Express train searches for rare trio in Big ‘Cap

Express train the chance to assemble a trio together that hasn’t happened in 31 years — he could be the first horse since Farma Street in 1991 to capture the San Antonio Stakes (G2), the San Pasqual Stakes (G2) and the Big ‘Cap in the same season.

The most likely favorite in the Santa Anita March 5 Handicap is worth $650,000 by Yaavama’ Resort & Casino (G1), CRK Stable’s Express Train, a 5-year-old son of Union Rags scheduled to meet three of his opponents from San Pasqual Feb. 5: fourth Spielberg fifth place Kiss Today Goodbye and sixth place American Theorem .

Law professor runner-up in San Pasqual and winner of the December 26 Santa Anita Mathis Brothers Mile (G2T), picked Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1T) the same day on the pitch.

With the huge cards that 1ST / BET is conducting at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park On March 5, ponies have several options. Coach George Papaprodromou cross-entered the American Theorem in the 1/4-mile Large Stake and the seven-feathered San Carlos Stake presented by FanDuel (G2). Papaprodromou is said to be leaning in favor of Big ‘Cap and has to pick before the early morning, March 3rd.

Santa Anita Handicap, founded in 1935 as the first $100,000 race in the United States, attracted eight fields, including two shippers. The express train, which has a top weight rating of 124 pounds, is the top earner in the field with $935,800 and has won the most shares — four — including San Pasqual in 2021 and San Diego. Handicap (G2), later at Del Mar.

John Shirreffs, express train driver for CRK, said: “He is coming into the race very well. “I think he’s been very consistent. He’s been playing well lately and I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t do it again.”

Lee and Susan Searing race as CRK, and Victor Espinoza will go from 6th place.

Lee Searing after San Pasqual said: “He is clearly a big, handsome, strong horse and John has this way of training horses.

Shirreffs is looking for her first Santa Anita Handicap win. The express train finished second in last year’s race to Idol .

Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox is shipping Warranties , an interesting 4-year-old boy from Louisiana. Never worse than the third of eight lives began and the son of Organization , Warrant won the 2021 Oklahoma Derby (G3) and the Texas Derby. In its 2022 debut, the Twin Creeks hybrid finished 3rd through 2021 on TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) Mandaloun and the recent third prize of the Saudi Cup (G1) Midnight Bourbon on January 22, Louisiana Stakes (G3).

Stilleto boy entered the Santa Anita Handicap after a trip to Gulfstream to claim the Pegasus World Cup on January 29 presented by 1 / ST BET (G1). In that $3 million race at 1/8 mile, his 4-year-old son was at the wheel Shackleford finish third to Life is good and in 2021 the horse of the year Knicks Go .

The winner of the 2021 Iowa Derby when owned by other interests, Stilleto Boy was coached by Ed Moger Jr for his brother Steve. Second-placed Santa Anita in the 1/8-mile Awesome Again Stakes (G1) last fall, Stilleto Boy finished fifth in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in Del Mar. John Velazquez is set to control Stilleto Boy in Big ‘Cap from Lesson 8.

Ed Moger said: “I think he would benefit from a mile and a quarter. “He ran well at that distance in the Breeders’ Cup, but the race was too tough for him.”

Moger said that while Stilleto Boy looked tired when he returned from Florida, he returned quickly.

“After about four days, we had to get him back on track,” Moger said. “He demolished the barn, so he’s doing great.”

Coach Bob Baffert joined Spielberg (jockey Abel Cedillo, post 1) for a large ownership group led by Golconda Stables, Madaket Stables and SF Racing. A 4-year-old son of Union Rags and a $1 million September 2019 purchase of Keeneland, Spielberg captured Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) in 2020.

If Papaprodromou keeps the American Theorem in Big ‘Cap as expected, Mike Smith will ride his 5-year-old son. American pharoah from lesson 5 to the owner of Kretz Racing. Smith is also named on the American Theorem in San Carlos, where they drew column 2, just outside the speed Brickyard Ride on the railway.

JKX Racing’s Why Why Paul Why , formerly trained by Penny Pearce, made her debut with local Michael McCarthy conditioner. A 5-year-old son of archarch Why Why Paul Why claim $30,000 at Churchill Downs in mid-2021. In seven starts since, he’s won five times, including Kris Kringle Stakes on December 28 at Racing Parxand runner-up twice. McCarthy assigned Juan Hernandez to ride, and they drew a 2nd card.