Sunday Rules and Lost Bus Top Spring Fever Stakes
Undefeated in five starts at Santa Anita, Nick Alexander’s homebred Sunday Rules returns to the Great Race Place on Monday as she heads a field of five California-bred or sired fillies and mares three and up in the $100,000 Spring Fever Handicap at six furlongs. Terry Lovingier’s Lost Bus, a winner of the Grade II, seven furlong Santa Monica Stakes in January, comes off a respectable fourth place finish behind three-time Eclipse Champion Beholder in the Grade I Vanity Mile here on June 4, will break from the rail and will likely be the second choice in the Spring Fever wagering.
Sunday Rules is trained by Phil D’Amato. This 5-year-old mare by Tribal Rule, who is out of the General Meeting mare Sunday Dress, whipped males by 2 ¼ lengths two starts back in the California Cup Sprint going six furlongs on Jan. 30 and subsequently tried the deep waters of the Grade I, seven furlong Madison Stakes at Keeneland April 9 where she showed brief speed and tired badly, finishing ninth by 11 lengths. Back on her home court and undefeated in three tries at six furlongs, Sunday Rules is drawn just outside Lost Bus and will likely rocket to the early lead with Edwin Maldonado up.
Lost Bus, a 4-year-old Bring the Heat filly trained by Gary Sherlock, was claimed for $32,000 seven starts back on Nov. 19 and has banked more than $220,000 for her new connections. Fourth, beaten 4 ½ lengths by Beholder in the Vanity, she takes a massive drop in class and gets back to a much preferred distance as she has a win, a second and a third from three tries at six furlongs. She’ll again be ridden by Fernando Perez, who has been aboard in her last five starts, including the Santa Monica win January 23. Although she has plenty of early zip, Lost Bus may opt to avoid a head and head duel early and instead employ stalking tactics to the far turn.
THE $100,000 SPRING FEVER HANDICAP IN POST POSITION ORDER WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS
Race 3 (of 9)
Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PDT
1. Lost Bus—Fernando Perez—125
2. Sunday Rules—Edwin Maldonado—125
3. Sidepocket Run—Tiago Pereira—117
4. Harlington’s Rose—Joe Talamo—119
5. Codacious—Kent Desormeaux—117
First post time on Independence Day, Monday, July 4, is at 1:30 p.m. Admission gates open at 11:30 a.m. Monday is also Fan Appreciation Day at Santa Anita. The track will offer one dollar beers, sodas and hot dogs throughout the afternoon and fans can enter to win a number of prizes, including a chance at a 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC, presented by Rusnak/Arcadia.
Source: Santa Anita Park