Sham Stakes Race An Important Test For Kentucky Derby Hopefuls
Ten unproven colts will go to the gate at Santa Anita on Saturday for the 1 1/8 mile, Grade 3 Sham Stakes for 3-year-olds, a pre-lim to the Grade I Santa Anita Derby on April 3 and, more important, a big step toward earning entry into the Kentucky Derby on May 1. The winner will have to impress here in order to harbor a legitimate shot at eventually shipping to Louisville.
Though an evenly matched race, the colts more likely to get attention include Kettle River, The Program, Setsuko, and Nextdoorneighbor, none of whom has a graded stakes victory to his credit.
Kettle River, ridden by Brice Blanc and trained by Eoin Harty, enters off back-to-back triumphs, most notably a 1 1/16 mile allowance win here on January 6. Before that he won a maiden race at Hollywood in November.
The Program comes in off a February 3 victory in a 1 1/16 mile allowance race on this track, but ran third to Kettle River in January. Breaking from the one-post, Martin Garcia rides this Bob Baffert-trainee.
Nextdoorneighbor hopes to replicate an impressive 1 1/16 mile maiden win here on January 24 in which he finished four lengths ahead of the pack. Conditioned by Michael Machowsky and ridden by Mike Smith, he will break from the extreme outside.
Setsuko broke his maiden here in December and ran second in an optional claiming race on the turf last time out. He’s trained by Richard Mandella and will have Rafael Bejarano aboard.
Not to be dismissed in a race as wide open as this, Wolf Tail, the only stakes winner in the field, has not won in four races since capturing the Graduation Stakes, a 5 ½ furlong sprint at Del Mar last summer. Chantal Sutherland will ride.
Alphie’s Bet, trained by Alexis Barba, placed in the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes, losing to highly regarded Caracortado. Alex Solis will wear the silks.
Outlaw Man, ridden by Garrett Gomez and trained by Ken McPeek, broke his maiden here at 1 1/8 mile on January 27, though on the turf. Today will be his first race on the track’s artificial surface.
The remaining field includes: Straightomidnight with Omar Berrio up, Viva Macho with Silvio Amador, and El Mirage King with Tyler Baze.
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