Santa Anita Park lost a weekend of racing due to heavy rains which the new Cushion Track failed to drain away. As a result, six stakes races were carded on the main track at the Arcadia oval this weekend, with warm sunny weather drying out the track and in fact making it quite fast indeed.
11,936 were on hand on Saturday for the $150,000 San Rafael Stakes (G3) for three-year-olds going 1 mile. Massive Drama set the early pace of 22.25, 44.34, and 1:07.90 while being stalked by second choice Talk of a Cat. Entering the stretch, El Gato Malo, who raced in fourth early, came out wide and swept to the front inside the furlong marker, and drew off to win by 6 1/4 lengths over late-running 9-1 Indian Sun in 1:33.37. It was another 3/4 length back to Massive Drama in third.
Results chart
Winning trainer Craig Dollase said, "From Day One, this horse has shown that he's got it in him. He's the real deal and it doesn't look like there are any distance limitations for him. He could have gone around there again."
Jockey David Flores said, "I saw there was going to be a lot of speed, but I didn't think there would be that much speed. It was like there were three bullets in there. I was patient, and when I pushed the button, he was there for me. They were coming back to me, and my horse was full of run. I don't know how much he's got left, but he had plenty today."
Jeff Bloom, vice president of ownership group West Point Thoroughbreds said, “That first Saturday in May is looking pretty promising."
