Update: Santa Ynez is rescheduled after Santa Anita rainout

Hopes to conduct an eight-race all dirt card Sunday were dashed after heavy rain fell on Arcadia, Calif., on Saturday evening and overnight. Horsemen were notified of the New Year’s Day cancellation via text message at 9:30 a.m. EST.

Santa Anita director of racing Chris Merz reported 1 1/2 inches of rain fell on the Santa Anita main track, which was sealed at the conclusion of Saturday’s nine-race card. The feature on Sunday, the $200,000 Santa Ynez (G3) for 2-year-old fillies, has been rescheduled for next Sunday. A field of seven was entered for the seven-furlong dash, including the odds-on favorite Justique for trainer John Shirreffs and a trio of prospects for Bob Baffert.

Merz said entries will be reopened for the seven-furlong Santa Ynez, which is a point-paying prep for the Kentucky Oaks, and the field will be drawn on Thursday. The Santa Ynez will share the spotlight Sunday with the $100,000 Sham (G3) for 3-year-olds going a mile on the main track. The Sham is an official stop on the road to the 2023 Kentucky Derby with 20 qualifying points split among the top five finishers with 10 going to the winner.

Four of Sunday’s overnight races that were canceled – races 3, 5, 6 and 8 – will be brought back as “extras” for Friday’s card, which is being drawn Sunday. According to Merz, with another substantial rainstorm forecast to hit the area midweek, there will likely be no turf racing Friday.

“We’re probably going to be stuck with another all-dirt card,” Merz said.

As for Monday’s 10-race New Year’s holiday program, Santa Anita is hopeful it will go as scheduled. There are six turf races on the card, including the $100,000 Las Cienegas (G3) for fillies and mares on the hillside turf course.

Merz expected both the main track and training track to be open for training Monday after both were closed on Sunday.