GRADED-STAKES PLACED CASALU RETURNS TO DIRT, FACES PROMISING DEBUT WINNERS IN FRIDAY’S $85,000 ANOAKIA STAKES FOR 2-YEAR-OLD FILLIES GOING 6 FURLONGS ON DIRT AT SANT ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (Oct. 20, 2024)—Casalu, graded-stakes placed on both turf and dirt, will switch back to the main track Friday in the $85,000 Anoakia Stakes for 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs at Santa Anita.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Casalu won her debut sprinting on dirt at Del Mar in July and came back to be third in the GIII Sorrento going six furlongs on dirt in August, also at Del Mar. Subsequently switched to turf, the Caracaro filly was fourth in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf and then second behind well regarded Thought Process in the GIII Surfer Girl at Santa Anita Oct. 6. A $775,000 auction buy earlier this year, Casalu is owned by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. She will be ridden by Martin Garcia for the first time.

Baffert also entered promising debut winners Silent Law and Mawu.

Silent Law, by Tiz the Law, romped by 10 lengths in her unveiling going five furlongs at Los Alamitos Sept. 21. The effort earned a field-high 84 Beyer Speed Figure. A $400,000 auction buy for owners CSLR Racing Partners, Silent Law will have Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez in the irons.

Mawu won her debut going six furlongs by 3 ¼ lengths Oct. 6 at Santa Anita. The daughter of Blame, a $500,000 auction buy, is owned by Baoma Corp. Antonio Fresu was aboard for her unveiling, but Mawu will have the services of Mike Smith on Friday.

As for Fresu, he moves over to Practical Dream, a gate-to-wire debut winner for trainer Tim Yakteen going 5 ½ furlongs at Del Mar Sept. 8. By Practical Joke, the $210,000 auction buy is owned by Leslie Amestoy, Jean Pierre Amestoy and Roger K. Beasley.

Rounding out the field is Proud Starlet, also trained by Yakteen. The Mendlessohn filly won her debut going 5 ½ furlongs at Del Mar July 27. She returned in the GI Del Mar Debutante going seven furlongs and faded to sixth after flashing early speed. Proud Starlet will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli, who was also aboard in the Debutante.

THE ANOAKIA WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 2 of 9 Approximate post time 1:30 p.m.

1. Proud Starlet – Umberto Rispoli – 120
2. Mawu – Mike Smith – 120
3. Practical Dream – Antonio Fresu – 120
4. Casalu – Martin Garcia – 120
5. Silent Law – Juan Hernandez – 120