ARCADIA, Calif.—KMN Racing’s homebred Smuggler’s Run, fresh off a sprint stakes victory on dirt, will transition to turf and stretch out to a mile and one eighth as he heads a field of six sophomores in Saturday’s $150,000 Snow Chief Stakes at Santa Anita.
The Snow Chief is one of five statebred stakes on California Gold Rush Day that are part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired horses.
An impressive 2 ¾ length winner of the Echo Eddie Stakes going 6 ½ furlongs here on April 9, Smuggler’s Run, a 3-year-old gelding by Straight Fire out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Maddie’s Odyssey, will be making his first start for John Sadler, as he’d been with trainer Richard Baltas for his last four starts, three of them turf sprints.
A first-out Cal-bred maiden winner going six furlongs for trainer Ruben Alvarado Jan. 1, Smuggler’s Run is the leading money earner in the field with $190,040 and has an overall mark of 5-3-1-0.
A one mile turf allowance winner versus Cal-breds here on April 17, the Jeff Mullins-trained Bally’s Charm was third at the same allowance condition going a mile and one eighth on turf and is well positioned for a big effort on Saturday.
Owned and bred by Red Baron’s Barn, LLC and Vaya Con Suerte, Bally’s Charm, who has been ridden exclusively by Jessica Pyfer, has raced exclusively around two turns on turf and has two wins from five starts with earnings of $101,340.
Based at Golden Gate Fields, Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams’ homebred Royal ’n Rando rallied for a gutty nose victory going a flat mile on turf in the Silky Sullivan Stakes at Golden Gate and has won four out of his last six starts under the direction of veteran trainer Steve Specht.
A gelding by Tamarando out of the Grand Slam mare Royal Grand Slam, Royal ’n Rando has an overall mark of 11-4-2-1 with earnings of $106,568 and will be handled for the 12th consecutive time by jockey Frank Alvarado.
Third, beaten 1 ¼ lengths by Royal ’Rando as the 3-5 favorite in the Silky Sullivan, Reddam Racing’s homebred Worse Read Sanchez was third, beaten three quarters of a length as the even money favorite by Bally’s Charm in a one mile turf allowance here on April 17.
Trained by Doug O’Neill, Worse Read Sanchez, who is by Square Eddie out of the Tapit mare Walkingonadream, has an overall mark of 8-1-1-2 with earnings of $81,380 and will be reunited with Mario Gutierrez on Saturday.
THE $150,000 SNOW CHIEF STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 5 of 9 Approximate post time 3 p.m. PT
- Royal ’n Rando—Frank Alvarado—124
- So I’m Told—Ryan Curatolo—120
- Vincero Grande—Juan Hernandez—117
- Bally’s Charm—Jessica Pyfer—122
- Worse Read Sanchez—Mario Gutierrez—120
- Smuggler’s Run—Joe Bravo—120
First post time for a nine-race card on Saturday is at 1 p.m.
Santa Anita Park Press Release
Photo: Benoit Photo
