Jockey Corey Nakatani Returns From An Injury To Ride In Santa Anita’s Baldwin Stakes

Jockey Corey Nakatani, a winner of seven Breeders’ Cup events, returns Sunday from 6 weeks on the sidelines with a broken right collarbone to ride Sky Cape, a leading contender in Santa Anita Park’s $100,000 Baldwin Stakes (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-olds.

The complete field for the Baldwin Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs over Santa Anita Park‘s downhill turf course, with jockeys and weights in post position order:

  1. Ten Meropa ridden by jockey Tyler Baze carries 115 lbs.
  2. Sea of Pleasure ridden by jockey David Flores, 117 lbs.
  3. D. Double You ridden by jockey Rafael Bejarano, 117 lbs.
  4. Nevada Worrier ridden by jockey Jon Court, 115 lbs.
  5. Sky Cape ridden by jockey Corey Nakatani, 117 lbs.
  6. Doc On the Rock ridden by jockey Michael Baze, 115 lbs.
  7. Standing High ridden by jockey Alonso Quinonez, 115 lbs.
  8. Italian Rules ridden by jockey Joel Rosario, 117 lbs.
  9. Returning ridden by jockey Victor Espinoza, 115 lbs.

Trained and bred by Kristen Mulhall for the partnership of Blue, Taub and Visionary Racing, Sky Cape, a son of Najran, has won 2 of 9 starts while placing in 3 stakes races for earnings of $115,380. Corey Nakatani has been aboard in the chestnut colt’s last four starts. Sky Cape most recently dominated an allowance race in his first outing over Santa Anita’s downhill turf course.

The horse to beat in the 41st running of the Baldwin Stakes would appear to be Sea of Pleasure, a winner of 3 of his 4 races including a minor stakes event at Bay Meadows. Trained by Gary Stute, the Illinois-bred son of Sea of Secrets will be racing on turf for the first time while being ridden for the first time by jockey David Flores. Sea of Pleasure has earned $98,440 for the team of Burnett, Burnett, DeJulio and partners.

Two of the entrants in the field of nine are coming off notable victories in their racing debuts for solid connections: Returning, trained by Richard Mandella for owners and breeders Wertheimer & Frere, and Doc On the Rock, trained by Doug O’Neill for the partnership of Reddam and Schlesinger.

In addition to the Baldwin Stakes, jockey Corey Nakatani has one other scheduled mount earlier on the 9-race program that commences at 12:30 p.m. He has been out of action since being injured in a training accident at Hollywood Park on January 19.

www.santaanita.com

"Jockey Corey Nakatani Returns From An Injury To Ride In Santa Anita’s Baldwin Stakes" was posted on 29 February 2008 11:04 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Jockeys, Racing Picks & Betting Tips, Stakes Races

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