Santa Anita’s San Rafael Stakes on Saturday, January 12

Seven 3-year-old horses were entered in the $150,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Park. It is scheduled as the 5th horse race in Santa Anita’s January 12 program and is one of the preparatory races leading to Kentucky Derby 134.

The one mile San Rafael has produced six Santa Anita Derby winners since 1990 including 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy. It serves as the first major prep locally for Triple Crown hopefuls. This Saturday’s San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita Park lines up as follows:

  1. El Gato Malo ridden by jockey David Flores, 119 lbs.
  2. Talk of a Cat ridden by jockey Garrett Gomez, 116 lbs.
  3. Sierra Sunset ridden by jockey Victor Espinoza, 122 lbs.
  4. Overbid ridden by jockey Michael Baze, 116 lbs.
  5. Indian Sun ridden by jockey Alex Solis, 116 lbs.
  6. Massive Drama ridden by jockey Rafael Bejarano, 119 lbs.
  7. Spinning Sound (IRE) ridden by jockey Tyler Baze, 116 lbs.

Among the horses that will race in the San Rafael is the California Cup Juvenile Stakes winner Sierra Sunset, whose wins for trainer Jeff Bonde include an impressive eight-length victory in the Bay Meadows Juvenile Stakes in September.

Bob Baffert’s Massive Drama, winner of Hollywood Park‘s Hollywood Prevue, recently finished third in the Cashcall Futurity also at Hollywood Park last December. Rafael Bejarano replaces Kent Desormeaux in the saddle.

El Gato Malo recently won in the $75,000 Gold Rush at Golden Gate Fields December 15. The Kentucky-bred gelding is by El Corredor out of One Bad Cat, by Mountain Cat won his six-furlong maiden debut in eye-catching style by 5 1/2 lengths at Hollywood Park November 18 in a time of 1:09.

Todd Pletcher’s impressive maiden race winner Talk of a Cat takes second post position and will be ridden by 2007 Eclipse Award finalist Garrett Gomez.

The San Rafael Stakes is one of the two Kentucky Derby prep races to be run on Saturday, January 12. The other being the $100,000 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds.

"Santa Anita’s San Rafael Stakes on Saturday, January 12" was posted on 9 January 2008 8:43 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Jockeys, Kentucky Derby, Racing Picks & Betting Tips, Stakes Races

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