Wilshire Handicap 2014 Contenders & Odds

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

Las Vegas, NV - Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California will be the scene of the Grade 3 Wilshire Handicap on Sunday, April 27. Fillies and mares three years old and upward will take to Santa Anita's turf track and go one mile in search of the winner's portion of the $100,000 purse.

A field of seven have been confirmed for the Wilshire - race 8 on Santa Anita's Sunday schedule. Here is a look into the past performances of all seven combatants for this Grade 3 stakes.

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2014 Wilshire Handicap Race Favorite Entries

Theatre Star - will race for just the sixth time in her short but she has looked terrific thus far for trainer Tom Proctor - four straight wins heading into her stakes debut this weekend. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score here April 4 after another Allowance Optional Claiming win at Gulfstream February 27 and a Starter Allowance score January 31. She take the leap into stakes company this weekend but looks more than ready for the challenge not having lose in a year. The legendary Gary Stevens will be aboard from post 5.

Premier Steps - Irish bred Thomas Proctor trained filly is coming off an impressive one length Allowance Optional Claiming score on this track March 8 after a second in an Allowance and a pair of fifth is stakes action - the minor Hilltop Stakes at Pimlico last May and in the Grade 3 Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland in April 2013. She has 11 career starts with three wins, two seconds and a third place finish but has yet to place in graded stakes company. Mike Smith has the mount for the first time from gate 3 looking to carry some momentum for a win last time out.

Wilshire Handicap 2014 | Remaining Contenders

Parranda - won the Millions Filly and Mare Turf Preview Stakes at Gulfstream in November and the Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf January 18 and went on to another win in the Grade 3 Suwannee River Stakes in gate-to-wire fashion February 8 with a fourth in the Grade 3 My Charmer Handicap in December sandwiched in there. Last time out was a disappointing sixth in the Grade 2 Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream March 15 however. Parranda has won four of her last six starts (all stakes races) with some minor stumbles along the way. She will have Rafael Bejarano in the saddle from post 2 looking to get back in the win column for new trainer Jerry Hollendofer.

Rhagori - British bred Simon Callaghan trained mare had 14 starts at home with four wins, four seconds and a third place finish and has raced twice in North America - both Allowance Optional Claiming races on this track . Last time out was a second place finish to Theatre Star April 4 after a win her North American debut March 7. Corey Nakatani rides for the first time from post 4.

Wilshire Handicap betting at Santa Anita Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Moone's My Name - John Sadler trained British bred mare had six wins, three seconds and three third place finishes in 17 career starts at home before debuting in North America and finishing second by a neck in the minor American Beauty Stakes last April 7. Her first graded stakes action came April 28 - a decent third in the 2013 Wilshire at Hollywood Park. After7 1/2 months off she returned December 5 to a gate-to-wire Allowance score at Hollywood Park and followed that with a somewhat disappointing fifth in the Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel on this track December 29 and an equally disappointing sixth in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes here February 17. Last time out was a good win in the minor American Beauty Stakes here March 29. Moone's My Name has placed in all eight career grass starts - three wins, a second and four third place finishes. Victor Espinoza gets the call from the rail.

Nickels Wild - started her career with eight MSW races with a win, two seconds and two third place finishes. She made her step up in class off a win December 5 and finished an OK fourth in the Grade 3 Robert J Frankel Stakes here December 29 and followed that with a second in an Allowance here February 9. Last time out was a fifth in the Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes March 16. She will have Martin Garcia aboard from the 6-hole Sunday.

Journey On - Doug O'Neill trained filly has 10 career starts with four wins, a second and a third place finish. She had three race win streak in 2013 - an Allowance Optional Claiming October 13, a Starter Allowance in August and a Maiden Claiming before that. She made her stakes debut October 26 and finished a very good second in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes on this track and followed that with another win - an Allowance Optional Claiming at Hollywood Park November 29. Journey On hasn't been great in two starts this year however - a sixth last time out in the minor American Beauty Stakes here March 29 followed a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming also on this track February 16. Tyler Baze will be in the saddle from the outside post Sunday.