbreds’ unbeaten El Gato Malo, one of the top 2008 Kentucky Derby contenders, will face 6 rivals in the $200,000 Sham Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, March 1.

The 1 1/8 mile Sham Stakes is an official preparatory race for the 2008 Kentucky Derby. Three-year-olds participating in Saturday’s edition with jockeys and weight:

  1. El Gato Malo ridden by jockey David Flores carries 120 lbs.
  2. Success Fee ridden by jockey Michael Baze, 116 lbs.
  3. Coast Guard ridden by jockey Rafael Bejarano, 116 lbs.
  4. Trevor’s Clever ridden by jockey Tyler Baze, 116 lbs.
  5. Victory Pete ridden by jockey Joe Talamo, 116 lbs.
  6. Colonel John ridden by jockey Garrett Gomez, 118 lbs.
  7. Reflect Times ridden by jockey Mike Smith, 116 lbs.

Trained by Craig Dollase, El Gato Malo holds a race record of 3-0-0. In his most recent start on January 12, El Gato Malo burst out and dominated Santa Anita Park with an irrefutable 6 1/4 length victory in the San Rafael Stakes. Jockey David Flores will be riding El Gato Malo this Saturday.

Victory Pete was 3rd in the California Derby last January 27 at Golden Gate Fields. Eclipse Award winning apprentice jockey Joe Talamo will take the mount.

Japanese-bred Reflect Times, owned by Koji Maeda, is coming off a well-beaten 3rd place finish in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park February 2. Horse trainer John Shirreffs is hoping to make it to the Kentucky Derby for the 4th straight year.

The Sham Stakes is the 7th race scheduled in Santa Anita Park’s March 1 horse racing program. Estimated post time is 3 pm CST.

"El Gato Malo to Race in Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park on March 1" was posted on 27 February 2008 10:19 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Racing Picks & Betting Tips, Stakes Races

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