HORSE RACING: SURF CAT TO GROW UP QUICKLY.Byline: Kevin Modesti Staff Writer Surf Cat must face some of California's best sprinters when the colt opens his season in the $150,000 San Carlos Handicap The San Carlos Handicap is a Grade II stakes race for Thoroughbred horses run at California's Santa Anita Park each year. The race is open to horses, aged four and up, willing to race seven furlongs on the dirt and offers a purse of $150,000. on Saturday after missing Santa Anita's big races for 4-year-olds with a hoof injury. With Alex Solis riding for trainer Bruce Headley, Surf Cat is part of an eight-horse field for the 7-furlong San Carlos, which has Major Success (Patrick Valenzuela), the Palos Verdes winner in his first try at the stakes level; Jet West (Garrett Gomez), the Cal Cup Sprint winner and a photo-finish loser in the El Conejo and Palos Verdes, Imperialism (Victor Espinoza), 1 for his past 13 but 3 for 3 at 7 furlongs, and Congrats (Tyler Baze), ticketed for shorter distances this year after winning the 2005 San Pasqual at 1 1/16 miles. Surf Cat broke his maiden in April and missed the Triple Crown races but made up for lost time. After winning a 6 1/2-furlong allowance race in 1:14 2/5, earning the highest Beyer speed rating (114) by a 3-year-old in California in 2005, he won Hollywood Park's Swaps Stakes by five lengths. A sixth place against older horses in the Pacific Classic is his only finish worse than second in eight starts. Santa Anita's holiday-Monday card features the $150,000 Buena Vista Handicap The Buena Vista Handicap is an annual race for Thoroughbred horses held early in the year at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race one mile on the Grade II]] event. The Buena Vista offers a purse of $150.000. , a turf mile for fillies and mares, with Silver Cup (Espinoza) trying to validate her $35.40 win in the San Gorgonio. --Derby trail: Kentucky Derby contenders in action this weekend include Bluegrass Cat, who runs in Monday's Sam Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs Tampa Bay Downs is a horse track in Tampa, Florida. History The track opened in 1926. The track has operated under many names the most famous being Florida Downs. In 1943, the Army used the track as a training facility. for trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez in his first start since winning the Remsen Stakes in November. Lawyer Ron is aiming for Monday's Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas for trainer Bob Holthus and jockey John McKee as the 3-year-old tries to build on an 8 1/4-length victory in last month's Risen Star. Bob Baffert entered Point Determined in an $80,000 optional-claiming race at Golden Gate Fields Golden Gate Fields is a horse racing track straddling both Albany, California and Berkeley, California along the shoreline of San Francisco Bay adjacent to the today as a step toward the April 8 Santa Anita Derby The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and carries a purse of $750,000. . --Looking ahead: Recent stakes winners High Limit, Spellbinder spell·bind·er n. One that holds others spellbound, especially an enthralling speaker or a particularly interesting book. Noun 1. and Lava Man - as well as 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo - are among nine horses listed as `probable' for the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in the late winter at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses three years old and up, and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during on March 4. Others are Marenostrum, Texcess, Top This and That, Wilko and With Distinction. Borrego, the 2005 Pacific Classic and Jockey Club Gold Cup The Jockey Club Gold Cup, established in 1919, is a prestigious thoroughbred flat race open to horses of either gender three-years-old and up. It is typically the main event of the fall meeting at Belmont Park, just as the Belmont Stakes is of the spring meeting and the Travers winner, will miss the Big 'Cap after an illness cost him training time. CAPTION(S): box Box: OUT OF THE GATE - Kevin Modesti |
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