Ginger Nut takes on the boys in Santa Anita's Desert Code
Hronis Racing’s Ginger Nut, an impressive stakes winner on April 12 at Keeneland, will take on males as she heads a field of six sophomore turf sprinters in Sunday’s $75,000 Desert Code Stakes at 5 ½ furlongs over the Santa Anita turf. Trained by John Sadler, Irish-bred Ginger Nut, who made her U.S. debut two races back at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 23, will be making her first Santa Anita start on Sunday.
GINGER NUT
Owner: Hronis Racing LLC
Trainer: John Sadler
A minor stakes winner three starts back versus males in England and by the far the most accomplished runner in the Desert Code lineup, Ginger Nut drew the rail and rallied from last to take the ungraded Limestone Turf Sprint Stakes at Keeneland by 1 ¼ lengths on April 12. A winner of four of her 10 starts, she has earnings of $301,088. Ridden by eastern based Joel Rosario last time out, she’ll get the services of Drayden Van Dyke on Sunday.
LEGENDS OF WAR
Owner: C T R Stables LLC (Calvert), Qatar Racing Limited & Steven Keh
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Group 2 stakes-placed six starts back in England on Aug. 24, he gave a good account of himself in his U.S. debut two starts back, running a close third in an ungraded five-furlong turf stakes at Churchill Downs on April 27. Most recently third, beaten 1 ¼ lengths in a first condition allowance going one mile over a “good” turf here on May 27, this Kentucky-bred colt by Scat Daddy will be making his third start for O’Neill as he cuts back in distance and gets the first-time services of Flavien Prat. With two wins from nine starts, Legends of War has earnings of $128,189.
RAFAL
Owner: Sh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi
Trainer: Bob Baffert
This lightly race New York-bred colt by the Bernardini stallion Alpha was a runaway 4 ¼-length maiden winner over a wet fast main track going 5 ½ furlongs here on May 19 and will be trying turf for the first time in his third career start. Quick from the blocks, he carved out gate to wire splits of 21.60, 44.60 and 56.40 en route to a final clocking of 1:02.60, which earned him a Beyer Speed figure of 86 — the top last-out number in the Desert Code field. He’ll be ridden back by Joe Talamo and could prove an elusive target on Sunday.
DESERT STORMER STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS
Race 6 of 9; approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT
1. Ginger Nut—Drayden Van Dyke—119
2. Listing—Mario Gutierrez--124
3. Legends of War—Flavien Prat—122
4. Rafal—Joe Talamo--120
5. Alleva—Rafael Bejarano—122
6. Strictly Biz—Tiago Pereira--120