Santa Anita Park.
The Santa Anita Turf Course
Oct 11, 2025 • 12:22 pm
ARCADIA, Calif. — The middle weeks of October occupy a lull in the horse racing calendar, as there are only a few weeks until the Breeders’ Cup World Championships return to Del Mar. This creates a solid spot for state-bred races, which generally feature horses a level below those in the BC.
The California Flag Handicap is such a race, offering a big purse for a sprint down the hill. Like many Cal-bred races, this one features a graded stakes winner; so often, the California produces runners which can compete at the highest levels all over the circuit.
Let’s meet this year’s field, and put together our weekly wager. If you’re wagering on the action in California, be sure to check out AmWager! They’ve got a 100% deposit match up to $150 for new customers.
California Flag Handicap. 6 ½ furlongs, downhill turf. 3+up. $100,000.
1. Shea Brennan. 3/1. Jockey: Umberto Rispoli. Trainer: Phil D’Amato.
Shea Brennan comes in the only runner to have never tried turf. He had a ton of success in last year’s 2-year-old Cal-bred stakes, and went over a quarter-million in career earnings with his most recent win. His speed figure last out pops off the page – but it was a lasix-aided run. No meds here, I expect to see some regression.
Comment: short odds toss.
2. Lovesick Blues. 5/2. Jockey: Geovanni Franco. Trainer: Librado Barocio.
Lovesick Blues was the upset winner of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby, a 6 furlong dirt sprint at Del Mar. Incredibly, Lovesick Blues has run down the hill 9 times, with only one win amongst those efforts. The connections may be using this spot to get his legs stretched ahead of a try in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint; otherwise, this might just be a softer landing spot with a horse who simply happens to be in good order. We’ll play against for value today.
Comment: history says toss.
3. Book Smart. 8/1. Jockey: Mike Smith. Trainer: Robert Hess, Jr.
Book Smart began the year on the dirt, running five times on that surface between the winter and spring. His most recent races were on the turf, with good results: he won over 5 furlongs at Del Mar in an allowance before doing the early work in the Grade 3 Green Fish, also at 5 furlongs at Del Mar. He finished 5th in that one, but only by a length-and-a-half. I think he’s distance limited, and this will be a touch too much.
Comment: toss.
4. Sir Rocket. 10/1. Jockey: Armando Ayuso. Trainer: Neil Drysdale.
Sir Rocket has had a productive 2025, with 3 wins and 3 thirds in 7 starts. He’s been down the hill twice this year, including a 3rd place finish by a head. He’s a late bloomer, breaking his maiden this year as a 4-year-old. I think he’s rounding into form, and is a contender here. Look for him to be mid pack as they cross the dirt course, and do his best running late.
Comment: include.
5. Cali Cat. 12/1. Jockey: Juan Hernandez. Trainer: John Sadler.
Cali Cat has been doing most of his running at longer distances, and to good results. He’s been off since mid-August, but trainer John Sadler specializes in picking these kinds of spots off a small break. He’s got a pliable style, where he’s comfortable on the lead, or doing his best running later in races. I love the booking of Juan Hernandez, and he’ll be our longshot winner for this one.
Comment: major value, most likely winner.
6. Man O Rose. 7/2. Jockey: Edwin Maldonado. Trainer: Jeff Mullins.
Man O Rose is a Cal-Bred stakes champ, having now won the Johnston in back-to-back years at Los Alamitos. He’s had success on the turf before, but doesn’t have a ton of experience down the hill. We’ll throw him out here, as we will go all-in on trying to beat the favorites.
Comment: try to beat for value.
7. Stamp My Passport. 20/1. Jockey: Diego Herrera. Trainer: Leonard Powell.
Stamp My Passport comes in off a second place finish in the Johnston, and most of his good runs have come on the dirt. He’s never tried the downhill course before, but given the conditions and the purse, I don’t blame the connections for trying this spot. I think he’s up against it, and the likely longest shot on the board come post time.
Comment: first toss.
8. Flyover. 9/2. Jockey: Hector Berrios. Trainer: John Sadler.
Flyover is a lightly raced 4-year-old, entering just his 5th career race. This will be his first try in stakes company, but his only two races against Cal-breds were winners. He’s been racing against open company in other races, most recently showing good speed in a turf sprint at Del Mar. Had the race been a touch longer, he may have won. Berrios is riding turf as well as anyone in California right now, so we’ll throw him in.
Comment: include.
The Sporting Tribune Wager:
$3 Turf Pick 3, Starts Race 5 ($45): 7 / 4,5,8 / 1,2,3,6,9. Good Luck!
