War At Sea Heads Wide-Open Field in GII Twilight Derby 

October 27, 2022

War At Sea in a breeze at Santa Anita where he did four furlong in 46.80. Photo by Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire

Cairo Memories notable in GIII Autumn Miss

ARCADIA, Calif.—With four consecutive top efforts going two turns on grass to his credit, War At Sea heads a wide-open field of nine sophomores going a mile and one eighth on turf in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita.

Third, beaten one length in the Grade II Del Mar Derby under the same conditions Sept. 3, War At Sea had a three-game winning streak snapped dating back to a one mile maiden turf win here on March 5. A three quarter length winner over well regarded Cabo Spirit in the ungraded Cinema Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on grass two starts back June 4, War At Sea, a Kentucky-bred colt by War Front out of the Street Cry mare Serene Melody, has three wins and as many thirds from six starts this year as he seeks his first graded stakes victory.

Trained by Ron Ellis and owned by Doubledown Stables, Inc., War At Sea will be ridden for the fifth consecutive time by Mike Smith. With an overall mark of 9-3-0-4, War At Sea, who was purchased out of a Florida 2-year-old in training sale a year ago March for $525,000, has earnings of $206,780.

Trained by George Papaprodromou, Cabo Spirit, who took the Grade III La Jolla Handicap two starts back at 1 1/16 miles on turf, finished a disappointing fifth in the Del Mar Derby as he flattened out to be beaten by 2 ½ lengths.

Owned by Kretz Racing, LLC, Cabo Spirit, a 3-year-old gelding by Pioneerof the Nile, was purchased for $575,000 out of the Ocala Breeders April 2021, 2-year-old in Training Sale. With Joe Bravo set to ride back for the sixth consecutive time, Cabo Spirit brings earnings of $318,560 from an overall mark of 14-3-3-3.
 

The Grade II Twilight Derby 
Race 7 of 10 post time 4 p.m. PT
1.    Seven Wonders            Hector Berrios                Peter Eurton                              15-1
2.    Go Joe Won                   Jose Valdivia, Jr.            Paula Capestro                         12-1
3.    Perfect Flight                Ramon Vazquez-           Peter Miller                                6-1
4.    Handy Dandy                Umberto Rispoli              Peter Miller                                6-1
5.    Cabo Spirit                     Joe Bravo George         Papaprodromou                        4-1
6.    Sayincotai                         Victor Espinoza              Peter Eurton                              12-1
7.    Degree of Risk              Drayden Van Dyke        Eoin Harty                                  12-1
8.    Speaking Scout            Juan Hernandez             Graham Motion                         3-1
9.    War At Sea                     Mike Smith                      Ronald Ellis                               5/2

Cairo Memories notable in GIII Autumn Miss

Cairo Memories was the victor in the Providencia at Santa Anita April 9. Photo by Benoit

A two-time graded stakes winner routing over the Santa Anita turf this past spring, Cairo Memories returns to The Great Race Place for the first time since May 29 as she heads a field of 12 three-year-old fillies going one mile on turf in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes.

A winner going 1 1/8 miles on turf of the Grade III Providencia April 9 and the Grade III Honeymoon Stakes May 29, Cairo Memories then ventured to New York, where she showed the way early prior to checking in fifth, beaten three lengths going a mile and one quarter on turf, in the Grade I Belmont Invitational Oaks on July 9.

Idle since finishing third, beaten 5 ¾ lengths in the Grade I Del Mar Oaks Aug. 20, Cairo Memories, who is by Cairo Prince out of the Indian Charlie mare Incarnate Memories, took the ungraded Surfer Girl Stakes at one mile on turf in her second start at 

Owned by David A. Bernsen, LLC and Schroeder Farms, LLC, Cairo Memories will be ridden for the sixth consecutive time by Mike Smith. With an overall mark of 9-4-1-1, she has earnings of $418,500.

One of three Phil D’Amato-trained entrants, Irish-bred Rhea Moon comes off a solid first condition allowance score going one mile on turf at Del Mar Aug. 21 and will be ridden back by Juan Hernandez. Favored in four out of her five stateside starts, all around two turns, Rhea Moon has a win and two seconds from three tries over the Santa Anita lawn and will be trying graded stakes competition for the first time.

Owned by Rockingham Ranch and Talla Racing, LLC, Rhea Moon has employed a stalking style in all of her races with D’Amato and she’ll likely employ similar tactics on Saturday. With an overall mark of 7-2-3-2, she has earnings of $131,831.

The Grade III Autumn Miss 
Race 10 of 10 post time 5:30 p.m. PT 
1.    Nadette                           Umberto Rispoli              Neil Drysdale                             6-1
2.    Tezzaray                         Jose Valdivia, Jr.            Peter Miller                                10-1
3.    Pammy’s Ready           Ramon Vazquez             Peter Miller                               5-1
4.    Gracelund Gray            Mario Gutierrez              Peter Eurton                              8-1
5.    Lucky Girl                      Ryan Curatolo                George Papaprodromou         20-1
6.    Helens Well                    Tiago Pereira                  Phil D’Amato                             20-1
7.    Lady Clementine          Joe Bravo                        George Papaprodromou         20-1
8.    Rhea Moon                    Juan Hernandez             Phil D’Amato                             6-1
9.    Gold Dragon Queen    Ricardo Gonzalez          Librado Barocio                        30-1
10. Cairo Memories            Mike Smith B                   ob Hess, Jr.                               8/5
11. Gimme Mo Baby           Edwin Maldonado          George Papaprodromou         12-1
12. Kitty Kitana                    Hector Berrios                George Papaprodromou         12-1

First post time for a 10-race card that will include seven stakes on Saturday is at 1 p.m.

Santa Anita Press Release

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