SANTA ANITA PICKS

ARCADIA, CA — Santa Anita Park is set to host a nine-race card this Thursday as a makeup for recent rain-related cancellations at The Great Race Place. Featured on the program are the Grade III, $100,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes and the $100,000 Eddie Logan Stakes, which had been originally scheduled for this past Sunday. Both will be contested on the Santa Anita Camino Real Turf Course.

Santa Anita has had to cancel multiple days of racing since the scheduled start of the Classic Meet on Dec. 26. As of Saturday, Santa Anita had received more than nine inches of rain since Dec. 23. Rain is expected to continue throughout Saturday evening and into Sunday, with the forecast improving throughout the week.

The status of Sunday’s nine-race card, which includes the Grade III Las Flores Stakes, will be determined in the morning. The Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, which was scheduled for today’s card that was canceled, will now be run next Saturday, Jan. 10. Saturday’s other canceled races will be offered back in the meet’s second condition book beginning the middle of January.

As for this Thursday’s action, the rescheduled Robert J. Frankel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf attracted a field of eight older fillies and mares. The key principals in the lineup are graded stakes winner Public Assembly and Paradise Lake.

Public Assembly is a graded stakes winner for trainer Phil D’Amato and owners Abbondanza Racing, McNulty Thoroughbreds and Medallion Racing. A 4-year-old daughter of More Than Ready, Public Assembly most recently finished a neck back of winner Mrs. Astor in the GIII Red Carpet going 1 3/8 miles on Nov. 23 at Del Mar. She’ll be ridden by Umberto Rispoli, who replaces an injured Antonio Fresu.

Paradise Lake, trained by Peter Eurton for C R K Stable, finished behind Public Assembly when third in the Red Carpet. It was the stakes debut for the 4-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo. Previously, Paradise Lake came from off the pace to win a second-level allowance going 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita in October. She’ll be ridden by Juan Hernandez.

The Frankel goes as the seventh race with post time at approximately 3:30 p.m. The field in post position order: Public Assembly, Umberto Rispoli; Willa T, Hector Berrios; Ima Joker, William Pyle; Hannah Buckle, Armando Ayuso; Paradise Lake, Juan Hernandez; Sun Of Hill, Kazushi Kimura; Starry Night, Ricky Gonzalez; Watchtower, Mirco Demuro.

The Eddie Logan at one mile on turf is now for newly turned 3-year-olds after the delay. It attracted a field of seven led by Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Stark Contrast and Grade III winner Unrivaled Time.

Stark Contrast, trained by Michael McCarthy for owner-breeder Amerman Racing, was beaten just three-quarters of a length in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf when second to Gstaad. By Caravaggio, Stark Contrast won his previous two starts including the Grade III Zuma Beach at one mile on turf on Oct. 5 at Santa Anita. He’ll be ridden by Kazushi Kimura.

Unrivaled Time is trained by Leonard Powell for breeder Alfred “Sonny” Pais and co-owner Innergy Racing Corp. By Not This Time, Unrivaled Broke his maiden in his second start going a mile on turf at Santa Anita and came right back to score in the Grade III Cecil B. DeMille, also at one mile on turf, on Nov. 30 at Del Mar. Jockey Diego Herrera has the call on Unrivaled Time.

The Eddie Logan goes as the third race on the card at approximately 1 p.m. The field in post position order: Brigante, Emisael Jaramillo; Stark Contrast, Kazushi Kimura; Iriseach, Umberto Rispoli; Unrivaled Time, Diego Herrera; Plutarch, Juan Hernandez; Caro Buono, Armand Ayuso; Third Beer, Hector Berrios.

Parking and admission are free this Thursday. Additionally, on-track patrons can enjoy an “All-Day Happy Hour” featuring 50 percent off select beer and cocktails. For more information please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.