Santa Anita . Park will open its winter/spring meet on December 26 with the $200,000 Santa Anita Mathis Mile Stakes (G2T), a grass-court one-mile run test for 3-year-olds.
All eyes will be on Balnikhov who can prove the fastest horse in the seven-man field, and join as the favorite on the morning of 2-1.
the gelded son of Adaay won interestingly the last time he participated in Bryan Station Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland. He spent most of the race at the end of a close group before moving down the ramp. With eventual Breeders’ Cup World Championship winner Tyler Gaffalione on board, Balnikhov moved across the field to take the lead just one stride away.
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Balnikhov’s not-so-secret weapon is his late kick. The field will have to find a way to nullify that advantage — or run faster — to beat student Phil D’Amato, who is leading 2-2-0 in six starts this year, including the fourth in a row. Derby Caesars Sportsbook Del Mar (G2T) and runner-up at American Turf Stakes presented by BMW (G2T) at Churchill Downs.
“He’s come back from (Kentucky) well,” said D’Amato, who was top coach in two meetings last winter at Santa Anita. “We gave him a bit of a refresh and took this race into account. Since he got back from Kentucky, he’s as sharp as ever. Hopefully we’re good enough to win. .”
summer (3-1). Sumter likes a quick start and can force the pitch to catch up. He finished third in the Stormy Liberal Stakes at Del Mar earlier this month and before that finished third in La Jolla Handicap (G3T) and 10th in Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G2T) at the Kentucky Downs. Coached by Richard Mandella, Sumter is 2-0-2 in the starting five games this year.
Launching in North America is another import, I am a gambler . The No Now Never gelding will have Flavien Prat in the iron and come in 6-2-0 after 14 starts this year. Now coached by Mark Glatt and owned by Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, I’m A Gambler (5-2) most recently won the Racing TV EBF Stallions Guisborough Stakes at Redcar Circuit in the UK.
This fall, he sold for the equivalent of US$1,006,704 when he was purchased by his owner from a Kingsley Park consignment at the Tattersalls Fall Race Horse Sale.
Another Irish hybrid candidate is Balnikhov’s stable friend Agatino . The last time he went out, he finished third in an optional entitlement race at Del Mar in his second US start. He is 15-1 in the morning.
Handy Dandy (5-1), coached by Peter Miller, most recently finished fourth earlier this month in the Hollywood Horse Racing (G1T) at Del Mar. Owned by Altamira Racing Stable, CYBT, Marc Lantzman and Michael Nentwig, the racing team of Kapcori is angry also placed fourth in the Twilight Derby (G2T) at Santa Anita.
Rounding the field is Time to party (8-1) and One more bid (10-1).
Item: Santa Anita Mathis Mile S. (G2T)
Santa Anita . ParkMonday, December 26, 2022, Race 1
- Class II
- 1m
- pitch
- 200,000 USD
- 3 years old
- 11:00am (local)
