On Saturday, January 5, Glen Hill Farm's homebred Chicago Style, who comes off a solid Grade II win and has made the most of limited career opportunities, heads a field of 10 older horses in Saturday's Grade II, $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes at a mile and one eighth on turf at Santa Anita Park. Trained by Tom Proctor, Chicago Style has won six of his 11 starts, with all of his dances coming on grass.
Off to a fast start at the current meet, trainer Richard Baltas will be well represented by Next Shares, who ran the best race of his career two starts back when taking the Grade I Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland Oct. 6.
Michael McCarthy's Liam the Charmer, last seen here winning the Grade II John Henry Turf Championship two starts back on Sept. 30, never got untracked when eased going a mile and one half in the Breeders' Cup Turf Nov. 3 and will try to bounce back over a course he's done very well on.
| Entry |
Horse |
ML Odds |
Jockey |
Trainer |
| 1 |
Liam the Charmer |
4-1 |
Kent Desormeaux
124 Lbs
|
Michael McCarthy |
| 2 |
Platinum Warrior (IRE) |
15-1 |
Shane Foley
122 Lbs
|
John Sadler |
| 3 |
Cleopatra's Strike |
8-1 |
Flavien Prat
120 Lbs
|
Philip D'Amato |
| 4 |
Oscar Dominguez (IRE) |
20-1 |
Rafael Bejarano
120 Lbs
|
Peter Miller |
| 5 |
Chicago Style |
3-1 |
Drayden Van Dyke
124 Lbs
|
Thomas Proctor |
| 6 |
Flamboyant (FR) |
5-1 |
Brice Blanc
122 Lbs
|
Patrick Gallagher |
| 7 |
Next Shares |
7-2 |
Joel Rosario
124 Lbs
|
Richard Baltas |
| 8 |
Big Score |
6-1 |
Mike Smith
120 Lbs
|
Tim Yakteen |
| 9 |
Big Bend |
12-1 |
Joseph Talamo
120 Lbs
|
Thomas Proctor |
| 10 |
Arms Runner |
30-1 |
Martin Pedroza
120 Lbs
|
Peter Miller |
CHICAGO STYLE
This 6-year-old Kitten's Joy gelding displayed a terrific turn of foot when rallying to take the Grade II Hollywood Derby going 1 ½ miles over the Del Mar turf Nov. 23 and was a respectable fifth, beaten 1 ½ lengths, two starts back in the one mile (restricted) turf Lure Stakes here on Nov. 2.
With Drayden Van Dyke set to ride him back, Chicago Style would appreciate a lively pace as he bids for his seventh win from 12 career tries.
Owner: Glen Hill Farm | Trainer: Tom Proctor
NEXT SHARES
With the Grade I Shadwell Turf Mile looming as his crowning career achievement, Next Shares comes off the best year of his career, winning $903,890 while compiling a 10-2-2-2 mark for 2018. His San Gabriel candidacy gets a big boost with the addition of Joel Rosario, who last rode him 11 starts back on Nov. 10, 2017-a six furlong turf allowance win at Aqueduct.
Well beaten but not disgraced when 13th, beaten six lengths in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Mile Turf Nov. 3, this 6-year-old Archarcharch gelding has two seconds and as many thirds from four local turf tries.
Owner: Michael Iavarone, Jules Iavarone, Jerry McClanahan, Christopher Dunn, William Marasa, Ritchie Robershaw & Mark Taylor | Trainer: Richard Baltas
LIAM THE CHARMER
With his John Henry score two starts back providing additional proof, this 6-year-old Smart Strike gelding adores the Santa Anita turf, evidenced by his 8-4-1-1 local resume. A dedicated deep closer, he'll get the services of Kent Desormeaux, who will hope to have some pace to run down late.
Owner: Madaket Stables, LLC | Trainer: Michael McCarthy
