On The Acorn to again battle with Obrigado
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Long-distance turf specialists Obrigado and On The Acorn square off for the first time in 13 months in today’s Grade II, $200,000 San Luis Rey Handicap at Santa Anita.
When these two geldings raced in last year’s San Luis Obispo Handicap at Santa Anita, On The Acorn was pushed wide by One Off and Obrigado won the race by half a length. One Off finished second but was disqualified and On The Acorn was moved up to second.
After that race, Obrigado traveled to Dubai for the $5-million Sheema Classic, finished 13th in a field of 14 and hasn’t won since. His best finish since winning the San Luis Obispo on Feb. 25, 2007 was a second in an allowance race at Hollywood Park on Nov. 17.
On The Acorn, a 7-year-old bred in Britain who was claimed by trainer Mike Mitchell on behalf of Indizguys Stable for $40,000 in November 2006, went on to win Santa Anita’s San Juan Capistrano Handicap and Hollywood Park’s Jim Murray Memorial Handicap.
After a nine-month layoff, On The Acorn returned and ran third in this year’s San Luis Obispo on Feb. 23. If On The Acorn, who has earned $578,812, goes off as the favorite today in the 1 1/2 -mile turf test, it would be a career first in this, his 30th start.
Obrigado, who has earned $516,424 in 22 starts, is coming off a third-place finish behind Champs Elysees and Rocket Legs in the Grade II San Marcos Stakes on Jan. 19.
The San Luis Rey is the ninth race on a 10-race program that also includes the first running of the $75,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes, named in honor of Santa Anita’s legendary track announcer who died in 1972.
On Sunday, British-bred Costume and New Zealand-bred Black Mamba are rematched in the 41st running of the Grade II, $150,000 Santa Ana Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
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Jockey Rafael Bejarano, who suffered two cracked vertebra in a racing mishap March 13, is expected to resume riding April 5, according to his agent, Joe Ferrer. . . . Trainer Kathy Walsh said Kent Desormeaux will ride Georgie Boy in the Santa Anita Derby on April 5. Michael Baze, filling in for Bejarano, was on Georgie Boy when he won the San Felipe Stakes last Saturday. Walsh said Baze is “a fine rider” but added that owner George Schwary “felt a more experienced rider was in order.”
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