2012 Santa Anita Sprint Championship

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship comes our way from Arcadia California this Saturday, October 6. Horses three years old and upward will dash six furlongs on Santa Anita's main track in search of their share of the $250,000 purse.

The Santa Anita Sprint Championship has drawn a field of seven to go in race 8 on Santa Anita's Saturday card. Post time is 4:38 PM. Here is a look at the seven and the recent performances that brought them to this important Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Grade 1 race.

Horse Racing Rebates

2012 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Race Favorites

Amazombie - Amazombie is the defending champion in this race but it was called the Ancient Title Stakes. He also won the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Churchill Downs, Potrero Grande Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita, Sunshine Millions Sprint Stakes at Santa Anita and Tiznow Stakes at Hollywood Park in 2011 -eventually securing him the Eclipse Award - a terrific year for trainer Bill Spawr. Amazombie is a ten-time winner that has two one of four starts this year - the Grade 2 Potrero Grande in April and last time out in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar. His other two results this year were a third in the San Carlos in February behind The Factor and a second in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes in May behind Shackleford. Amazombie is highly decorated, is absolutely money at this distance and obviously can't be ignored in any race that he enters.

Reneesgotzip - has four wins and two second place finishes in six career starts - three wins and two seconds this year. She enters the Sprint Championship on a two race win streak - the C.E.R.F Stakes last time out and an Allowance before that to follow a pair of seconds in two Grade 1 races at Santa Anita in March. Her other wins include an impressive 7 ¾ length win at the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita and before that front-running maiden score by 2 1/4 lengths in her only other start Dec. 18 at Hollywood. She is definitely fast and is certainly a threat this week as well.

Santa Anita Sprint Championship 2012 | Remaining Field Entries

Coil - Bob Baffert trained colt has a win - an Allowance Optional Claiming at Del Mar on July 26 and a second - the Grade 2 Pat O'Brien Stakes last time out in his only two starts this year. Coil was terrific in 2011 recording wins in the Grade 3 Affirmed and the Grade 1 Haskell and finishing second in the Grade 2 Swaps Stakes. After a nearly nine month layoff, Coil appears to be rounding into form ahead of the Sprint Championship.

Santa Anita Sprint Championship betting at Santa Anita with OffTrackBetting.com

Camp Victory - had a very productive 2011 - three wins and three seconds in nine starts - most results coming in graded stakes action. In 2012 Camp Victory started with a pair of thirds - the Grade 2 Portero Grande Stakes at Santa Anita in April and the Grade 3 Los Angeles Handicap on May 28. He emerged on the radar with an impressive win over rival The Factor in the Grade 1 Triple Bend Handicap at Hollywood Park June 30 and followed that with a third last time out in the Grade 2 Pat O'Brien. He is no slouch and could be in the mix Saturday.

Capital Account - finished a decent third in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby behind Amazombie and The Factor in his stakes debut for trainer Bob Baffert and went on to a most impressive win last time out in the Grade 2 Pat O'Brien. Before those results were four wins, two seconds and a third place finish in seven career starts. Capital Account has placed in every career start - nobody would be surprised at a good performance in the Sprint Championship.

Jimmy Creed - makes his graded stakes debut Saturday after two wins and two seconds in four career starts including a second last time out in the minor El Cajon Stakes behind Fed Biz.

Castletown - also makes his graded stakes debut but is coming off two straight wins at Del Mar - an Allowance Optional Claiming last time out and a Maiden Special Weight before that.