Stevie Wonderboy Takes Two for the First Time

The richest race on today’s Santa Anita card is the $200,000 San Fernando Breeders’ Cup Stakes, a Grade II for 4-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.

Even so, the second leg of the Strub series will be secondary to the $150,000 San Rafael Stakes, a Grade II at one mile for 3-year-olds that will mark the 2005 debut of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Stevie Wonderboy.

The 26th running of the San Rafael will be the first start around two turns for Stevie Wonderboy, a son of Stephen Got Even who finished his 2-year-old campaign with three consecutive victories. Before winning the Juvenile, he broke his maiden by four lengths, then won the Del Mar Futurity by five lengths Sept. 7.

The colt he has to fear most is Brother Derek, a California-bred son of Benchmark. Brother Derek, winner of the Norfolk and Hollywood Futurity, has two-turn experience, although he finished 8 1/2 lengths behind Stevie Wonderboy in the Juvenile.

The field is completed by Wanna Runner, who has won two in a row for owner Mike Pegram and trainer Bob Baffert, and outsiders Woody Be Quick, M.J. Pkay and Sailors Sunset.

Race of the day: French Park, unbeaten in three starts, will try for her third consecutive graded stakes victory when she takes on seven other 3-year-old fillies in the $250,000 Silverbulletday at Louisiana Downs. Calvin Borel will ride the gray daughter of Ecton Park for owner Steve Stan Stables and trainer Helen Pitts in the Grade III at 1 1/16 miles.

The Silverbulletday is part of an all-stakes pick four at Louisiana Downs that includes the $250,000 Duncan F. Kenner Breeders’ Cup Handicap at six furlongs, the $250,000 Bayou Breeders’ Cup Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf and the $250,000 Risen Star at 1 1/16 miles.

One for the road: Sauvage will make her first start since winning the Sheepshead Bay Handicap on May 22 at Belmont Park and can fire fresh for trainer Tom Albertani in the $75,000 Marshua’s River today at Gulfstream Park.

Jerry Bailey will ride the 5-year-old Sri Pekan mare for owner William Diamant in the 1 1/16 -mile turf race.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using the Blue Silence entry in the first, Bouquet Erosion and Lemon Fresh Tide in the second and Song Sung Gold, Silk Kerchief and Element K. in the third.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 5/36. Money: (previous day/meet total): $36.80/$227.80. Total money bet: $236.