Friday, October 17, 2008

BAFFERT, SADLER TAKE AIM AT ANOAKIA STAKES WITH PAIR OF FILLIES

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 16, 2008) – Trainers Bob Baffert and John Sadler each will send out a pair runners among the ten 2-year-old fillies set to contest the six furlongs of Oak Tree’s 30th running of the $75,000 Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday.

The Sadler entrants, Alpha Kitten and Truthy, are similar in that each is stepping into stakes company following a winning debut.

Alpha Kitten was particularly impressive when rallying from tenth following a poor start to win by 1 3/4 lengths while covering 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03 4/5 at Del Mar on Aug. 30. Tyler Baze has the return mount for owners and breeders Jerome and Ann Moss.


Baffert’s pair includes Casino Gold and Toro Bonito. The latter, owned and bred by Hal and Patti Earnhardt, is cutting back in distance after racing wide when fifth behind highly-regarded Stardom Bound in the Grade I Oak Leaf Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 27.

Rafael Bejarano will ride three-race veteran Toro Bonito for the first time with David Flores moving over to Casino Gold, aboard when the Proud Citizen filly broke her maiden convincingly in her third start for Watson, Weitman Performances and Mike Pegram.

The complete field for the Anoakia Stakes, with jockeys and weights in post position order: Mi Chiamano Mimi, Garrett Gomez, 116; Casino Gold, David Flores, 118; Alpha Kitten, Tyler Baze, 118; Toro Bonito, Rafael Bejarano, 118; Turtle Creek Babe, Joseph Talamo, 118; Broadway Hennessey, Joel Rosario, 120; Super Dixie, Victor Espinoza, 120; Truthy, Mike Smith, 116; Miss Dixie Dancer, Clinton Potts, 122, and Wind Caper, Jose Valdivia Jr., 118.

The most accomplished filly in the lineup is 122-pound high weight Miss Dixie Dancer, upset winner of the $122,000 Barretts Debutante at Fairplex Park in her last start on Sept. 13 when sent off at odds of 9-1. The bay filly, trained by Adam Kitchingman, has earned $106,129 from three wins in four starts for Firsthome Thoroughbreds and partners. Clinton Potts rides.

The Anoakia, whose past winners include such notable fillies as June Darling, B. Thoughtful and Landaluce, will go as the eighth race on a nine-race program. First post is at 12:30 p.m.

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