The Snow Chief headlines Saturday's card at Santa Anita Park
Saturday’s feature at Santa Anita Park is the $200,000 Snow Chief for Golden State Eligible California or California sired three-year olds. The mile and an eighth turf event will be the eighth race on the ten race card and features a field of eleven runners. The group is led by 5-2 morning line favorite Grazen Sky and co-second choices, Richard’s Boy and Zinvor. All three enter the event coming off wins over the grass in their last start.
The Steve Miyadi trained and Nick Alexander owned Grazen Sky has had an excellent to start to his racing career. The son of Grazen, out of a Sky Mesa mare has never finished worse than second in six lifetime starts. The colt won his first stakes effort last month in the $100,000 Silky Sullivan at Golden Gate where he defeated fellow Snow Chief entrants Pulmarack and Cardiac in a six-horse group at odds of 6-5. It was his first try at a route of ground and over the lawn. He will not be that short of a price on Saturday, but is still in with a big shot.
Miyadi likes his colt's chances on what will be Grazen Sky’s first try over what is forecasted to be a fast turf course. The course at Golden Gate was labeled “good” and according to Miyadi was unlike the one his runner will see over this weekend. He stated, “There is a difference. It’s a little bit slower turf course up there.” Rafael Bejarano takes the mount again as Grazen Sky returns to “The Great Race Place” after the trip up north.
Richard’s Boy for Peter Miller and Rockingham Ranch is two for two over the lawn, but both at six and a half furlongs down the hill. He ran an impressive race earlier this month in the Desert Code Stakes where he came from off the pace to run down Diamond Majesty in the final strides. He will likely be on the lead on the stretch out and will need to prove he has the stamina to get the distance.
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Zinvor also will be stretching out, but has shown the ability to perform well at 8 furlongs. The John Sadler trainee was last seen defeating a 12-horse state bred allowance group on April 4th when he got a perfect trip and pulled away to win by two and one quarter lengths in the end. Kentucky Derby and Preakness winning jockey Victor Espinoza will ride the son of Tribal Rule. He will make his first effort against stakes company, but is a logical contender to be there in the end if Espinoza can work out another ground saving voyage.
The half brother to Tamarando, Pulmarack and Barry Abrams trained Cardiac will try to “turn the tables” on Grazen Sky after being defeated in Northern California, but both have their work out cut for the them on Saturday. Book Thirty Four, Chief of Staff, Temple Keys, Neveradoubt, Rocko’s Wheel and Over Par round out the field.