California's Best on Display at Santa Anita

California-bred runners will top a lucrative day of racing at Santa Anita on Saturday when five stakes races worth nearly a million dollars will be held. The topper is the nine-furlong, $250,000 Snow Chief S., to be run on the turf for sophomores. Grade 1 winner Tamarando is a fine synthetic performer and could try his hand in this race, and if he does, he will be a formidable presence on class alone. The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee didn’t fire his best shot in the Spiral S. (G2) at Turfway, but had finished in the top three in nine straight leading up to that while keeping fine company.

Patriot’s Rule, a nice starter allowance hero in his grassy debut, the capable Awesome Return, turf stakes winner Aotearoa and Echo Eddie S. victor Alert Bay, look like the main dangers to the sure favorite. 

The $250,000 Melair S. is for three-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the main oval and attracts a decent little field for this affair. Dual stakes heroine Swiss Lake Yodeler, the razor sharp Rovenna, turf standout Magic Spot, Evening Jewel S. runner-up Harlington’s Rose and the talented Anniversary Kitty, look like the main probables for this test.

In the one-mile $125,000 Tiznow S., Betty’s Bambino, unebeaten from a pair of easy wins to kick off his career, will face stakes foes for the first time for conditioner Peter Eurton. The gelded son of Unusual Heat has very good speed, and while he lacks the back class and seasoning of a lot of these, he could be a real nice one and up to this task.

Defending champ Kate’s Event, stakes veteran Mobilized, Omega Star, fourth in a deep allowance run on this main oval, the classy Rousing Sermon, and the Grade 1-placed Soi Phet, who is unraced in 2014, are among the top draws in this well-matched field.

Fillies and mares will dash six panels in the $125,000 Spring Fever S. Multiple stakes queen Warren’s Veneda, Fran’s Valentine S. third Top Kisser, Steve Miyadi’s Sudden Sunday, the streaking Our Pure Creation and multiple stakes queen Marks Mine, are the notables for this tough sprint affair.

The $100,000 Frank’s Valentine will close out the stakes action on this fine card, while the Sunday feature is the $100,000 Wilshire H. (G3) for fillies and mares on the green.

2014 California Gold Rush Day Racing Information

Date: Saturday, April 26
Where:  Santa Anita Race Track, California
First Post Time: 4pm ET/1pm PT
TV: TwinSpiresTV
Purse: $850,000
California Gold Rush Day wagering may include:

Bet 2014 Santa Anita horse racing online with TwinSpires.com and watch FREE Santa Anita horse race replays with TwinSpiresTV!