Wooden Phone, shown winning the Strub Stakes, worked Thursday in preparation for the Santa Anita Handicap.

Wooden Phone, shown winning the Strub Stakes, worked Thursday in preparation for the Santa Anita Handicap.

Associated Press/ Benoit Photo

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.