Pegasus winner Skippylongstocking leads Santa Anita Handicap

Veteran Grade 1 winner Skippylongstocking makes a return trip to California for Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Santa Anita Handicap going 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita, and Westwood, now trained by Peter Eurton, makes his first start since the death of former trainer John Shirreffs.

Last May, Skippylongstocking shipped to Santa Anita from South Florida and promptly took down the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2), also contested at 1 1/4 miles. Most recently, the 7-year-old horse by Exaggerator earned his first Grade 1 victory when winning the Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park.

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Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for owner Daniel Alonso, Skippylongstocking sports a record of 36: 13-3-7 with $5,461,250 in earnings. He’ll carry highweight of 125 pounds. Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard for the Pegasus World Cup victory, again has the call.

In his final start for Shirreffs, Westwood won the San Pasqual (G2) on Jan. 31 going 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita for his first graded-stakes victory. Thirteen days after the breakout win, Shirreffs died in his sleep at the age of 80.

Owned by C R K Stable, Westwood is 10: 2-3-3 with $313,900 in earnings. In addition to having horses with Shirreffs, C R K Stable for years also has employed Eurton as trainer of some of its runners. Westwood, a 4-year-old gelding by Authentic, has worked three times since joining the Eurton barn. On Sunday, Westwood signaled his readiness with a bullet four-furlong work in 46.60 seconds. It was the fastest of 79 works at the distance. 

Kazushi Kimura, who rode Westwood for the first time in the San Pasqual win, has the call again in the Big 'Cap.

Getaway Car gets another crack at Westwood after coming up 2 3/4 lengths short of the front-running winner in the San Pasqual. Trained by Bob Baffert, the 4-year-old colt by Curlin is seeking a first graded stakes win since his 2-year-old season. Getaway Car is 10: 3-3-0 with $656,300 in earnings for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and partners. He’ll be ridden by Juan Hernandez. 

Also coming west for the Big 'Cap is Just a Touch, a 5-year-old Justify horse trained by Brad Cox. Most recently, Just a Touch returned from a six-month layoff and was beaten a neck in the Louisiana Stakes (G3) going 1 1/16 miles at Fair Grounds. He is seeking a first stakes win for owners Qatar Racing, Resolute Racing and Marc Detampel.