Santa Anita Park is ready for another huge Saturday with a 10-race card including three Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races dominated by horses trained by Bob Baffert and Phil D’Amato.
All totaled, Baffert and D’Amato have 10 of the 22 horses entered for the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes (G1), the $200,000 Oak Leaf Stakes (G2), and the $200,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G2).
Before we delve into the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah, here’s the breakdown: Baffert sends out three of seven in the American Pharoah, D’Amato has three of seven in the 6 ½-furlong Rodeo Drive, and Baffert has four of eight in the 1 1/16-mile Oak Leaf.
McKinzie Street. Benoit Photo.
Baffert juveniles are primed for a big day at Santa Anita Saturday
That said, it could be a big day for both trainers in the final weekend of Breeders’ Cup qualifying.
The American Pharoah, renamed from the FrontRunner, which was renamed from the Norfolk, is named for Baffert’s 2015 Triple Crown winner. The winner earns an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
Baffert, a 12-time winner of this race, sends out Getaway Car (2-1), Citizen Bull (5-2), and Emerald Bay (5-1). But the 9-5 favorite is McKinzie Street for trainer Tim Yakteen.
Perhaps he should be since he finished ahead of Citizen Bull (third) and Getaway Car (fourth) in running second in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) on Sept. 8 and beating Emerald Bay in his career debut on July 28.
McKinzie Street went gate-to-wire in winning his first start (at 5 ½ furlongs), then stalked the leaders in the Del Mar Futurity before finishing second to Gaming.
Kazushi Kimura has the call again and leaves from post 1.
Citizen Bull was not a factor in the Del Mar Futurity, while Getaway Car dueled in front but weakened in the stretch and finished fourth.
It’s tough to bet against Baffert, and even tougher to go with a longshot when he has three of the four top horses in a field of seven.
The American Pharoah is race 9 with a post time of 8 p.m. ET.
For those who bet horse racing …
The picks: 1 McKinzie Street 2 Getaway Car 3 Citizen Bull
The field for the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes (G1), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:
1 McKinzie Street (Kazushi Kimura, Tim Yakteen), 9-5
2 Show of Force (Umberto Rispoli, Todd Fincher), 20-1
3 Citizen Bull (Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert), 5-2
4 Mischief River (Cesar Ortega, James Glenn, Jr.), 10-1
5 Emerald Bay (Antonio Fresu, Bob Baffert), 6-1
6 Start Mo Up (Serafin Carmona, Joe Lejzerowicz), 50-1
7 Getaway Car (Juan Hernandez, Bob Baffert), 2-1