ARCADIA, Calif.— Idle since July 25, trainer Brian Koriner’s Hot Box pressed the early pace, took command a furlong from home and held off the late charge of fellow California-bred Coalinga Road to take Friday’s $69,000 Santa Anita allowance feature by a neck under Emily Ellingwood while getting five furlongs on turf in 56.50.
Well poised a half length off of early pacesetter Ikigai heading to the far turn, Hot Box, who was making his 10 career start, is now unbeaten in two tries at the distance on grass.
“Emily is a good gate rider going five eighths and we got a little weight off,” said Koriner in explaining why he opted to have Ellingwood ride the 4-year-old Heat Shield gelding for the first time. “He was ready today. We had quite a few works over at Los Alamitos and we were only going five eighths. We’ll have to wait and see if there’s going to be anything else here at this distance.”
A gate to wire $50,000 claiming winner going five furlongs on turf at Del Mar in his most recent start, Hot Box was off as the second choice in a field of eight 3-year-olds and up and paid $10.40, $5.40 and $3.60.
Owned by Jeff Ganje, Hot Box was bred in California by Kristin Mulhall and is out of the Street Cry mare Heat Exposure. A winner of three out of his last four starts dating back to March 14, Hot Box is now 10-5-0-1 and with the winner’s share of $53,820 (which includes a Cal-bred bonus of $12,420), he increased his earnings to $179,038.
Harris Farms’ homebred Coalinga Road had two horses beaten turning for home and found his best stride late under Tyler Baze in a big effort. Off at 9-2, he paid $5.20 and $3.00 while finishing two lengths in front of favored Trainer Please.
Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Trainer Please was off at 5-2 and paid $2.60 to show.
Fractions on the race were 21.66 and 44.44.
Santa Anita’s admission gates will open early at 7:15 a.m. for a big Preakness Day undercard from Pimlico Race Course, with post time for the 147th Preakness set for 4:01 PT.
First post time for a 10-race card locally is at 1 p.m.
Santa Anita Park Press Release
Photo: Benoit Photography
