From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 9, 2019)–Never worse than third in 15 starts, Nick Alexander’s brilliant homebred S Y Sky heads a field of six California-bred or sired fillies and mares three and up in Saturday’s $100,000 California Distaff Handicap for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares, to be contested at 5 ½ furlongs over the Santa Anita turf.
With a solid recent stakes win over the course to her credit, Reddam Racing’s Don’t Sell poses a serious threat, as does Alexander’s other Cal Distaff entrant, Just Grazed Me, who’s been idle since winning a five furlong turf allowance at Del Mar on Aug. 14.
S Y SKY
Owner: Nick Alexander
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
A solid three quarter length winner of the Grade III Monrovia Stakes three starts back on May 26, this 5-year-old Grazen mare, out of Sky Marni, by Sky Mesa, has been second as the 6-5 favorite in her last two starts, both turf sprints. Idle since second, beaten three quarters of a length going five furlongs on Aug. 25 at Del Mar, S Y Sky has been assigned high weight 126 pounds and will be trying 5 ½ furlongs on turf for the first time on Saturday. Although based at San Luis Rey Downs, her most recent workout was here at Santa Anita–a five furlong drill in 1:02.60 on Sunday.
DON’T SELL
Owner: Reddam Racing LLC
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
A 1 ¼ length winner of the 5 ½ furlong turf Unzip Me Stakes Sept. 28, this 3-year-old filly by Square Eddie, out of the In Excess mare Too Much Excess, has enjoyed a tremendous year for O’Neill, winning four out of her eight starts and running second twice while amassing 2019 earnings of $232,160. Although ridden to victory last time out by Evin Roman, she’ll be reunited with Paul Reddam’s go-to jock, Mario Gutierrez. With a career-best 88 Beyer Speed figure to her credit on Sept. 28, she’s unquestionably in top form and rates a big look on Saturday.
JUST GRAZED ME
Owner: Nick Alexander
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
A winner of two out of her last three starts, this 4-year-old daughter of Grazen, out of Fairway Road, by Cuvee, is also at the top of her game as she bids for her second career state-bred stakes win. Idle since victorious in a five furlong turf allowance Aug. 14, she has seven works on her post race tab, the last five on Santa Anita’s inner training track. Blessed with an abundance of natural speed, she’ll be making her third consecutive start on turf in the Cal Distaff.
THE CALIFORNIA DISTAFF HANDICAP WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 7 of 9 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT
- S Y Sky–Drayden Van Dyke–126
- Silk From Heaven–Eswan Flores–114
- Gypsy Blu–Abel Cedillo–121
- Queen Be to You–Ruben Fuentes–121
- Don’t Sell–Mario Gutierrez–122
- Just Grazed Me–Geovanni Franco–122
First post time for an eight-race card on Sunday is at 12:30 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.