Desormeaux Plans to Run Exaggerator in San Vicente

Trainer Keith Desormeaux has an itinerary set for several of his stakes horses, including Exaggerator, winner of the $1 million Delta Jackpot.

“We’re planning to run Exaggerator in the San Vicente on Feb. 15,” Desormeaux said, speaking of the Grade II, $200,000 race for three-year-olds at seven furlongs, which Desormeaux won last year with Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Texas Red.     

“Texas Red is here, but he’s going to need two or three months before he’s ready. Swipe is going to be off for a couple months,” Desormeaux said.

“Right There, who won the Landaluce, could go in an allowance race on Jan. 8. Decked Out, who was third in the Grade III Schuylerville at Saratoga last July, might run in the Santa Ynez on Jan. 2.”

The recently inaugurated Mathis Brothers Mile for three-year-olds on opening day is not only proving popular with horsemen, but the Grade II race with $200,000 in purse money is providing Santa Anita with welcome and wider exposure that could bode well for the future.

The newly inaugurated Mathis Brothers Mile for three-year-olds on Opening Day is not only proving popular with horsemen, but the Grade II race with $200,000 in pursed money is providing Santa Anita with welcome exposure that could bode well for the future.

“We are thrilled to continue to grow our Opening Day partnership with Mathis Brothers,” said Nate Newby, Santa Anita’s Vice President of Marketing. “They are sponsoring the race but we’ve also developed a marketing partnership with promotions, contests, and giveaways that drive traffic to Santa Anita as well as the Mathis Brothers’ flagship store just a few miles away in Ontario. 

“Plus, we love working with people like Bill Mathis who is a horse owner and enthusiastic racing fan. It makes these types of partnerships more fun and generally more beneficial for both companies.” 

Among others, the Mathis Brothers Mile is expected to attract Ocho Ocho Ocho, who also was being considered for the Malibu.

“It wasn’t that it was necessarily an easier spot than the Malibu,” trainer Jim Cassidy said. “It was more about his fitness, and with where he’s at right now in that regard, the turf race will be better for him than the dirt. And besides, a mile turf is right up his alley.”    

Ocho Ocho Ocho, a three-year-old son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, was fourth, beaten a length, in his grass debut, which occurred in his last start, the Penn Mile at Penn National on May 30.

 

FINISH LINES: Santa Anita will once again give away its popular full color Wall Calendar free on opening day to all fans at the track with paid admission while supplies last. The theme of the 2016 calendar is “What’s in a name,” describing how some Thoroughbreds come by their peculiar monikers . . . The first 20,000 paid attendees will receive a $100 Mathis Brothers Furniture gift certificate, and the first 5,000 kids 17 and under accompanied by a paid adult will get a plush, mini-Thoroughbred toy, courtesy of the Mathis Brothers . . . Santa Anita will offer an opening day Trackside Package that includes special trackside seating, a free first drink, and an officially licensed American Pharoah T-shirt commemorating the first-ever Grand Slam champion of horse racing. Use promo code PHAROAH for $5 off the package price . . . There will be a $1 million guaranteed pool on the Late Pick 4 opening day, and a $150,000 guaranteed pool on the Pick 6. Each Thursday, Friday and on holiday Mondays, there will be $300,000 guaranteed in the Late Pick 4, and Saturdays and Sundays, it will jump up to $500,000, while the Pick 6 guarantee will remain at $150,000 . . . Bad Read Sanchez, last seen in the Santa Anita Derby, is scheduled to start in the Malibu Stakes under jockey Mario Gutierrez, agent Tom Knust reports . . . Santa Anita Derby winner Dortmund, who could face Horse of the Year California Chrome in the Jan. 9 San Pasqual Stakes, worked five furlongs Thursday for Bob Baffert in 1:00.40 . . . Los Angeles Turf Club Chairman Keith Brackpool has announced that all visitors to Clockers’ Corner throughout the meet will receive their first cup of coffee free, cream and sugar included.