This Saturday at Santa Anita Park promises an exciting 10-race lineup, highlighted by two graded stakes races featuring competition on the track’s distinctive hillside turf course at approximately 6 ½ furlongs. The action begins with the Grade 2, $200,000 Eddie D Stakes in the fifth race, where nine seasoned horses, led by Sorrento Sky, will compete. Later, the ninth race will showcase ten 3-year-old fillies in the Grade 3, $100,000 John C. Harris Stakes as they navigate the hill.
Trainer Phil D’Amato’s Sorrento Sky aims to continue his recent success following a victory in the G2 Green Flash Handicap at Santa Anita last month. The 5-year-old Irish gelding by Prince of Lir impressed with a late rally to win by a length at 7-1 odds. Last year, Sorrento Sky finished third in the Eddie D. Owned by CYBT, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig, and others, he holds a career record of 21 starts with 4 wins, 4 seconds, and 6 thirds, earning $422,918.
One of Sorrento Sky’s main challengers is Virat, trained by Dan Blacker for the Sareem Family Trust. Virat, who set the pace in the Green Flash before finishing third behind Sorrento Sky, will be piloted by new jockey Paco Lopez in this race. The Eddie D Stakes post time is about 3 p.m. PT, with the field and jockeys as follows: Sumter (Mike Smith, 124), Later Than Planned (Hector Berrios, 118), Freedom’s Not Free (Juan Hernandez, 124), Amorita (Kazushi Kimura, 119), Nesso’s Lastharrah (Emisael Jaramillo, 122), Sorrento Sky (Umberto Rispoli, 126), Pure Madness (Armando Ayuso, 122), First Peace (Joel Rosario, 122), and Virat (Paco Lopez, 122).
The John C. Harris Stakes features prominent contenders such as the undefeated Little Opal, making her stakes debut for trainer Doug O’Neill, and Brave Deb, returning for the first time since last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf under Hall of Famer Richard Mandella. Little Opal has shown impressive front-running form in two turf wins against older fillies this summer at Del Mar. By Caravaggio, she is bred and owned by Donald R. Dizney and will again be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo.
Brave Deb, a homebred by Spendthrift Farm sired by Authentic, won her first two career races including the G3 Surfer Girl last year but finished last at 17-1 odds in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Trained by Mandella, she has had eight workouts since July 23 and will be ridden by Joel Rosario for the first time. The John C. Harris Stakes is set for approximately 5 p.m. PT, with the field and jockeys as follows: Mo’ Em Down (Juan Hernandez, 120), Seeking Attention (Armando Ayuso, 120), Brave Deb (Joel Rosario, 124), Yours Sincerely (Umberto Rispoli, 120), R Slew of Cash (Edwin Gonzalez, 120), Surfin’ U.S.A. (Kazushi Kimura, 120), Come On Om (Tyler Baze, 120), Day to Day (Paco Lopez, 122), Run With Liberty (Kyle Frey, 120), and Little Opal (Emisael Jaramillo, 120).
Saturday’s card begins at 1 p.m. PT and also includes high-stakes races such as the G1 Goodwood, an automatic qualifier for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic; the G2 City Of Hope Mile, granting a fees-paid spot to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile; and the G2 John Henry Turf Championship.
Fan Take: This weekend’s graded stakes at Santa Anita highlight the depth and talent thriving on the turf, setting up thrilling matchups that could shape the landscape heading into the Breeders’ Cup. For horse racing fans, this card is a must-watch as it showcases emerging stars and seasoned contenders battling on one of the sport’s most unique courses, promising memorable moments for the season.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
