'Belief' Could Become Heaviest Favorite to Win Big 'Cap

Shared Belief, who has lost just once in 10 career starts, will attempt to become one of the heaviest favorites to win the Santa Anita Handicap when he starts in the prestigious event Saturday. He is the 3-5 favorite on the Big ’Cap morning line issued by Santa Anita oddsmaker Jon White.

“The biggest favorite of all the Big ’Cap winners was Round Table,” said White, who also provides pre-race television commentary for Santa Anita’s simulcast network. “Round Table was just slightly lower than 1-5 when he won the Big ’Cap in 1958. He paid $2.30 to win for a $2 win ticket.

“When Spectacular Bid won the Big ’Cap in 1980, he was 1-5 on the tote board and paid $2.60. Prove It was 2-5 when he won in 1961, paying $2.80.”

White noted that Round Table, Spectacular Bid and Prove It had something else in common besides being heavy favorites to win the Big 'Cap.

“All three were ridden by (Bill) Shoemaker,” White said.

“Two of the other heaviest favorites to ever win the Big ’Cap were Lava Man and Seabiscuit," White added. "Lava Man was 3-5 when he won his second Big ’Cap (in 2006), returning $3.20. And in 1940, Seabiscuit and Kayak II were coupled in the betting when Seabiscuit won the Santa Anita Handicap in the final start of his incredible career. Seabiscuit and Kayak II were 3-5 on the tote board and paid $3.40.”

MANDELLA EYES FOURTH WIN IN SANTA ANITA HANDICAP
Richard Mandella has been known to kill a giant or two in a Hall of Fame career that began in 1974. Perhaps his most memorable hit came in 1996 when Dare and Go ended Cigar’s 16-race winning streak in the Pacific Classic.

Mandella will attempt to add another notch on his holster when he sends out Catch a Flight in Saturday’s Grade I, $1 million Santa Anita Handicap presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino.

Catch a Flight, a 5-year-old Argentine-bred horse, registered his first U.S. victory from his second stateside start when he won an overnight race at 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 13 under Gary Stevens, who will be seeking his fifth Big ’Cap win, his last coming in 2005 aboard Rock Hard Ten, who also was trained by Mandella.

“He’s an improving horse and those are always dangerous, I think,” Mandella said of Catch a Flight, a son of Giant’s Causeway who won six of 10 starts in his native country. “He’s showed enough to give the Big ’Cap a try. I’m not sure if he’s up to this level, but we’re going to find out. You can’t win if you’re not in.”

Noting the obvious in stating Shared Belief is the horse to beat, Mandella pointed out, “They pay pretty good down the line,” alluding to Big ’Cap second money of $200,000; third, $120,000, fourth $50,000; fifth $20,000; and sixth $10,000. The winner gets $600,000.

“This is a race anybody in racing wants to win, particularly if they’re from California,” said Mandella, who was born in Altadena and has captured the Santa Anita Handicap three times, with Siphon (1997), Malek (1998) and Rock Hard Ten.

The Santa Anita Handicap: Cool Samurai, Aaron Gryder, 30-1; Diamond Bachelor, Martin Garcia, 50-1; Sr. Quisqueyano, Joe Talamo, 10-1; Dynamic Sky, Corey Nakatani, 15-1; Shared Belief, Mike Smith, 3-5; Moreno, Santiago Gonzalez, 6-1; Patrioticandproud, Elvis Trujillo, 20-1; You Know I Know, Drayden Van Dyke, 30-1; Crimson Giant, Brandon Boulanger, 50-1; Imperative, Kent Desormeaux, 30-1; Bronzo, Tyler Baze, 10-1; Catch a Flight, Gary Stevens, 12-1; and Hard Aces, Victor Espinoza, 12-1.

In other Big ’Cap news:

Brandon Boulanger rides in his biggest race yet in the Big ’Cap aboard 50-1 Crimson Giant. “This will be my first Grade I race,” said the 21-year-old apprentice who is represented by agent Ken Huth. Born in San Ramon, California and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, Brandon is the son of veteran jockey Gary Boulanger.

“I’ve been riding since October of 2012 and watched my dad ride at Golden Gate,” Brandon said. “I’m not really too sure how to feel about my chances Saturday, but Crimson Giant is a nice horse and last time out he showed a lot of heart (second by a nose going a mile against four rivals on Feb. 20).

“I’ve got to take all the blame for that loss, getting my whip tangled in the reins. If I’d have gotten my whip out to urge him three or four strides earlier, we could have won the race by a good length. Only the Lord knows how the Big ’Cap is going to go when we come to the top of the stretch.

“Shared Belief is a monster of a horse, and we all know that. We saw what he did against California Chrome . . . I just hope the racing gods are in our favor.”

Victor Espinoza on Hard Aces, recently acquired by Hronis Racing for trainer John Sadler: “I worked him three-quarters so I got to know him a bit. He’s a bit lazy in the morning but I guess he’s different in the afternoons. He knows when it counts.”

Santa Anita offers two huge guaranteed pools on Big ’Cap Day, $1 million on the Late Pick 4 and $250,000 on the Pick 6. There will be a Beerfest and live music in the Infield.