Santa Anita: San Carlos, Wilshire lead Saturday program

After being sidelined for 18 months, multiple graded-stakes winner Spirit of Makena returns Saturday trying to win a second edition of the Grade 3, $100,000 San Carlos Stakes going seven furlongs at Santa Anita.

Trained by George Papaprodromou, Spirt of Makena won the San Carlos in 2023 just prior to adding a second graded victory in that years Triple Bend (G2) also at Santa Anita. The now 7-year-old horse by Ghostzapper hasn’t started since Sept. 30, 2023 when finishing last in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship  (G2).

Spirit of Makena returned to the work tab in December at Santa Anita. He drilled only twice in January, but since Feb. 2 has clicked off six works for his comeback including a five-furlong move in 1:00.40 on Sunday.  Owned by Kristine M. Chandler, Spirit of Makena is 8: 4-1-0 with $353,600 in earnings. He will have Kyle Frey in the irons.

Trainer Bob Baffert entered both Grade 3 winner Fort Bragg and Pilot Commander, who returns to the stakes ranks after a dominant win in a second-level allowance going six furlongs Feb. 1 at Santa Anita.

Fort Bragg will be making his 5-year-old debut for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables et al. Most recently, the full horse by Tapit won a six-furlong conditioned allowance when coming from slightly off the pace Dec. 1 at Del Mar. He will be ridden by Kazushi Kimura for the first time.

Fort Bragg, whose lone graded stakes win came in last year’s Dwyer (G3) going a mile at Belmont Park, is 15: 4-3-3 with $472,400 in earnings.

Pilot Commander scored by 2 1/2 lengths in the aforementioned allowance win while also coming from slightly off the pace. Previously, Pilot Commander set the pace in the Malibu (G1) going seven furlongs before fading to fourth on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. The 4-year-old colt is owned by CSLR Racing Partners and will have regular rider Juan Hernandez aboard. He is 6: 3-2-0 with $180,600 in earnings.

After a close call, Tirupati tries again for graded glory in Wilshire

After coming up a head short in the Grade 2 Buena Vista earlier this month at Santa Anita, Tirupati will try again for a graded stakes breakthrough when taking on six rivals in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Wilshire Stakes for older fillies and mares going a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

In the Buena Vista, Tirupati had the lead inside the eighth pole before getting nailed late by winner Liguria. It was just her second try in a graded stakes for trainer Jonathan Thomas and owner Augustin Stable. A 4-year-old Mitole filly, Tirupati will have Umberto Rispoli aboard after being ridden by Jose Ortiz Jr. in the Buena Vista.

Tirupati, who drew the rail, enters with a record of 12: 3-3-5 and $157,676 in earnings.

Alpha Bella was a Grade 3 winner on turf when trained in the east by trainer Todd Pletcher. Late last summer, Alpha Bella was sent west to trainer John Sadler and has subsequently raced exclusively in graded stakes on dirt. She was second last year in both the Zenyatta (G2) at Santa Anita and Bayakoa (G3) at Del Mar before another runner-up finish in the La Canada (G3) at Santa Anita in January. Most recently, the 5-year-old Justify mare was fifth in the GI Beholder Mile on March 8 at Santa Anita.

A homebred for Don Alberto Stable, Alpha Bella is 20: 3-7-2 with $481,615 in earnings. She will have Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez aboard for the first time.

Uncorked also exits the Buena Vista for trainer Phil D’Amato. She made a mild rally turning into the stretch but then flattened out late to finish fourth by 3 3/4 lengths. It was her first start in fourth months.

Uncorked, a 6-year-old mare by Pierro, was bred in England where she made her first nine starts. She earned her lone graded stakes win last April in the Royal Heroine (G3) when making her first start for D’Amato. Owned by The Elkstone Group, Uncorked is 22: 4-6-2 with $339,999 in earnings. She will be ridden by Antonio Fresu, who was also aboard in the Buena Vista.