Santa Anita Returns with a Nine-Race Card

Santa Anita is set to host a nine-race card on Thursday, serving as a makeup for recent rain-related cancellations at the Arcadia, California track. This event will feature two significant stakes races: the $100,000 Robert J. Frankel (G3) and the $100,000 Eddie Logan Stakes. Both of these races had originally been scheduled for this past Sunday and will now be contested on the Santa Anita Camino Real Turf Course.

The track has faced several challenges due to heavy rainfall since the start of the Classic Meet on December 26. As of Saturday, Santa Anita has received over nine inches of rain since December 23. The forecast indicates that rain will continue through Saturday evening and into Sunday, with conditions expected to improve throughout the week.

The status of Sunday’s nine-race card, which includes the Las Flores (G3), will be determined in the morning. Additionally, the Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, which was scheduled for Saturday’s canceled card, will now be run on next Saturday, January 10. Other canceled races from Saturday will be offered back in the meet’s second condition book starting in the middle of January.

Key Races on Thursday’s Card

This Thursday’s action includes the rescheduled Robert J. Frankel Stakes, which is set for 1 1/8 miles on turf and has attracted a field of eight older fillies and mares. The key contenders in the lineup are graded stakes winner Public Assembly and Paradise Lake.

Public Assembly, trained by Phil D’Amato for owners Abbondanza Racing, McNulty Thoroughbreds, and Medallion Racing, is a 4-year-old daughter of More Than Ready. She recently finished a neck behind winner Mrs. Astor in the GIII Red Carpet going 1 3/8 miles on November 23 at Del Mar. Umberto Rispoli will ride her, replacing an injured Antonio Fresu.

Paradise Lake, trained by Peter Eurton for C R K Stable, finished behind Public Assembly when she came in third in the Red Carpet. This was the stakes debut for the 4-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo. Previously, Paradise Lake came from off the pace to win a second-level allowance going 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita in October. Juan Hernandez will be in the saddle for her.

The Frankel Stakes will be the seventh race on the card with a post time of approximately 3:30 p.m. (PT). The field from the rail out is as follows:

• Public Assembly, Umberto Rispoli
• Willa T, Hector Berrios
• Ima Joker, William Pyle
• Hannah Buckle, Armando Ayuso
• Paradise Lake, Juan Hernandez
• Sun Of Hill, Kazushi Kimura
• Starry Night, Ricky Gonzalez
• Watchtower, Mirco Demuro

Eddie Logan Stakes for 3-Year-Olds

The Eddie Logan at one mile on turf is now for newly turned 3-year-olds after the delay. It has attracted a field of seven led by Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) runner-up Stark Contrast and Grade 3 winner Unrivaled Time.

Stark Contrast, trained by Michael McCarthy for owner-breeder Amerman Racing, was beaten just three-quarters of a length in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf when finishing second to Gstaad. By Caravaggio, Stark Contrast won his previous two starts, including the Grade III Zuma Beach at one mile on turf on October 5 at Santa Anita. Kazushi Kimura will ride him.

Unrivaled Time, trained by Leonard Powell for breeder Alfred “Sonny” Pais and co-owner Innergy Racing Corp, by Not This Time, broke his maiden in his second start going a mile on turf at Santa Anita and followed up with a win in the Grade III Cecil B. DeMille, also at one mile on turf, on November 30 at Del Mar. Diego Herrera will be in the saddle for Unrivaled Time.

The Eddie Logan Stakes will be the third race on the card at approximately 1 p.m. The field from the rail out is as follows:

• Brigante, Emisael Jaramillo
• Stark Contrast, Kazushi Kimura
• Iriseach, Umberto Rispoli
• Unrivaled Time, Diego Herrera
• Plutarch, Juan Hernandez
• Caro Buono, Armand Ayuso
• Third Beer, Hector Berrios