President’s Day Stakes Horse Races: Grade II San Vicente Stakes and Grade II Buena Vista Stakes

Santa Anita continues a tradition by running graded stakes races on President’s Day. The two stakes races, the Grade II San Vicente and the Grade II Buena Vista, could go a long way in determining what happens later this spring.

The Grade II San Vicente stakes has become a key prep race for the Grade I Santa Anita Derby. The Grade II Buena Vista often times produces a top female turf miler for the Hollywood Park and Del Mar meets later this year.

Santa Anita – Race 8

Race-time: 7:07 pm EST
Grade II San Vicente Stakes
$150,000 For Three Year Olds
7 furlongs on Pro-Ride

Bob Baffert has a couple of 2 year olds in here. Although neither one is named Lookin’ At Lucky, both are live horses and deserve attention. Tiny Woods switches jockeys to Victor Espinoza and should be fired up in this after having not run since late December 2009. I suspect that Espinoza will try to rate with Tiny Woods. If he does, and the son of Roman Ruler takes to rating, then it’s going to be awfully tough to beat him. Baffert’s other horse, Quiet Invader, could take the lead and go gate to wire. Quiet Invader has already tried his hand at two turns, when finishing 4th in a $48,000 allowance race on January 6th. He too could be tough with fantastic speed jockey Martin Garcia on his back. Trainer John Sadler saddles the 2 to 1 morning line chalk, Sidney’s Candy, in this race. Sadler is 20% winners off of a lay off and 28% winners with his beaten favorite horses. Sidney’s Candy ran a horrible race over the Pro-Ride in his last, however. Because of his expected odds, horse betting him to win might not be the wisest thing to do.

1. Tiny Woods
2. Quiet Invader
3. Sidney’s Candy

Santa Anita – Race 9

Race-time: 7:37 pm EST
Grade II Buena Vista Handicap
$150,000 For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Up
1 mile on turf

Trainer Neil Drysdale might have a serious, serious mare in Cat By The Tale. The daughter of Tale Of The Cat is coming off of a big time victory in the Grade II San Gorgonio Handicap. Tuscan Evening beat Cat By The Tale the last time the two hooked up in November last year, but this time things could be different as Cat By The Tale breaks from the 1 hole where superstar in the making jockey, Joel Rosario, should be able to track Tuscan Evening without pushing his mount too hard. Tuscan Evening, the 9 to 5 morning line chalk, has every right to take the lead in this and hold off the closers. The daughter of Oasis Dream is a seriously good horse, gets Rafael Bejarano to guide her, and has 4 victories out of 6 races on Santa Anita’s turf course. Damaniyat Girl goes first time for trainer Eoin Harty in the United States. The daughter of Elusive Quality gets Lasix and finished second in Grade II in Istanbul, Turkey last September.

1. Cat By The Tale
2. Tuscan Evening
3. Damaniyat Girl

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