Santa Anita: Big ’Cap, Kentucky Derby prep are on deck

Santa Anita is set to host four graded stakes next Saturday, including the 87th running of the G1 Santa Anita Handicap and the San Felipe (G2), a significant prep for both the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 6 and Kentucky Derby on May 4.

In addition to the Big ’Cap and San Felipe, next Saturday’s card also will include the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) and Buena Vista Stakes (G2) for older fillies and mares. Each is one mile on turf. Nominations for all four graded stakes were released Friday.

Click here for Santa Anita entries and results.

The historic 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita Handicap, which was first run in 1935, attracted 12 nominees including the top three finishers in last month’s San Pasqual (G2) at 1 1/8 miles. Newgrange, trained by Phil D’Amato, won the San Pasqual in front-running fashion by a length over Newgate, who was making his second start off an 11-month layoff for trainer Bob Baffert. A half-length in back of Newgate in third was Mixto for trainer Doug O’Neill.

According to the Santa Anita racing office, Newgrange, Newgate and Mixto are expected in the Big ’Cap starting gate. Baffert also is possible to run winner Reincarnate (G3) and Mr Fisk, who was fifth in the San Pasqual.

Other locals targeting the Big ’Cap are Richard Mandella-trained Salesman, who has been off since winning the 1 5/8-mile Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G2) at Santa Anita on Nov. 4, and Subsanador for trainer John Sadler.

The Big ’Cap also is likely to include Eastern-based contenders. Trainer Brad Cox is slated to ship Highland Falls, a lightly raced 4-year-old Curlin colt who exits a second-level allowance win at Fair Grounds going 1 1/16 miles Jan. 13. Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is expected to send either O’Connor or Skippylongstocking, both of whom exit the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 27. O’Connor was fifth in the Pegasus, and Skippylongstocking was pulled up and did not finish.

As for the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe, 15 3-year-olds were nominated. Probables include Wynstock, Wine Me Up and Imagination for Baffert; maiden Mc Vay for trainer John Shirreffs; and Scatify, most recently third in the GIII Robert B. Lewis in just his second start for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella. Tapalo also was listed as possible by the racing office. He most recently was second in the Feb. 10 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields for trainer John Sadler.

Next Saturday’s card will be drawn on Wednesday.