Love That Red and jockey Corey Nakatani win the Grade II $150,000 Pat O'Brien Handicap.
Love That Red completed his major preparations for the $125,000 California Sprint Championship Handicap Saturday at Bay Meadows, working five furlongs over a fast track at Santa Anita. The 4-year-old gelding completed the drill in 1:00 1/5, handily.In his most recent start, Love That Red won the Pat O'Brien Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar after finishing second to Kona Gold in the Bing Crosby Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II). The son of Highland Park will start as the 123-pound highweight for the six-furlong race for California-bred horses. Frank Alvarado will have the mount Saturday on the Bob Baffert trainee. In last year's renewal of the race, Highland Park finished third, behind Big Jag and Peach Flat.Others nominated to the race, with weights, are: Full Moon Madness, 120; Champ's Star, 117; Peach Flat, 116; Men's Exclusive, 115; Theresa's Tizzy, 115; Navel Academy, 114; Turkish Prize, 114; Unlimited Value, 114; King Excess, 113; Roaring Red, 113; Six Point Eight, 112; and Proud Louie, 110.
