Stakes Advances

ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2011) – After knocking heads last year with some of the country’s most brilliant fillies, including Zenyatta, the John Sadler-conditioned Switch is poised to further elevate her status by annexing her second consecutive Grade I victory in Sunday’s 54th running of the $250,000 Santa Monica Handicap at seven furlongs.

Switch started the winter/spring meeting off with a bang on opening day, Dec. 26, with a dominant victory in the Grade I La Brea Stakes, which was also contested at seven furlongs.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan 20, 2011) – German-bred Éclair de Lune, winner of Arlington Park’s prestigious Grade I Beverly D last August and idle since a game effort in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Nov.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 14, 2011) – Bourbon Bay, the West Coast’s premier turf marathoner in 2010 before late-developing Champ Pegasus rocketed to the top, will attempt to reverse the condition Monday when eleven grass specialists contest Santa Anita’s Grade II, $150,000 San Marcos Stakes at 1 ¼ miles on turf.

The 59th running of the San Marcos is the main attraction of a nine-race holiday program on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day that includes the 19th running of the $75,000 San Pedro Stakes for 3-year-olds at 6 ½ furlongs.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 13, 2011) – One day before she is expected to be named champion 3-year-old filly of 2010, Blind Luck will make her 2011 debut on Sunday against seven ambitious opponents in Santa Anita’s 47th running of the Grade II, $150,000 El Encino Stakes for 4-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.

“We think we have her ready, she should be plenty fit now,” said trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer after the multi-millionaire worked seven furlongs in 1:25 1/5 on Friday of last week.

Blind Luck has not raced since Nov.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 6, 2011) – If Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has his way, May Day Rose will pose an elusive front-running target in Sunday’s Grade III, $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. If she’s able to get to the front early, the Florida-bred daughter of Rockport Harbor ought to be difficult to catch.

May Day Rose figures to be solidly favored in a compact field of five set to contest the 44th running of the Santa Ysabel, which has been carded as the third race on a nine-race program with first post at 12:30 p.m.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 29, 2010) – Recently renamed in memory of Santa Anita’s winningest trainer who saddled eight previous winners when the Grade II event for fillies and mares was known as the San Gorgonio Handicap, Saturday’s 42nd running of the Robert J.