Thu Jan 10 14:17:18 2008

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San Rafael Stakes kicks-off Santa Anita Derby preps

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Arcadia, CA (Sports Network) - The Southern California road to the 2008 Kentucky Derby begins Saturday at Santa Anita Park with the $150,000 San Rafael Stakes. The one-mile race has attracted seven three-year-olds.

Massive Drama, winner of the Hollywood Prevue, appears to be the horse to beat. Owned by Zayat Stables, the colt is coming off a third place finish behind Mischief in the CashCall Futurity last month at Hollywood Park.

Rafael Bejarano will be aboard Massive Drama for the first time and the pair will start from post six. Trained by Bob Baffert, he has earned $199,200 with two wins in three career starts.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has Talk of a Cat entered in the San Rafael for owners Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor. The colt will break from post two with Garrett Gomez riding. Talk of a Cat has a win and a third in two lifetime starts.

West Point Thoroughbreds will be represented by El Gato Malo. The gelding will be ridden by David Flores and start from the inside post. Trained by Craig Dollase, El Gato Malo has won both career starts including the Gold Rush Stakes last month at Golden Gate Fields.

Here is the complete field in post position order for the San Rafael Stakes: El Gato Malo, David Flores; Talk of a Cat, Garrett Gomez; Sierra Sunset, Victor Espinoza; Overbid, Michael Baze; Indian Sun, Alex Solis; Massive Drama, Rafael Bejarano and Spinning Sound, Tyler Baze.

The $750,000 Santa Anita Derby will be held Saturday, April 5, four weeks prior to the Kentucky Derby.

The California Horse Racing Board voted unanimously Tuesday to give the Santa Anita Park the option of running all or some of its races at Hollywood Park if a problem with the main track that forced the track to cancel the last three days of racing is not quickly resolved.

"This has obviously been a very difficult period for everyone involved but we're looking forward to getting back to business," said Santa Anita director of racing Michael J. Harlow. "A lot of people are very anxious to run on the turf, which is in terrific shape, and the main track should be ready.

"We've got some huge stakes over the weekend, with the San Fernando and the San Rafael on Saturday and the El Encino and the Santa Ynez on Sunday. These are very important, long-standing stakes here at Santa Anita and we want the horsemen and the public to know that we fully intend to run."