Grade II winner No Jet Lag makes his first start since he was well beaten by Wise Dan in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) when he takes on nine opponents in the $200,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park Dec. 26.
The opening day feature, at one mile on the turf for 3-year-olds, is sandwiched on the card by a pair of grade I sprints for 3-year-olds, the Malibu Stakes and the La Brea for fillies. The Sir Beaufort is race 7 with a scheduled post time of 3 p.m. PST.
Anthony Ramsden's No Jet Lag transferred to the United States from Great Britain this summer. The Kentucky-bred son of Johar won his first two starts in Southern California at one mile on grass, including a sparkling victory in the City of Hope MIle (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park Oct. 5, when he earned a Beyer figure of 105.
In the Breeders' Cup Mile a month later, he pulled early while pressing the pace from the inside and folded up in the lane to be sixth, six lengths behind the defending Horse of the Year Wise Dan.
Trainer Simon Callaghan expects the 3-year-old gelding to rebound in the Sir Beaufort.
"He ran a little rank in the race," Callaghan said of the BC Mile. "He probably got a little too close to the strong pace. But we gave him time off after that; he didn't run at Hollywood, and he's training well for the Sir Beaufort."
No Jet Lag will be ridden for the first time by Joel Rosario. Campaigned in England for his first seven starts, No Jet Lag has four wins and a second from 10 races with earnings of $148,782.
California-bred Gervinho , who has two wins and a second at a mile on grass, also figures to be a tough customer in the Sir Beaufort. The bay colt by Unusual Heat cuts back in distance after running a close fourth in the 10-furlong Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) on turf Dec. 1.
Gervinho’s last win came in the restricted Oceanside Stakes at a mile on the Del Mar grass July 17. He followed that effort with a close second and third in a pair of grade II tests at 1 1/8 miles, the Del Mar Derby Sept. 1 and the Twilight Derby at Santa Anita Nov. 1.
Trained by Carla Gaines and owned by Keith Brackpool, Gervinho retains jockey Rafael Bejarano, who has been aboard for all three of the colt's career wins.
Glen Hill Farm’s Procurement won Santa Anita’s La Puente Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf April 21, and comes off a sharp allowance score at a mile on turf at Betfair Hollywood Park Nov. 28. He also rates a big chance in the Sir Beaufort with Joe Talamo again engaged to ride.
Trained by Tom Proctor, the Florida-bred colt by Milwaukee Brew has enjoyed a productive 2013, winning three times and running second once from 10 starts. With two wins and a second from three tries at a mile on grass, Procurement is proven at the distance.
Mike Smith, who rode No Jet Lag in his last two starts, is back aboard improving Tom's Tribute , who the Hall of Fame rider won with twice at Santa Anita this fall for trainer Jim Cassidy. The Kentucky-bred colt by Lion Heart comes off a 2 1/4-length score in the overnight Uniformity Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs down the hillside turf course Oct. 20.
Tiz a Minister figures to running late for trainer Paul Aguirre, while trainer Paddy Gallagher hopes Dice Flavor can rediscover the form that saw the Scat Daddy colt capture the La Jolla Handicap (gr. IIT) at Del Mar in August.
$200,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes (gr. IIT, Race 7, 3 p.m.), 3YOs, 1 Mile (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Outside Nashville (KY), M A Pedroza, 118, J Hollendorfer
2. Tiz a Minister (CA), M Garcia, 118, P G Aguirre
3. Educated Guess (KY), A Delgadillo, 118, D E Hofmans
4. Dice Flavor (KY), J Valdivia Jr., 123, P Gallagher
5. Horizontalyspeakin (MD), E A Maldonado, 118, J W Sadler
6. Gervinho (CA), R Bejarano, 118, C Gaines
7. Procurement (FL), J Talamo, 118, T F Proctor
8. No Jet Lag (KY), J Rosario, 123, S Callaghan
9. Tom's Tribute (KY), M E Smith, 118, J M Cassidy
10. Si Sage (FR), K Stra, 118, D Vienna
No Jet Lag takes on 9 in the Sir Beaufort Stakes.
Benoit Photo