Santa Anita's ready to take entries; will racing be approved?

The Santa Anita Park racing office is preparing to take entries Tuesday for the track’s reopening day, the following Friday. But will they be able to race?

In an emailed statement to fans, track officials said Saturday they’re “continuing discussions with the LA County Health Department to resume racing under strict protocols.”

“As part of our discussions,” the statement reads, “our team has presented to local health officials a comprehensive plan that outlines stringent health and safety measures to safeguard both our horses and the dedicated team members who care for them.”

LA County’s Safer-at-Home order is scheduled to expire Friday, coinciding with the soonest date on which Santa Anita will resume racing. Meanwhile, The Stronach Group's other California racetrack, Golden Gate Fields, is approved to resume racing next week in the northern part of the state.

As with other meets around the country, the California tracks will run behind closed doors, which Santa Anita did successfully once the COVID-19 pandemic set in until told to halt in March. In the meantime, The Stronach Group has set forth enacting numerous new safety protocols in hopes of resuming racing.

Nominations are listed for a trio of Santa Anita stakes next weekend, kicking off with Saturday’s $150,000 Echo Eddie Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds and $150,000 Evening Jewel for fillies. Both events run at six furlongs.

Peter Miller-trained Bulletproof One, a multiple stakes-winning filly who has taken two straight allowances at Golden Gate Fields, appears on both nominations list. Miller said he's leaning toward the Evening Jewel.

Phantom Boss is an intriguing possibility for the Echo Eddie. Showing a May 3 work, the Shackleford colt beat open company in Churchill Downs’ Bashford Manor (G3) last June and hasn’t appeared since missing the board in the Aug. 30 I’m Smokin Stakes at Del Mar.

On May 17, Sunday of opening weekend, the $100,000 Desert Stormer (G3) is scheduled to resume graded action at Santa Anita. A pair of Bob Baffert trainees are possible for the six-furlong event with Mother Mother second last out in the Feb. 15 Santa Monica (G2) and Fighting Mad a winner of Del Mar’s Torrey Pines Stakes last season.