Leroidesanimaux tries to give trainer Bobby Frankel his sixth victory in the Morvich Handicap (gr. IIIT) Saturday in the $100,000 Oak Tree grass race at Santa Anita Park. The Morvich, for 3-year-olds and up at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf course, is Oak Tree's feature race on a live program of seven races at Santa Anita Park. The day is highlighted by the simulcast of the 21st Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships from Lone Star Park. Post time for the first simulcast race from Lone Star is 9:40 a.m. The first live race at Santa Anita is scheduled for 9:55 a.m. Admission gates open at 8:30 a.m. Leroidesanimaux, a 4-year-old Brazilian-bred colt by Candy Stripes, has won four of seven career starts, including his last three, but he comes off a five-month layoff. The chestnut colt captured the Inglewood Handicap (gr. IIIT) on May 1 at Hollywood Park. The speed of the Morvich is De Valmont, a 7-year-old gelding who seeks his first stakes win. The Australian-bred son of Dehere has eight wins from 17 lifetime starts. Cayoke, a 7-year-old French-bred son of Always Fair, has a 13-6-4 record from 39 starts and won the El Cielo Handicap at Santa Anita at the same distance of the Morvich in March. Frankel won the Morvich back-to-back with Impressive Luck in 1977 and 1978, followed by River Drummer in 1986, Western Approach in 1993 and Riviera in 1999.
$100,000 Morvich Handicap (gr. IIIT), 3 & up, about 6 1/2 furlongs (turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight
1. De Valmont, Mike Smith, 115
2. Vasywait, Omar Figueroa, 115
3. Geronimo, Garrett Gomez, 118
4. Leroidesanimaux, Jon Court, 117
5. Irgunette, Casey Fusilier, 113
6. Cayoke, Gary Stevens, 116
7. Coded Message, Danny Sorenson, 113
