Story to Tell Starts Next Chapter in SA Juvenile

An eye-catching first out maiden winner on May 23, Story to Tell has the look of a favorite in Sunday’s $125,000 Santa Anita Juvenile Stakes, which attracted a very competitive field of seven 2-year-olds going 5 ½ furlongs.

Trained by Dan Hendricks, Story to Tell broke his maiden in-hand, stopping the clock for 4 ½ furlongs in 52 flat.

“I was surprised he won as easily as he did, in hand, with three different moves in a 4 ½ furlong race,” said Hendricks this morning at Santa Anita’s Clockers’ Corner.  “Hopefully, this race is the first step towards bigger things for Story to Tell.  I know one thing.  We turned down a lot of money for him, so we know he can run.”

A Kentucky-bred colt by Bluegrass Cat, Story to Tell is owned by Cecil Peacock, who purchased him for $200,000 at the Barretts March 2-year-old in training sale.  He’ll break from post three and will again be ridden by Joe Talamo.

Doug O’Neill will be represented by a pair of impressive first out winners, Henry’s Holiday and Wake Up Nick.

A Kentucky-bred colt by Harlan’s Holiday, Henry’s Holiday won by 3 ¼ lengths on May 9, covering 4 ½ furlongs in 52.20 under Tyler Baze at odds of 9-1.  Wake Up Nick, a California-bred colt by Cindago, scorched a field of six Cal-breds by 9 ¼ lengths on May 1, getting 4 ½ furlongs in a sizzling 51.20.

Based at Los Alamitos, Art Sherman’s Kristi’s Copilot dueled early and went on to a two length win at first asking on May 16, getting 4 ½ furlongs in 51.80.      

Like O’Neill, trainer Peter Miller will saddle a pair in the Juvenile—Global Magician and Homer Matt.  California-bred Global Magician was a 5 ½ length first out winner going 4 ½ furlongs on synthetic Tapeta on May 17 and Kentucky-bred Homer Matt is a first time starter who has been ensconced at San Luis Rey Downs.

The complete field for the Santa Anita Juvenile Stakes, to be run as the seventh race on a nine-race card Sunday, with jockeys and weights in post position order:  Global Magician, Elvis Trujillo, 122; Kristi’s Copilot, Aaron Gryder, 122; Story to Tell, Joe Talamo, 122; Holiday Camp, Martin Garcia, 122; Wake Up Nick, Mario Gutierrez, 122; Homer Matt, Edwin Maldonado, 118, and Henry’s Holiday, Tyler Baze, 122.