Chips All In defends his San Simeon Stakes (gr. IIT) title April 13 at Santa Anita Park in his season debut over the hillside turf course, facing nine opponents in the $100,000 event at about 6 1/2 furlongs.
The San Simeon, the eighth race on the Sunday program with a 4 p.m. scheduled post, also attracted Joe Hernandez Stakes winner Sweet Swap. The San Simeon is one of two grade III turf events on the card along with the Santa Barbara Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles.
Trainer Jeff Mullins has tabbed Tyler Baze to ride Chips All In in the San Simeon. Baze was aboard the 5-year-old son of North Light for last year's race, which Chips All In won by a half length over grade I winner Obviously. They'll have to contend with the inside rail while packing top weight of 120 pounds.
Chips All In, who also won the Eddie D Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the hillside course last year, has not raced since finishing fourth in the Daytona Stakes (gr. IIIT) Dec. 28. He owns a 7-6-1 mark in 19 starts with earnings of $429,279.
Sweet Swap, a lightly raced 5-year-old by Candy Ride trained by John Sadler for Hronis Racing, won the Hernandez over the same hillside course in stalking style by 1 1/2 lengths. The chestnut horse seeks his first graded victory while compiling a 5-2-1 mark in 11 starts against lesser company.
Joe Talamo keeps the mount on Sweet Swap, who finished second in the Clocker's Corner Stakes Jan. 26 to San Simeon rival Lakerville.
The latter, trained by Barry Abrams for Madeline Auerbach, was sixth in the Frank E. Kilroe MIle (gr. IT) in his most recent start March 8. The consistent 6-year-old son of Unusual Heat has otherwise never been worse than second in eight prior starts while winning five of them. Corey Nakatani, who last rode the chestnut horse in the Clocker's Corner, gets the mount back.
Also in the San Simeon are Zimmer and Pure Tactics, second and third, respectively, in the Joe Hernandez.
$100,000 San Simeon Stakes (gr. IIIT, Race 8, 4 p.m.), 4 & Up, About 6 1/2 Furlongs (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Chips All In (KY), T Baze, 120, J Mullins
2. Pataky Kid (OK), G L Stevens, 118, T F Proctor
3. Chiloquin (CA), I Puglisi, 118, S Hansen
4. Forward March (KY), A T Gryder, 118, J A Shirreffs
5. Sweet Swap (KY), J Talamo, 118, J W Sadler
6. Zimmer (KY), M E Smith, 118, T F Proctor
7. Pure Tactics (TX), R Bejarano, 118, D F O'Neill
8. Lakerville (CA), C S Nakatani, 118, B Abrams
9. Handsome Mike (KY), M Gutierrez, 120, D F O'Neill
10. Artest (KY), B Blanc, 118, A M Stall Jr.
Chips All In
Benoit Photo