in Triple Crown Articles

There are some great races throughout the country for the weekend warriors but we will isolate on the sophomore action in the Bayou at the Santa Anita.

Not to slight some potential future stars at Anita, we will also tab the top contenders in two other high-level events in Arcadia.

Let’s get the gumbo and the jambalaya out first and tackle the Risen Star at Fair Grounds. For three-year-olds, this is a stepping-stone for some that have Triple Crown aspirations and the race comes up fully subscribed.

Leading the contenders is the beaten chalk in the BC Juvenile Circular Quay. He hooked a freak that day in Street Sense and was clearly the best of the rest despite a rough trip. Working like a Swiss clock on the Cushion Track at Hollywood Park of late, he will be looking to come from 5 or 6 lengths off the pace and run them all down.

The horse to beat could very well be Zanjero. He has been freshened by newly re-instated Steven Asmussen and if you key off his second to recent Holy Bull winner NoBiz Like Shobiz in the Remsen, he’ll be super tough. He also has a home court thing going on since he has been stabled in ‘Orleans for over two months.

The cinema set will be represented by San Rafael winner Notional. Not sure if he was beating anybody in the last win in California but he did it drawing away. He was hardly flattered when the runner he handled by four lengths returned to lose as the prohibitive chalk when pretty much beaten on the square.

One long shot that deserves consideration is Izzie’s Halo. This guy is battle tested; he has been in three stakes in his seven outs and has won on the track. Value should be available here and you also have Tom Amoss in your corner. He’s only hitting at 33% this meeting at the Fair Grounds.

Ermine heads the Santa Maria Saturday at Santa Anita but there is a twist here. This is the first time she’ll be asked to win outside of Oaklawn or Kentucky and although she has been at Anita for a couple of weeks now, this is her first invasion. Ermine was boosted when the miss she just outgamed for her last win came back to take the $500,000 Sunshine Million Distaff to end January. Her A game puts her on the wire but the horse to deny may be Rahys’ Appeal.

She can never be counted out. All she does is strap on the work boots and punch the clock. She has been in the exacta in ten of 19 careers, handles dirt and got a pretty nice prep in the grassy Gorgonio. Take a glance at what her rider Aaron Gryder had to say after the race. Gryder: “I think she’s going to be very competitive. Her speed puts her right in the race and definitely favors a dirt-racing style. Trainer Tom Bush says she’s as good or maybe even better on dirt. She should be very tough.”

It’ll be Seafree and River Savage setting the pace. If one clears easily look out.

The other Saturday feature is the Las Virgenes when baby fillies of the three-year-old set go at it. Six or seven horses could win it. Jump On In is the now horse having taken three of five and off a clever win after overcoming trouble in the Santa Ynez. She will have to work against Cash Included, Baroness Thatcher, Swiss Diva, Rags to Riches and Romance Is Diane. One thing I’ve learned over the years is to be very careful when throwing it down like there was no tomorrow on fillies. They are fickle, it’s inherent to the breed, and they don’t run races the same. With that said, you now have a race that is a lot more wide open than one may think.

Over the decades Sunday’s La Canada has showcased some real sizzlers. Chris Evert made it game, set, match in the inaugural running, champion Glorious Song won the 1980 renewal and classy distaffers Goodbye Halo and Gorgeous also pulled the winning trigger.

Balance will be in a revenge mode and there is enough zip in here to promote her kick.

She was a non-threatening third in the La Brea to end 2006 but sprinting is not her game. It will be a short and sweet field and the value could be the Gulfstream interloper Witch Woman. She has never beaten this caliber foe but shows up and runs her heart out every time. Sugar Shake and Kris’ Sis are logical in the exotics.

Looking for a Canada surprise? Go no further than Les Ry Leigh. Her trainer is on record as saying the miss is really doing well and the price will be right.

MUST BE CHECKED FOR STARTERS

Sophomores are spotlighted Sunday at Anita in the 7-furlong San Vicente Stakes. This race of late has not been the end all as far as what it takes to thrive the first Saturday in May but go back a few years and you will find Derby winners Hill Gail and Majestic Prince among the Vicente champs.

Only seven go and Major Pleasure is the now horse while Spanish Influence will try to steal it.

The trip horses are nearly unbeaten Law Breaker, a Bob Baffert long-fused jet and Hurry Up Austin, who has been suffering from a bad case of seconditis. Both of those guys will thrive if they go bonkers up front.

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