Express Train has the opportunity to put a triple together that hasn't happened in 31 years—he could become the first horse since Farma Way in 1991 to capture the San Antonio Stakes (G2), San Pasqual Stakes (G2), and Big 'Cap (G1) in the same season.
The likely favorite in the March 5 $650,000 Santa Anita Handicap Presented by Yaavama' Resort & Casino (G1), C R K Stable's Express Train, a 5-year-old son of Union Rags , is slated to meet three of his rivals from the Feb. 5 San Pasqual: fourth-place Spielberg, fifth-place Kiss Today Goodbye, and sixth-place American Theorem .
Law Professor, second in the San Pasqual and winner of the Dec. 26 Santa Anita Mathis Mile (G2), has opted for the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1T) the same day on turf.
With the giant cards that 1ST/BET is conducting at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park March 5, stakes horses have several options. Trainer George Papaprodromou has cross-entered American Theorem in the 1 1/4-mile Big 'Cap and the seven-furlong San Carlos Stakes Presented by FanDuel (G2). Papaprodromou is believed to be leaning toward the Big 'Cap and must choose prior to scratch time, the morning of March 3.
The Santa Anita Handicap, established in 1935 as the first $100,000 race in the United States, attracted a field of eight, including two shippers. Express Train, assigned top weight of 124 pounds, is the top earner of the field with $935,800 and has won the most stakes—four—including the 2021 San Pasqual and San Diego Handicap (G2), the latter at Del Mar.
"He's coming up to the race very well," said John Shirreffs, who conditions Express Train for C R K. "I think he's been very consistent. He ran well last time, and I don't see any reason he wouldn't do it again."
Lee and Susan Searing race in the C R K name, and Victor Espinoza will ride from post 6.
"He's obviously a big, good-looking, strong horse, and John has a way of training horses like this," said Lee Searing after the San Pasqual.
Shirreffs is looking for his first Santa Anita Handicap victory. Express Train finished second in the race last year to Idol .
Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox is shipping in Warrant , an interesting 4-year-old from Louisiana. Never worse than third in eight lifetime starts and a son of Constitution , Warrant won the 2021 Oklahoma Derby (G3) and Texas Derby. In his 2022 debut, the Twin Creeks homebred finished third to 2021 TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Mandaloun and recent Saudi Cup (G1) third Midnight Bourbon in the Jan. 22 Louisiana Stakes (G3).Stilleto Boy goes into the Santa Anita Handicap following a trip to Gulfstream for the Jan. 29 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by 1/ST BET (G1). In that $3 million race at 1 1/8 miles, the 4-year-old gelded son of Shackleford finished third to Life Is Good and 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go .
Winner of the 2021 Iowa Derby when owned by other interests, Stilleto Boy is trained by Ed Moger Jr. for his brother Steve. Second at Santa Anita in the 1 1/8-mile Awesome Again Stakes (G1) last fall, Stilleto Boy ran fifth in the 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar. John Velazquez is set to pilot Stilleto Boy in the Big 'Cap from post 8.
"I think he'll benefit from the mile and a quarter," said Ed Moger. "He ran well at that distance in the Breeders' Cup, but the race was just too tough for him."
Moger said that while Stilleto Boy seemed tired when he returned from Florida, he bounced back quickly.
"After about four days, we had to get him back to the track," said Moger. "He was tearing the barn down, so he's doing really good."
Trainer Bob Baffert has entered Spielberg (jockey Abel Cedillo, post 1) for a large ownership group headed by Golconda Stables, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing. A 4-year-old son of Union Rags and a $1 million 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, Spielberg captured the 2020 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).
Should Papaprodromou keep American Theorem in the Big 'Cap as expected, Mike Smith will ride the 5-year-old son of American Pharoah from post 5 for owner Kretz Racing. Smith is also named on American Theorem in the San Carlos, where they drew post 2, just outside of the speedy Brickyard Ride on the rail.
JKX Racing's Why Why Paul Why, previously trained by Penny Pearce, makes his debut for locally based conditioner Michael McCarthy. A 5-year-old son of Archarcharch, Why Why Paul Why was a $30,000 claim at Churchill Downs in mid-2021. In seven starts since, he has won five times, including the Dec. 28 Kris Kringle Stakes at Parx Racing, and finished second twice. McCarthy has named Juan Hernandez to ride, and they drew post 2.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, March 5, 2022, Race 11Entries: Santa Anita H. presented by Yaamava' Resort & Casino (G1)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Spielberg (KY) Abel Cedillo 118 Bob Baffert 8/1 2 2Why Why Paul Why (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 117 Michael W. McCarthy 6/1 3 3Warrant (KY) Flavien Prat 121 Brad H. Cox 4/1 4 4Soy Tapatio (KY) Diego A. Herrera 116 Doug F. O'Neill 20/1 5 5American Theorem (KY) Mike E. Smith 116 George Papaprodromou 12/1 6 6Express Train (KY) Victor Espinoza 124 John A. Shirreffs 8/5 7 7Kiss Today Goodbye (KY) Kyle Frey 118 J. Eric Kruljac 15/1 8 8Stilleto Boy (KY) John R. Velazquez 121 Ed Moger, Jr. 5/2
