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Michael McCarthy. (Benoit Photo)
Player-Friendly ‘Coast To Coast Pick 5’ Returns Saturday
Early First Post Saturday Of 12 Noon For 10-Race Card
Stable Notes By Victor Ryan
ARCADIA, Calif.—As the 5-2 morning-line favorite in Saturday’s $100,000 Astra Stakes, Australia Mia makes her U.S. bow with high expectations for owner-breeder Don Alberto Stable in the 1 ½-mile turf marathon.
Kentucky-bred daughter of Street Sense, Australia Mia raced exclusively in Chile before arriving at trainer’s Michael McCarthy’s Santa Anita barn in October. While in Chile, Australia Mia racked up nine wins in 19 starts, all on turf, including a pair of Group II’s at distances ranging to a mile-and-a-quarter. The 5-year-old mare surfaces in the Astra after working five times at Santa Anita since Dec. 10.
“She’s been here quite some time and has settled in nicely with a steady series of works,” McCarthy said Friday morning.
For the Astra, Australia Mia has lured the services of top jockey Frankie Dettori. They will break from post five in a nine-horse field. The Astra will be Australia Mia’s first start since last June, a runner-up effort in a Group III going a mile and a quarter at Club Hipico.
While a multiple winner at the 10-furlong distance, McCarthy acknowledged the extra quarter mile of the Astra remains a question mark. However, he noted the time was right to get Australia Mia’s U.S. campaign started.
“We didn’t really find anything that fit on the calendar. We thought a mile might be a little too sharp for her,” McCarthy said. “We’ll get started here and if it is a tick too far, we’ll cut her back to a mile-and-an-eighth type thing.”
Player-Friendly ‘Coast To Coast Pick 5’ Returns Saturday
With all systems go Saturday at both Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, the ‘Coast to Coast Pick 5’ returns starting at 12:59 p.m.
The Coast to Coast Pick 5 is a $1 minimum wager with a player-friendly 15 percent takeout rate held on Saturdays and Sundays. While last Saturday’s wager was canceled due to no racing at Santa Anita, the following day’s Coast to Coast Pick 5 returned a healthy $2,531.80 for 82 winning tickets.
Saturday the wager begins with the third race from Santa Anita, a starter/optional claimer going 5 ½ furlongs on turf. The sequence proceeds with the ninth and 11th races from Gulfstream Park and concludes with races six and eight at Santa Anita.
FINISH LINES
Saturday’s 10-race card featuring the $100,000 Astra Stakes has an early first post of 12 noon. First post time for Sunday’s nine-race program will also be at 12:30 p.m…
2019 Eclipse Award-winning Apprentice Jockey Kazushi Kimura is now represented by agent Brandon O’Bryan. Kimura, leading rider this past season at Woodbine, won his first race at Santa Anita Sunday aboard Kirstenbosch in the Grade III La Canada for John Sadler…
Every Friday during the Classic Meet on-track patrons will receive free admission, free parking and drink specials that include $3 beers and $5 margaritas.
