Enola Gray draws outside other speed in Monrovia
Enola Gray, perfect in three starts on Santa Anita’s downhill turf course at about 6 ½ furlongs, attempts to add to that impressive resume in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Monrovia Stakes for fillies and mares, three and older.
Enola Gray, a gray daughter of Grazen owned and bred by Nick Alexander, drew post position eight in a field of nine over the unique layout.
“There looks to be a couple other speeds in there, but they’re to our inside,” D’Amato said. “Our filly likes that outside post and I’m very happy with how we drew.”
The Monrovia: Swift Lady, Martin Garcia, 15-1; Spy Ring, Mike Smith, 20-1; Watch This Cat, Rafael Bejarano, 10-1; Illuminant, Flavien Prat, 9-5; Coniah, Irad Ortiz Jr., 8-1; Juno, Kent Desormeaux, 8-1; Paquita Coqueta, Gary Stevens, 8-1; Enola Gray, Tyler Baze, 5-2; and Anita Partner, Brice Blanc, 12-1.
MEMORIAL DAY TRACKSIDE BBQ TO SUPPORT VETS MONDAY
On Memorial Day, Monday, fans can offer their thanks to active and former service members and help support the local Veterans’ Memorial, sponsored by the Rotary Club Foundation of Arcadia.
A $5 donation (all proceeds go directly to the Veterans’ Memorial) includes General Admission to Santa Anita Park, a program, access to special trackside seating, and walking tours to the Paddock and Winner’s Circle throughout the day.
Delicious BBQ will also be available for purchase. Veterans or active military with valid Military ID will receive a voucher good for a free lunch, courtesy of Santa Anita horse owners, industry personnel, and Santa Anita Park. The BBQ menu ($12 per meal) offers spare ribs or pulled pork and two sides from a choice of three: baked beans, potato salad or cole slaw, plus a slice of white bread, pickles and onions.
The Rotary Club of Arcadia is spearheading an effort to build a local Veterans’ Memorial. The Field of Honor Project, involving 1,000 American Flags displayed at CountyPark at the corner of Huntington and Santa Anita during the week preceding Memorial Day will help to raise funds.
Those wishing to participate or donate should make their contribution to The Arcadia Rotary Club Foundation, Veterans’ Memorial Fund. For more information, please visit http://www.santaanita.com/
FINISH LINES: Richard Baltas, who trails leader Peter Miller, 18-16, in the trainers’ standings, has a personal record high of eight horses entered Saturday, including two in the Gamely, Mokat and Goodyearforroses, against favored Lady Eli. “I’m more worried about the (Richard) Mandella horse, to tell you the truth,” Baltas said, speaking of Avenge. “She was a very good filly who developed late last year and I think she’s going to be better with age. She’s the lone speed in the race. “Both my fillies are training great, it’s a small field, a tactical race, and we’ll see how it goes.” . . . Grade I Kilroe Mile winner Bal a Bali worked six furlongs on the main track Friday in 1:14.80 for next Saturday’s Grade I, $400,000 Shoemaker Mile on turf. The seven-year-old Brazilian-bred went in company and was ridden by Mike Smith, who has the mount in the Shoemaker, a “Win and You’re In” Challenge Race giving the winner automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Bal a Bali stablemate Airlite was given a five furlong time of 1:03.20. Also expected for the Shoemaker on June 3 are Thunder Road winner Farhaan (Flavien Prat), Del Mar Derby winner Free Rose (Norberto Arroyo Jr.) and 2016 Kilroe Mile winner What a View (Tyler Baze) . . . Smith also rides champion Finest City in next Saturday’s Grade I Beholder Mile against Stellar Wind (Victor Espinoza) and Vale Dori (Rafael Bejarano) . . . Irap, winner of the Blue Grass Stakes as a maiden, worked six furlongs in 1:14.40 for Doug O’Neill, who has the Tiznow colt ticketed for the Belmont Stakes on June 10 . . . There is a single ticket Pick Six Jackpot carryover of $271,260.40 into Friday’s races . . . Leading rider Prat has been suspended three racing days (June 4, 8 and 9) for causing interference on Pacific Heat in Sunday’s Fran’s Valentine Stakes, resulting in the disqualification of his horse from first to sixth. Prat leads runners-up Bejarano and Joe Talamo, 23-20, through 23 days in the Spring portion of Santa Anita’s current meet . . . TVG host, analyst and reporter Joaquin Jaime and Horseplayer Leo Vukmanovich will be Tom Quigley’s guests, Saturday and Sunday respectively, 11:50 a.m., in the East Paddock Gardens . . . Trainer Mike Chambers, a fixture in California before moving his base of operations to Arizona several years ago, is back at Santa Anita with 10 head, already “breaking his maiden” by winning with one of his four starters. “Hopefully, we’ll bring in a few more,” said Chambers’ assistant, Todd Rarick. “Mike is up in Alaska now, fishing for a while. He might be down here in a few weeks.”
Source: Santa Anita Park