Jorrocks On For Santa Anita Handicap

From Santa Anita
European import Jorrocks cleared quarantine and arrived at trainer Bob Hess Jr.'s barn Wednesday ready to roll in the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap on March 3. "We bought him specifically to run in this race," said Hess.

Part owner Richard Duggan is also high on the 7-year-old gelding who has won five of seven starts on all-weather surfaces in England. "We're stepping up a bit, but we've done that before," said Duggan. "He hasn't beaten much but when he wins, he wins easily."

Hess added that he has a work scheduled for Jorrocks Sunday and that he will look at the weight assignments before naming a rider.

In other Santa Anita Handicap developments:
--Tiznow worked seven furlongs in 1:23.80 under Chris McCarron.

--Lethal Instrument will work at Hollywood Park Saturday and if all goes well, the horse will start in the Big 'Cap, according to trainer John Shirreffs.

--Wooden Phone worked six furlongs in 1:12.40 for Bob Baffert, his first work since a three-furlongs breeze Feb. 11. "Wooden Phone is doing great," said Baffert, confirming that the Strub Stakes winner will go in the Big 'Cap.

--Aptitude work seven furlongs in 1:26 for Bobby Frankel at Hollywood Park.

--Captain Steve worked five furlongs under exercise rider Dana Barnes in :59.40 for Baffert. Will Captain Steve be in the gate for the Big 'Cap? "You never know," Baffert said.

--Tribunal worked six furlongs in 1:12, also for Baffert.

--Jimmy Z, third in the Strub Stakes, worked seven furlongs in 1:27.80 for Ron McAnally.

--Kent Desormeaux took San Antonio Handicap champion Guided Tour out for a five-furlong breeze in 1:02 for trainer Niall O'Callaghan, who was on hand for the workout. O'Callaghan said that, "at this point" he has a flight scheduled March 1 to take Guided Tour back to the Fair Grounds for a planned start in the New Orleans Handicap March 4. "After I discussed it with Mr. Fink, we decided that it was the prudent thing to do," he said.

--Weights for the Santa Anita Handicap will be assigned Sunday.

--Post time for the Big 'Cap is 4:12 p.m. (PST)

--Probable to the grade I Santa Anita Handicap with jockeys: Tiznow, Chris McCarron; Bienamado, Alex Solis; Beat All, Gary Stevens; Jimmy Z, Laffit Pincay Jr.; Irisheyesareflying, Kent Desormeaux; Aptitude, Victor Espinoza; Wooden Phone, Corey Nakatani; Moonlight Charger, Tyler Baze; Tribunal, no rider, and Jorrocks, no rider. Possibles include: Guided Tour, Larry Melancon; Captain Steve, no rider; Nurdlinger, no rider, and Lethal Instrument, no rider.