Though the days of true handicap racing seem to have largely disappeared in North America, serious props go out to the few tracks who do their best to preserve history and offer big purses for the best older horses willing to carry weight and earn a position among the best in the older male division.
While many are converting to the ranks of stakes, conditions and weight-for-age exhibitions, tracks like Gulfstream Park, Oaklawn, Churchill Downs and especially Santa Anita remain dedicated to history and continue to offer rich handicap events.
Since its start in 1935 during the California track’s inaugural season, the Big ‘Cap has collected an impressive list of winners. The legendary Seabiscuit captured the 1940 renewal after coming up short in two earlier attempts.
Round Table, Prove It, Lucky Debonair, Ack Ack, Triple Bend, Affirmed, Spectacular Bid, Broad Brush, Alysheba, Best Pal, Free House and Shared Belief are just some of the other names to have reached the storied winner’s circle. But perhaps the best-known victors are two-time heroes John Henry, Milwaukee Brew and Lava Man, as well as three-time winner Game On Dude.
Local standout John Sadler and his owners, Hronis Racing, won three runnings of the Big ‘Cap from 2018 through 2020 – Accelerate, Gift Box and Combatant.
The late Charlie Whittingham still owns the record in number of Santa Anita Handicap winners with nine (1957, 1967, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1993) and his go-to rider, the late Bill Shoemaker, is still the race’s most successful jockey having ridden 11 winners (1954, 1955, 1958, 1961, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1985).
Game On Dude still owns the stakes record of 1:58.17 from the last of three victories in 2014.
Big ‘Cap Odds: Just a Touch 3-2 favorite
Santa Anita Handicap once again offers its signature race – the $300,000 Big ‘Cap – on Saturday with a field of six older runners going 1 ¼ miles. Just a Touch is the 3-2 morning-line favorite.
The Contenders
- Just a Touch (3-2): This Brad Cox trainee is the clear favorite and has a tactical turn of foot, which makes him comfortable as a presser or stalker coupled with classic stamina from his pedigree. The 5-year-old son of Justify recently returned from a six-month layoff to finish second by a neck in the Louisiana Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles at the Fair Grounds, showing he can rate just off the pace and finish strongly. The 2024 Gotham Stakes (G3) and Blue Grass Stakes (G1) runner-up did not fare well in the Kentucky Derby (G1), but he’s consistent – he's hit the board nine of 10 times. The stretch-out to two turns at Santa Anita should suit him perfectly while giving Cox and jockey Florent Geroux a live shot to notch their first Big ‘Cap win.
- Getaway Car (3-1): This 4-year-old Curlin colt finished a solid second, beaten just 2¾ lengths, to Westwood in the San Pasqual Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 31 while pressing the pace and brings tactical speed and a stalking style that should keep him in the hunt early from an ideal post. The Bob Baffert trainee is seeking his first graded stakes win since taking Del Mar’s Best Pal (G3) at age 2 but took the Sunland Derby last year in fine fashion and stays a dangerous a threat. Juan Hernandez rides.
- Westwood (7-2): The San Pasqual winner will go to post a sentimental favorite no doubt, the last winner for Hall of Fame nominee John Shirreffs before his sudden passing last month. Now in the care of Peter Eurton, this confirmed front-runner loves to dictate terms and has already proven he can wire a quality field over this track. The 4-year-old Authentic gelding posted a dominant gate-to-wire victory last out for his first graded score, then fired a bullet 4-furlong work in :46.60 on Monday. He has 10 career starts (2-3-3) and his sharp current form and rail-side post advantage makes him tough if left alone on the lead under regular rider Kazushi Kimura.
- Vodka Vodka (6-1): This stalker who can pounce from mid-pack and gets a big class test but arrives in peak form with light weight. The 5-year-old California-bred Stay Thirsty gelding, who is trained by Aggie Ordonez, won the Unusual Heat Turf Classic at Santa Anita on Jan. 17 after proving dirt ability in stakes company with a fourth in the Laffit Pincay Jr. Handicap (G2) in December, which was his only prior open-company stakes try. Ordonez reported him “floating on air” after a sharp 5- furlong work in 1:00.20 on Feb. 22, so at 116 pounds he could surprise if the pace melts up front with Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux aboard.
- British Isles (6-1): Trained by Richard Baltas, this gelding a versatile presser/stalker who can sit mid-pack and produce a solid late kick. The 5-year-old by Justify was a near-miss in the Native Diver (G3) at Del Mar in November before finishing a respectable fifth in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) on Jan. 24. His recent 5-furlong work in 59.80 keeps him sharp, and while he needs to step up, his recent form makes him a live longshot in a compact field.
- Midnight Mammoth (8-1): This veteran speed type, who is trained by Craig Dollase, can lead or rate and knows his way around Santa Anita. The 7-year-old Midnight Lute gelding won the Cougar II Handicap (G3) in gate-to-wire fashion at Del Mar and finished a strong second in last year’s Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) over this 1¼-mile distance. He was fifth in the recent San Pasqual but drops in class compared to the top three and gets the rail under Armando Ayuso, offering value if the pace scenario favors an inside speed duel or a patient trip.
The picks: 1 Just a Touch, 2 Getaway Car, 3 Westwood
The field for the $300,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1), with jockey, trainer, odds:
1 Midnight Mammoth (Armando Ayuso, Craig Dollase), 8-1
2 Getaway Car (Juan Hernandez, Bob Baffert), 3-1
3 Just a Touch (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox), 3-2
4 Vodka Vodka (Kent Desormeaux, Aggie Ordonez), 6-1
5 Skippylongstocking – SCRATCHED
6 British Isles (Diego Herrera, Richard Baltas), 6-1
7 Westwood (Kazushi Kimura, Peter Eurton), 7-2
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.
