Weekend Lineup Presented By Hialeah Park NHC Qualifier: Dual Derby Preps
The first full weekend of live racing in 2023 features a pair of Kentucky Derby prep races. The Jerome Stakes from Aqueduct on Saturday and the Sham Stake from Santa Anita on Sunday offer 10-4-3-2-1 qualifying points towards the Kentucky derby. Saturday's $150,000 Jerome race has a field of eight horses, including Arctic Arrogance, the 8-5 morning line favorite for trainer Linda Rice. On Saturday, Gulfstream Park has an eleven-race card with stakes races at $100,00 Dania Beach St. and $ 100, 000 Ginger Brew St., both for 3-year-olds.
Chester and Mary Broman's New York homebred Arctic Arrogance will vie for his first open company stakes score in Saturday's $150,000 Jerome at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The $200,000 California Cup Classic takes place at Santa Anita Park on Saturday. It's a springboard to superstardom for California Chrome. Passarando is trained by Steve Specht and fresh off a stirring come from behind win versus open company going a mile on synthetic Tapeta Dec. 3 in the Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate Fields. Giver Not a Taker is a homebred who won the King Glorious Stake at Los Alamitos Dec 18. Flavien Prat will ride him.
7:30 pm – Unusual Heat Turf Classic at Santa Anita. Carmelita's Man heads a group of nine entrants going a mile and one eighth on grass.
Justique heads a field of six sophomore fillies going seven furlongs in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Justique won the Desi Arnaz Stake at Del Mar Nov. 19 under a hand ride from Victor Espinoza.
Spen Intended is a chestnut colt by Hard Spun out of the First Dude mare Flora Dora. He was sold for $125,000 out the Ocala Breeders' March 2022 2-year-old in Training Sale. Spon Intend will be ridden for the third consecutive time by Mike Smith.
