Opening day card at Santa Anita Park on Tuesday
At 0h13, on December 23, 2023 • By Santa Anita
An 11-race program is expected for opening day, which includes six graded stakes. First post Tuesday will be 2 p.m.
The start of this year’s Classic Meet will mark Santa Anita’s 89th year in operation. The 49-day stand runs through April 7 and will be followed by the 29-day Hollywood Meet starting on April 19.
Highlighting Tuesday’s opener are three Grade Is each carrying a $300,000 purse. In the GI Malibu for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs on dirt, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has five horses nominated including top contenders Speed Boat Beach, Fort Bragg and National Treasure. Baffert, who won last year’s Malibu with Taiba, is seeking his sixth win the Malibu, which would tie fellow Hall of Famer Richard Mandella for most Malibu wins all time. The Malibu was first run in 1952.
In the GI La Brea for 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs, Clearly Unhinged for trainer Michael McCarthy is a leading contender. The Grade I-placed daughter of Into Mischief was most recently sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Spring here Nov. 4.
Baffert, who has won the last two La Brea’s and a record nine overall, nominated stakes winner Fast and Shiny.
In the GI American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 ¼ miles on turf, Grade I winner Anisette looms large for trainer Leonard Powell. The Irish-bred daughter of Awtaad won the GI Del Mar Oaks and GII San Clemente at Del Mar earlier this year. Most recently, Anisette was second in both the GII Rodeo Drive at 1 ¼ miles on Oct. 7 and GIII Autumn Miss going a mile Nov. 5, both at Santa Anita.
