The Eddie Logan Stakes is named in honor of the beloved shoeshine guy also known as “The Foot Man.’’ Logan worked at the track for more than 70 years, starting in the 1930s, and became a fixture of Santa Anita’s culture until his passing in 2009.
The race was renamed from the Hill Rise Stakes to the Eddie Logan in 2006.
The race was initially scheduled for New Year’s Eve but was redrawn for Thursday after heavy rains in the Southern California area last week caused the track to cancel cards.
As the Hill Rise, the race was typically contested in late December as part of the track’s holiday meet. It offers a $100,000 purse and serves as an important proving ground for juvenile turf specialists – now newly turned 3-year-olds for this edition – often featuring horses that go on to compete in graded stakes. The race has been held annually on turf, with one notable exception: in 2012, it was moved to dirt due to weather conditions.
Over the years, the winter meet staple has produced several notable performers who achieved success in higher-level races, such as Cabo Spirit (2021), who just 10 days ago captured the San Gabriel Stakes (G2) on opening day.
When previously contested as the Hill Rise Stakes, named for the iconic Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and multiple Grade 1-winning Cal-bred (before 2006), notable winners included millionaires and Grade 1 winners Ladies Din, The Deputy, Peace Rules, and Al Mamoon.
Morning-line favorite at 7-5 is Stark Contrast, who enters with strong credentials, having narrowly missed in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at huge odds behind heavy favorite Gstaad. Had the filly not encountered traffic trouble, a clean trip might have made the three-quarter-length difference at the wire. The Jerry Amerman homebred son of Caravaggio previously took down the Zuma Beach Stakes (G3) three months ago over this course and at this distance, already showcasing his affinity for Santa Anita’s turf. The Michael McCarthy trainee owns some tactical turn of foot and is in expert hands under jockey Kazushi Kimura.
He won’t offer much value for the win, but he is a cinch for all exacta and trifecta wagers.
Bob Baffert, who isn’t known typically as a turf trainer despite his Hall of Fame status, sends out Plutarch, a son of Into Mischief and the standout distaffer Stellar Wind. Though the Coolmore-owned colt owns consistent form (never worse than third), he finally found his footing to win a maiden at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar a month ago. He’s certainly fit to go this mile and his past performances suggesting that as a confirmed closer he could take advantage should the pace melt down.
Unrivaled Time seeks a third straight win after capturing the Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (G3) with a late bid a month ago at Del Mar after breaking his maiden impressively at this distance over this course in mid-October. He brings graded momentum for trainer Leonard Powell and jockey Diego Herrera; he significantly benefited from the redraw and will break from the middle in post 4.
Irish import Iriseach is another DeMille alum, finishing a closing second after a U.S. maiden win at a mile at Del Mar, and his four-wide rally style under Umberto Rispoli for Phil D’Amato could suit a race with expected honest fractions.
Longshots like Third Beer, who showed promise in allowance company, the well-bred maiden winner Brigante from the Doug O’Neill barn, and French-bred Caro Buono, also from Powell’s powerful turf performer arsenal, add depth but would need career-best efforts to upset the top tier.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
