Santa Anita to Deliver a Huge Opening Day Race Card
The opening day of any track is always a big deal; but there is always something a little special about the first day of racing at Santa Anita. The winter/spring meet is set to get underway this coming Saturday; Dec 26 and it promises to be a belated Christmas gift for race fans, especially those who love graded stakes races.
Santa Anita is making horse racing news this weekend; as their opening day card will include no less than five different graded stakes races. We will have all the details of these races a little later this week; but we thought it might be fun to give you guys a little teaser look at all the action that is coming on Saturday.
The first of the five races is the Malibu Stakes (G1)
Which will be run over 7F and will have a field of seven. There are several horses to look out for in this one; but it is the return of Charlatan from an ankle injury that is perhaps the biggest story.
Next up is the La Brea Stakes (G1), another 7F race that will have a field of ten horses entering the starting gate. We have a former stakes winner, Finite, shipping in for this one, but a solid field indeed.
The San Antonio Stakes (G2) is the next on the list; with a seven horse field set to contest this one over a 1 1/16 mile course. Listed as probable, we might well see Bob Baffert enter Mucho Gusto into this race.
We head to the turf next for the Mathis Brother Mile (G2)
With nine horses set to go in what looks to be a very competitive lineup. Storm the Court; will be in here looking for his first graded stakes win since taking the wire at the 2019 Breeders Cup.
We have our largest field of the day in the final graded stakes race this Saturday, with ten horses in for the American Oaks (G1). Sharing will be making her second start after a layoff as she looks to master a 1 ¼ over the turf.
It’s going to be a massive day of racing on the opening day at Santa Anita this Saturday and we will break down all of these races a little later in the week, so be sure to stop by for updates.
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