Loup Breton one to Watch in Santa Anita Handicap - 03-05-10

March 5 - Tomorrow (Saturday, March 6) betting fans at Santa Anita Park in California have an action-packed 11-race card to look forward including three Gr 1 races highlighted by the prestigious $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap (Gr 1), which has attracted a formidable 14-horse field, including Loup Breton.

Leading up to the Santa Anita Handicap, punters will be able to cut their teeth on the $150,000 Sham Stakes (Gr 3) and the $250,000 Santa Anita Oaks (Gr 1), the $250,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap (Gr 1). But it's the 1 1/4 mile Santa Anita Handicap that will be a challenge to handicap, given its large field.

Out to the expected 14 starters comprising 4-year-olds and up, there are only a couple of standouts. One of which is 6-year-old Irish-bred horse, Loup Breton, who hails from the barn of Julio Canani. Well-proven on turf, Loup Breton will be attempting Santa Anita's synthetic track for the first time tomorrow.

However, Canani seems quietly confident that his charge will handle the unfamiliar surface in his stride. 'If it doesn't work out, you can take it off your mind. But once in a while, you've got to try,' During his long career, Loup Breton has won 5 from 21 starts and earned a none-too-shabby $677,614 in purses.

Despite the uncertainty of whether he'll take to Santa Anita's Pro-Ride surface or not, he should start the race well-backed considering he won his only other start of this year, the $150,000 San Marcos Stakes (Gr 2) on January 24, over this course and distance. In that race, Loup Breton overcame traffic with ease.

In Saturday's race Loup Breton will have champion jockey Garrett Gomez aboard, who has ridden the horse in all of his U.S. starts. In 2007 and 2008, while still racing in France, Loup Breton chalked up a couple of group stakes victories as well as came second in the coveted Prix Ganay (Gr 1) in April last year.

The other standout is the Bob Baffert-trained Misremembered, who finished second to Jeranimo in February's $300,000 Strub Stakes (Gr 2) at Santa Anita over 1 1 /16 miles. However, Kentucky-bred Misremembered has yet to win over 1 1/4 miles, but his trainer also seems quietly confident in the roan's chances.

Here is the complete list of entries for the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap (Gr 1) at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, March 6 2010:

1. Pick Six (KY)
2. St Trinians (GB)
3. Rendezvous (KY)
4. Neko Bay (KY)
5. Eagle Poise (KY)
6. Loup Breton (IRE)
7. Mast Track (KY)
8. Pool Play (ON)
9. Marsh Side (KY)
10. Tiger's Rock (KY)
11. Dakota Phone (KY)
12. Delightful Kiss (FL)
13. Misremembered (KY)
14. Jeranimo (FL)