By Margaret Ransom
Courtesy of Santa Anita press release
A talent-filled opening day program on Saturday at Santa Anita Park will help usher out a year of horse racing that has been unpredictable, turbulent and downright implausible, and hopefully foreshadow a 2021 that will mark a return to some semblance of normalcy.
Once again, the $300,000 Runhappy Malibu Stakes (G1) is the centerpiece of an 11-race card that features an additional five stakes races and has drawn a standout field of six sophomores looking for a win in the final Grade 1 of the year in North America.
A year ago, the first day of Santa Anita’s 2019 winter/spring season was postponed due to inclement weather before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, but things will get underway at day after Christmas under mostly sunny skies and an afternoon high near 70 degrees. First post on opening day is 11 a.m. PT.
Finite to Face Baffert Quartet in La Brea
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Opening up Dec 26 Presents From Santa Anita Park
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Finite Ships West To Take On Merneith In La Brea Sponsored by:
Finite and Ricardo Santana Jr. winning the Chilukki
In what appears to be a wide-open affair at seven furlongs, Steve Asmussen-trained Finite and Bob Baffert trainee Merneith head a field of 11 sophomore fillies in the Grade 1, $300,000 La Brea Stakes, one of five graded events on Santa Anita s Winter/Spring opening day this Saturday, Dec. 26.
A winner of the G3 Chilukki Stakes going a one turn mile at Churchill Downs Nov. 21, Finite is a three-time graded stakes winner who seeks her seventh win in what will be her 12th career start.