Las Vegas, NV - The 18th running of the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup goes down this Saturday, March 23 from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Horses four years old and upward will take to the track and race 1 1/2 miles on dirt for their share of the $100,000 purse.
A field of eight older horses will line up in the Tokyo City Cup - race 7 on Santa Anita's Saturday card. Post time is 3:35 PM. Here is a brief glance into the credentials of all eight combatants ahead of this Grade 3 stakes.
Calidoscopio - Argentinean entry hasn`t raced since a terrific upset win in the Breeders' Cup Marathon in November after five months off and a win in the Grade 2 General Belgrano in Argentina. Before that was a ninth in a Grade 1 race in his native land and a win in February also in Argentina. He has won two huge races in a row despite long layoffs in between and has to be on the Tokyo City radar.
Dhaamer - enters the Tokyo City Cup after a nearly seven month layoff. Before that was a good second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap behind Casino Host in August and a two race win streak - the Round Table Stakes on May 13 by four and a half lengths and an impressive win in the Grade 3 Sunset Handicap in July. He finished second in this race last year behind Dynamic Host and hopes are that the layoff wasn't a deal breaker for this year's Tokyo City.
Richard's Kid - Last year he was an OK third in the Grade 1 Awesome Again behind Game on Dude after another third in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic right behind Game on Dude again. He had a win before that in the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at this distance on July 27 to follow another second to Game On Dude in the Hollywood Gold Cup and a win in the minor Prove It Stakes. He has really struggled of late for trainer Doug O'Neill - a fourth three back in the Grade 3 Native Diver was followed by an ugly tenth in the Grade 2 San Marcos here February 9 and a poor sixth last time out in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on this track March 2. It has been six races since Richard's Kid has tasted victory - hopes are he can change that trend Saturday.
Jaycito - ex-Bob Baffert trainee Jaycito endured a long layoff prior to a decent second place finish in the Grade 2 Strub Stakes last March 4. He went on to finish a distant sixth in the Grade 2 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap but did win an Allowance Optional Claiming on July 22. Jaycito raced to a seventh in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic five back and was third in the Big Bear Handicap here in October. After an ugly eleventh in the Breeders' Cup Marathon, Jaycito won an Allowance at Hollywood Park December 1. He followed that with a sixth in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes and a seventh last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming here February 28.
Tokyo City Cup betting at Santa Anita Park with OffTrackBetting.com
Sky Kingdom - Bob Baffert trained Sky Kingdom won an Allowance here a year ago and followed that with a fifth in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes way back in February 2012. He had been out of action for nearly a year and returned recently to a win in an Allowance Optional Claiming here January 24 and an third in an Allowance last time out February 22. He has won three times in eight career starts with one third place finish - that coming last time out.
Dreamcatcher - John Sadler trained colt will race in stakes company for the first time Saturday after 11 starts yielded two wins, two seconds and two third place finishes. He had an Allowance Optional Claiming score three back and was third in a similar race January 6 to All Squared Away on this track. Last time out was a fourth in an Allowance Optional Claiming here March 3.
Batti Man - Argentinean bred gelding races in stakes company for the first time after nine Allowance Optional Claiming and a Claiming race in North American produced three seconds and a third place finish. He had two wins and two third place finishes in four starts at home before shipping to North America.
Oilisblackgold - had a couple of OK showings in graded stakes action in 2011 but has focused on Allowance Optional Claiming races since - seven straight yielded two wins, two seconds and two third place finishes. he has looked decent versus lesser competition but steps up this weekend.
