Big Switch captures the Melair under Juan Hernandez May 28, 2022 (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— John Sadler’s Big Switch takes a notable drop in class as she heads a field of seven California-bred or sired fillies and mares going one mile on turf in Sunday’s $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes at Santa Anita.
Owned and bred in California by George Krikorian, Big Switch, most recently third, beaten six lengths by multiple graded stakes winner Adare Manor going a mile and one sixteenth on dirt in Santa Anita’s Grade II Santa Maria Stakes April 29, has a win, two seconds and a third place finish, all on dirt, from four starts this year in open company.
A close second to Adare Manor in a one mile allowance here on March 31, she’ll be reunited with Juan Hernandez, who was up for her most recent win, three races back on Feb. 18.
A 4-year-old daughter of Mr. Big out of the Malibu Moon mare Two Faced Moon, Big Switch is a two-time statebred stakes winner who is 9-4-2-1 overall, with earnings of $363,924. A trouble fifth in her only try on grass, a 6 ½ furlong hillside sprint six starts back on Feb. 25, 2022, Big Switch, on pedigree, should handle the transition to grass without a problem on Sunday.
Although late to the Fran’s Valentine entry box, Closing Remarks managed to secure the services of regular rider Joe Bravo, who has been aboard for her last nine starts, which includes a victory in Santa Anita’s Grade II Royal Heroine at one mile on turf two starts back on April 1 as the 6-5 favorite. Closing Remarks was most recently fourth in the Grade III Wilshire at one mile on turf April 30.
A 5-year-old mare by Vronsky, out of the Unusual Heat mare Orange Cove, Closing Remarks is owned by her breeder, Harris Farms. A two-time stakes winner, Closing Remarks is 19-4-5-4 with earnings of $560,820 and is trained by Carla Gaines.
Ben and Sally Warren’s Warrens Candy Girl, fresh off a solid come-from-behind score in a second condition allowance at one mile on turf April 22, appears to be at the top of her game as she seeks her second statebred stakes win at her preferred trip of one mile on grass.
A 5-year-old mare trained by Craig Lewis, Warrens Candy Girl is by Clubhouse Ride out of the Affirmative mare Warren’s Jitterbug. With an overall mark of 22-5-6-1, she’s 16-4-6-1 at one mile on turf and has earnings of $419,360.
THE $100,000 FRAN’S VALENTINE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 4 of 10 – Approximate Post Time 2:30 p.m. PT
- Eddie’s New Dream – Mario Gutierrez – 124
- Shocking Grey – Hector Berrios – 122
- Rose Maddox – Ramon Vazquez – 126
- Closing Remarks – Joe Bravo – 126
- Warrens Candy Girl – Umberto Rispoli – 126
- Taming the Tigress – Kent Desormeaux – 122
- Big Switch – Juan Hernandez – 126
First post time for a 10-race card on Gold Rush Day, Sunday is at 1 p.m. with admission gates opening at 11 a.m.
