Santa Anita: McCarthy is double-barreled in Sunday's Cinema

Mi Hermano Ramon and Wizard of Westwood were separated by just a head May 7 when running one-two in Santa Anita’s Singletary Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles on turf. On Sunday, they meet again in the Cinema Stakes. This time it will be at 1 1/4 miles on grass.

Mi Hermano Ramon, who prior to the Singletary was fourth in the Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland, is the 2-1 program favorite for trainer Mark Glatt. Wizard of Westwood is the co-second choice at 5-2 for trainer Michael McCarthy, who also entered Phosphorescence (6-1) in the seven-horse field.

In the Singletary, Wizard of Westwood managed to set a comfortable pace under Abel Cedillo, completing the opening half mile in 49.05 seconds and six furlongs in 1:13.17. He continued to lead into deep stretch, but rallying along the outside came Mi Hermano Ramon and Umberto Rispoli. They nailed Wizard of Westwood on the wire to score as the favorite at 3-2.

While it was agonizing defeat for Wizard of Westwood, McCarthy was happy with the performance.

“I thought it was a very good effort. I’m hoping for similar fractions tomorrow,” McCarthy said.

Among the new shooters in the Cinema is the maiden Worcester, who will be making his turf debut for Bob Baffert. Worcester was third in the local Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) on Feb. 4 and was then sent to the Middle East where he was never a factor in the UAE Derby (G2).

Following the international sojourn, Worcester returned in a local one-mile maiden race May 26. He dueled on the lead throughout under Juan Hernandez before getting beat a head by the promising Smart Mo for trainer John Shirreffs.

Like Wizard of Westwood, Worcester is also 5-2 on the morning line. Hernandez will again be aboard. Based off that most recent effort, Worcester could prove a pace nemesis for Wizard of Westwood on Sunday. 

“We’ll see what happens when the gate opens up, but obviously he’ll be prominent,” McCarthy said of Wizard of Westwood. “If someone is intent on going in front of him, hopefully he can lay right off them.”

McCarthy’s other starter, Phosphorescence, will have Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux in the irons. He was bred in France and is by City of Light, who McCarthy trained to more than $5.6 million in earnings. Phosphorescence will be wheeling back in two weeks after a fourth-place finish in the Alcatraz Stakes going a mile on turf at Golden Gate.

“He never got hold of the grass up there,” McCarthy said of the Alcatraz. “But he’s come back and has trained well, so we’re going. The added distance won’t be an issue for him. He’s kind of a one-paced, galloping type.”

The Cinema goes as the eighth race on Sunday’s 10-race card. Post time is scheduled for 7:44 p.m. EDT.