Santa Anita autumn meet to get off to fast start

Santa Anita’s 16-day autumn meeting will get off to a flying start on Friday, Oct. 1, with four graded stakes.

The autumn meet, which will run through Oct. 31, again will provide “Ship & Win” incentives to attract out-of-state connections and will showcase some of the best horses in the world as they complete final preparations for the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar on Nov. 5 and 6.

Three Breeders’ Cup “win-and-you’re-in” qualifiers, along with the $200,000 Eddie D Stakes (G2), will highlight opening day, with first post time at 4 p.m. EDT.

The $300,000 American Pharoah (G1), for 2-year-olds at a 1 1/16 miles, is a prep to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The $200,000 Chandelier Stakes (G2) is for 2-year-old fillies pointing to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, and the $100,0000 Speakeasy Stakes, for 2-year-olds at five furlongs on turf, is a prep to the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf.

The Eddie D, named for the retired Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye, is for 3-year-olds and up at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf and will provide a launching pad to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar Nov. 6.

“Our intention is to get the autumn meet off to a fast start,” said Chris Merz, Santa Anita director of racing and racing secretary. “With the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar this year, we want the word to go out, far and wide, that we’re offering tremendous opportunities for owners and horsemen to prep here and have their best possible chances for Championship success on Nov. 5 and 6.

“We anticipate great weather with optimal conditions for both training and racing. When you factor in that we’re just a 90-minute van ride away from Del Mar, we’re hopeful a good many folks will choose to race here this fall. We look forward to welcoming everyone and to providing lucrative gambling opportunities to our fans as well.”

On Saturday, Oct. 2, four pivotal Breeders' Cup prep races will be offered: The $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) at 1 1/8 miles for horses considering the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar Nov. 6; the $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1) at a 1 1/4 miles on turf for fillies and mares three and up that are pointing to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and the $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) at six furlongs, a Breeders’ Cup qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Additionally, the $200,000 City of Hope Mile (G2 – turf), a potential showcase for those horses eyeing the Breeders' Cup Mile, will also be run on Oct. 2.

On Sunday, Oct. 3, five stakes will be carded, including one additional win-and-you're-in qualifier – the $200,000 Zenyatta (G2), which will be contested by fillies and mares three and up at 1 1/16 miles. The Zenyatta will serve as a prep to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. A pair of $200,000 stakes for juveniles at one mile on turf, the Surfer Girl and the Zuma Beach, also will be offered, as will the $100,000 Chillingworth Stakes (G3) and the $75,000 Unzip Me.

The popular Ship & Win program will again be available to participating horses who started at Del Mar and to eligible newcomers making their first start at Santa Anita’s Autumn Meet.