Triple Crown Talk blog, with host Jason Shandler, looks at the San Rafael Stakes, as the Derby Trail moves to Santa Anita.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Jason and Tom analyze the San Rafael Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita on January 17. The Wizard's Spotlight Play is Fair Grounds Race 10 on Saturday, January 17.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Unbeaten El Gato Malo took advantage of a blistering pace to register a runaway 6 1/4-length victory in the $150,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. III) as the West Coast Triple Crown campaign got underway at Santa Anita Jan. 12.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Massive Drama, who ran third in the CashCall Futurity (gr. I) at Hollywood Park last month, holds the edge in experience against six up-and-coming rivals entered in the $150,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. III), which kicks off the 2008 3-year-old season at Santa Anita Jan. 12.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Zayat Stables' Maimonides will race for the first time since Sept. 3 when he competes in the Jan. 12 San Rafael Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Park, trainer Bob Baffert said Dec. 19.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Merv Griffin's Stevie Wonderboy, this year's early Kentucky Derby (gr. I) favorite, begins the Triple Crown trail Saturday when meeting Hollywood Futurity (gr. I) champion Brother Derek and four other 3-year-olds in Santa Anita's $150,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. II).
Thursday, January 12, 2006
HorseRacing TV will broadcast the $150,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) from at Santa Anita Park during a half-hour show, presented by Gainesway, beginning at 6 p.m. EST Jan. 14.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Trainer Doug O'Neill has mapped out a program that would keep Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Stevie Wonderboy in Southern California until the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) on May 6.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Spanish Chestnut took a big step forward Saturday at Santa Anita Park by winning the $150,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds -- his graded stakes debut -- in determined style.
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Texcess, who was entered in both the Golden Gate Derby at Golden Gate Fields and the San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita on Saturday, will stay home, Southern California-based trainer Paul Aguirre confirmed Friday morning.
Saturday, January 15, 2005
The long Triple Crown trail for 3-year-olds gets starts in earnest on the West Coast Saturday with Santa Anita Park's $150,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. II), which drew six entries.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
If Kirkendahl wins Saturday's $150,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita Park, it will be music to the ears of the colt's owner, country singing star Toby Keith.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
At first glance the success of Imperialism, the son of a $4,500 mare, appears flukish, but after delving into the thought process that produced the two-time grade II winner, it replays a common refrain in breeding: stamina, plus speed, equals success.
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Here we are a week into March and the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) picture is still pretty muddled, with many of the leading contenders either lightly raced and lightly tested this year or uncertain to get the mile and a quarter. But at least the San Rafael (gr. II) and Louisiana Derby (gr. II) provided some stimulating performances.
Monday, March 08, 2004
Surging Imperialism shocked even-money favorite Lion Heart in the $200,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita, coming from last after a half mile to get up in the final jumps and score a neck victory Saturday.
Saturday, March 06, 2004
HorseRacing TV™ (HRTV) will set a single day network record when it offers live coverage of 18 stakes races from the Middle East and throughout the United States on Saturday, March 6.
Thursday, March 04, 2004
A full field of 10 sophomores will go to the post in Saturday's $200,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita, including grade I winner Lion Heart, the likely favorite making his first start of the year.
Wednesday, March 03, 2004
Mike Mitchell has been training nearly 30 years but has never run a horse in the Kentucky Derby. If the 55-year-old Bakersfield, Calif. native gets to Churchill Downs on May 1, his hopes rest with Quinton's Gold Rush.
Sunday, February 29, 2004
Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's undefeated grade I winner Lion Heart got his final major prep for his March 6 sophomore debut, breezing six furlongs from the gate under regular jockey Mike Smith in 1:12 4/5 at Santa Anita on Wednesday.
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Trainer Patrick Biancone sent two of his most promising Triple Crown hopefuls, Lion Heart and Pomeroy, out for workouts Wednesday morning over Santa Anita's fast main track.
Thursday, February 05, 2004
Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Jerry Bailey teamed up to win Saturday's San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita with favored Rojo Toro, a newcomer to the 3-year-old picture, less than a month after the pair lost undefeated early Kentucky Derby favorite Vindication to injury.
Saturday, March 01, 2003
Team Valor's Omega Code, forced to miss Saturday's San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita due to a foot bruise, is training and may work again as soon as Tuesday, according to Blake Heap, assistant to trainer Wesley Ward.
Saturday, March 01, 2003
Edmund Gann's graded stakes-winning Peace Rules will not make the lineup for Saturday's $200,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita and could instead make his next start in the Mar. 9 Louisiana Derby (gr. II), trainer Bobby Frankel said.
Friday, February 28, 2003
Our Bobby V., prepping for Saturday's $200,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at one mile, blew out two furlongs Friday morning on Santa Anita's fast main track in :24 flat, according to trainer Bill Spawr.
Friday, February 28, 2003
The Bobby Frankel-trained Peace Rules, twice a stakes winner on turf, and stakes winners Spensive and Sum Trick head a field of nine entered in Saturday's $200,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.
Thursday, February 27, 2003
Omega Code faces his most serious test Saturday, trying two turns for the first time in the one-mile San Rafael Stakes (Gr. III) at Santa Anita.
Sunday, February 23, 2003
Trainer Rafael Becerra sent out his two Triple Crown hopefuls, Crackup and Sum Trick, for works over a fast Santa Anita main track Friday morning.
Saturday, February 22, 2003
Santa Catalina Stakes (gr. II) runner-up Our Bobby V. is one of only 14 horses on the official Santa Anita work tab over the past three days, going five furlongs in 1:01.80 on a sloppy track on Tuesday.
Thursday, February 13, 2003
San Miguel (gr. III) winner Omega Code posted his first breeze for new owners Team Valor Sunday, zipping a bullet five furlongs in :58 2/5 breezing at Santa Anita while in company with the John Dolan-trained Alices Silver Lady, who was given the same time as her workmate. The moves were easily the fastest of the 56 who worked at the distance.
Sunday, February 02, 2003
C.T. Grether Inc.'s Crafty C.T. set the early pace and drew away in the stretch, winning the $200,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) by four lengths over Palmeiro on a fast track at Santa Anita on Saturday. Under jockey Eddie Delahoussaye, Crafty C.T. completed the one-mile race for 3-year-olds in 1:35.79.
Saturday, March 03, 2001
Santa Catalina Stakes runner-up Palmeiro worked four furlongs in :47.60 over Santa Anita's main track Wednesday in preparation for Saturday's grade II San Rafael Stakes for 3-year-olds going one mile. Probable starters in the race, with jockeys, are: Palmeiro, Kent Desormeaux; Swordfish, David Flores; Victory Roar, Gary Stevens; Crafty C.T., Eddie Delahoussaye; Early Flyer, Chris McCarron; Media Mogul, Alex Solis and Wild And Wise, Victor Espinoza.
Tuesday, February 27, 2001
With the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap only 11 days away, a star-studded field is rounding into shape, with Horse of the Year Tiznow, Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes runner-up Aptitude and turf star Bienamado all likely to make the starting gate for the 64th running of the 1 1/4-mile event. Also scheduled for Big 'Cap day is the $400,000 Kilroe Mile on the Camino Real turf course for older horses while Santa Anita Derby hopefuls will traverse two turns in the one-mile, $200,000 San Rafael Stakes.
Tuesday, February 20, 2001
