Restricted to 2-year-old fillies bred or sired in California, the Soviet Problem attracted nine entrants.

Part of the Golden State Series, the Soviet Problem is the last of eight races. Post time Friday is 12:30 p.m. Pacific. Scheduled post time for the main event is 4:28 p.m.

Owned by breeder George Krikorian and trained by John Sadler, Big Novel was more than six lengths clear of the rest of the field in the Golden State contest at seven furlongs.

A daughter of Mr. Big and the Heatseeker mare Steamy Novel, Big Novel hasn't been worse than third in her four races and has earned $95,850. She broke her maiden Oct. 2 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

At the Spa will try for her fourth win in five starts for a partnership that includes Tom Beckerle, Saul Carrillo, and breeder Terry Lovingier and trainer Jorge Periban. The Outwork filly out of the Smoke Glacken mare Spa Creek, who suffered her lone loss when last in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante Sept. 5, has banked $165,000 and has stakes victories in the Fasig Tipton Debutante and CTBA.

Four members of the Soviet Problem cast – Dendera, Girl Ranger, Professors' Pride, and Smilin Evie – are coming off wins.

Trained by Sadler for Cicero Farms LLC and breeder Batchelor Family Trust, Dendera was a neck winner as the prohibitive 1-5 favorite in an optional claimer going the Soviet Problem distance on turf Oct. 22.

The win for the Shaman Ghost filly out of the Scat Daddy mare Daddy's Due was her second in three races on grass. She was fifth of 10 in her debut in her lone try on dirt July 16. She's banked $83,200.

Dismissed at 35-1 in her Nov. 7 bow in a $50,000 maiden claimer for California breds, Girl Ranger rolled to a 5 ¼ length win for Marsha Naify and trainer Juan Carlos Lopez, but the daughter of U.S. Ranger is now in the stable of Michael McCarthy.

Out of the Bertrando mare Soul Flyer, Girl Ranger picked up $21,600 for the authoritative score.

Professors' Pride debuted with a one-length victory as the 8-5 second choice Nov. 14 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. The Bayern filly out of the Twirling Candy mare Last Resort earned $42,000 for the win for Academic Farms and trainer Eddie Truman.

Trained by Richard Baltas for Panic Stables LLC, Smilin Evie has been away since prevailing by 1 ¼ lengths in her initial try Oct. 24. The Tom's Tribute filly out of the Exchange Rate mare Lady Katfish collected $36,600 for the triumph.

Trainer Walther Solis entered both Madiha and Munny Penny.

Owned by Zahra Madiha, Amanda Navarro, and breeder Lovingier, Madiha is winless in five starts with earnings of $25,880. The daughter of Shaman Ghost and the Great Notion mare Very Few Details finished fifth in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies in her most recent outing.

Owned and bred by Lovingier, Munny Penny will be making her first start since finishing second behind At the Spa in the Fasig Tipton Debutante June 20. The Munnings filly out of the Animal Kingdom mare Northern Song has earned $72,460 while winning once in three races.

The field is completed by Rose Maddox, who was a neck behind Dendera when last seen Oct. 22. The Grazen filly out of the Unusual Heat mare has earned $36,000 for owner-breeder Nick Alexander and trainer Steve Miyadi. Rose Maddox was a first-out winner over the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley, Calif., Sept. 11.

From inside out, the field for the Soviet Problem Stakes: Madiha, Kyle Frey, 117 pounds; Dendera, Flavien Prat, 120; Girl Ranger, Drayden Van Dyke, 120; Professors' Pride, Juan Hernandez, 120; At the Spa, Tyler Baze, 120; Smilin Evie, Ricardo Gonzalez, 120; Rose Maddox, Umberto Rispoli, 124; Munny Penny, Abel Cedillo, 120 and Big Novel, Joe Bravo, 120.

One race earlier, trainer Art Sherman will saddle the final starter of his career when Chasing Alchemy will try to break his maiden against seven other 2-year-old maidens in a $50,000 claimer at six furlongs.

Sherman, 84, who has spent more than 65 years in racing as an exercise rider, jockey, and trainer – which included conditioning two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome – will be honored on his retirement with a video presentation and winner's circle ceremony between races.

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The California Flag Handicap, named for the High Card Ranch's homebred millionaire who won the 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita, is part of the lucrative CTBA sponsored Golden State Series for California-bred or sired 3-year-olds and up.

Breaking from the far outside in a field of nine, Indian Peak was sixth, about five lengths off the lead at the half-mile mark while well within himself. Six-wide and on the move at the dirt crossing, Indian Peak pinned his ears and outran North County Guy late in a thriller.

“He felt really comfortable, he's a nice horse,” said Hernandez, who won yesterday's California Distaff Handicap run down the hill with Warren's Showtime. “He tries all the time. I rode him before, maybe three or four times (when based at Golden Gate Fields, dating back to December of 2019) and he's the kind of horse that always comes with a run at the end.

“Peter Miller told me to just sit there and make one run and then before the quarter pole, before we crossed the dirt, he started running, so I just let him run. He picked the lead right after we crossed the dirt and we were fighting the inside and outside (horses), but we made it…”

Most recently a well-beaten fifth by North County Guy in 1 1/16-mile turf allowance as the 7-5 favorite on Aug. 20 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., Indian Peak was off at 16-1 and paid $35.80, $11.20, and $5.40.

A 4-year-old California-bred gelding by Comic Strip out of the Roar mare Ms. Booty, Indian Peak, who was originally conditioned by Golden Gate Fields-based Quinn Howey, is currently owned by Gary Barber and Wachtel Stable.

A winner of Santa Anita's Snow Chief Stakes in only his third start at age three on June 20, 2020, Indian Peak registered his second stakes win today and improved his overall race record to 20-6-3-1. With the winner's share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $333,532.

The 7-5 favorite, North County Guy ran too good to lose, finishing a head in front of Unbridled Ethos. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, North County Guy paid $3.40 and $2.60.

With Ricky Gonzalez up, Unbridled Ethos was off at 9-1 and paid $5.00 to show while finishing 1 ¼ lengths clear of Whooping Jay, who lacked racing room turning for home.

Fractions on the race were :22.00, :44.06, and 1:06.65.

Live racing resumes with first post time for an eight-race card on Friday at 1 p.m. Pacific.

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Last after the first half mile but only about four lengths off the lead, Warren's Showtime, who was shortening up out of five consecutive turf miles, loomed ominously as the field made the dirt crossing at the top of the lane and sliced her way through traffic in what was to become her seventh career stakes victory.

“I wasn't confident when I saw the first quarter, but I could see Juan was confident, so that gave me some hope,” said Lewis, who also conditioned millionaire Clubhouse Ride and Warren's Showtime's Grade I winning dam, Warren's Veneda. “(It) made me think maybe. Once she got into gear, I knew she'd get there…Another Clubhouse Ride, they just run.”

Overlayed at 2-1 off of her morning line of 9-5 in a field of six fillies and mares, Warren's Showtime paid $6.80, $3.80, and $2.80.

With the Distaff winner's share of $60,000, Warren's Showtime boosted her earnings to $775,431 from an overall mark of 22-8-2-10.

“I knew the pace wasn't that fast, but she was in the bridle and pulling,” said Hernandez, who has been aboard for her last nine races. “That's the way she likes to run and she came with a big run today. She's a nice filly, very consistent.”

The Warrens, who came in from their Las Vegas base to watch today's Distaff, were understandably elated with their homebred star.

“It's just been unbelievable and (Ben) has had so many horses, but not one that has been so consistent as 'Showtime,'” said Sally Warren. “We were just saying, 19 out of 21 starts and she's hit the board and that's unbelievable…We are really, really thankful. Craig picked her out at the farm, now we know (why).”

Although it was expected that speedy Anna Fantastic would make the early lead, most observers felt she'd be pressed by eventual favorite Bella Vita through quick early splits, but with Bella Vita taking a more conservative approach, moderate hillside fractions of :22.90, :45.99, and 1:08.14 resulted and it was Sedamar, who was second to the dirt crossing, who prevailed for the place by a half-length over Anna Fantastic.

Ridden by Joe Bravo, Sedamar was off at 7-1 and paid $6.60 and $4.40.

Anna Fantastic, off at 4-1 with Edwin Maldonado up, paid $3.60 to show while finishing 2 ¼ lengths clear of even-money favorite Bella Vita.

The California Distaff Handicap is part of the lucrative CTBA sponsored Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired fillies and mares three and up.

The Distaff marked win number two on the day with two races remaining for Hernandez, giving him 10 for the meet—five back of Flavien Prat, who has 15 wins through nine racing days.

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 1 p.m.

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Trainers Ben Cecil, Mark Glatt, and Peter Miller each have two nominated among the 16 for the Distaff, for fillies and mares three and up at about 6 ½ furlongs on the downhill turf course.

Doug O'Neill has three of the 19 nominated to the California Flag, for three-year-olds and up also at about 6 ½ furlongs on turf.

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The colt by Practical Joke had Edwin Maldonado in the irons for trainer Brian Koriner as he picked up a winner's check for $57,000 to enhance his bankroll to $99,000 and his record to two-for-two. He ran the six furlongs in 1:10.77.

Finishing second in the stakes was Lovingier, London, or Zondlo's Rock N Rye, the 7/5 race favorite, and running third was Lovingier, Beckerle or Carrillo's Thirsty Always.

The winner paid $19.80, $6.20 and $3.60 across the board. Rock N Rye returned $3.20 and $2.40, while Thirsty Always paid $2.60.

The race is part of the $4.35 million Golden State Series for California breds that consists of 36 races at five different tracks around the state. Del Mar hosts eight of them.

EDWIN MALDONADO (Joker Boy, winner) – “I told Brian (trainer Koriner) that we were going to be the real deal today. This horse is special. When I first got on him I didn't think he was a 2-year-old. He acted like an old horse. I took a hold of him the other day (when he came from far back to win his first start); today I just let him run out of there. He can run on, this horse. I have no doubt about that. He's the real deal.”

BRIAN KORINER (Joker Boy, winner) “After he won we thought of this race. We thought he might be good enough to go in the Futurity. But then you've got Bob Baffert freaks in there so we opted for the easier spot and it worked out. Now on Breeders' Cup Day they have a Cal-bred race for $150,000 or $200,000 (it is the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Stakes at seven furlongs) and that will be next. It should be no problem for him.”

FRACTIONS: :22.03 :45.29 :57.71 1:10.77

The stakes win was the first of the meeting for rider Maldonado and his first in the I'm Smokin'. He now has nine stakes wins at Del Mar.

The stakes win was the first of the meeting for trainer Koriner and his first in the I'm Smokin'. He now has nine stakes wins at Del Mar.

The owners are Rusty Brown of Irvine, Alan Kline, and Phil Lebherz.

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Breaking from the number three post position, Fi Fi Pharoah, who had pressed the pace en route to a one-length maiden score going a flat mile on May 15, found herself last in a field of eight, about 10 lengths off of dueling leaders Mucha Woman and Omg It's Jessica around the clubhouse turn.

Next to last by a similar margin and on the move with three furlongs to run, Fi Fi Pharoah wheeled four-deep turning for home as a hot early pace took its toll on the front-runners.

With Eddie's New Dream and Mario Gutierrez taking the lead at the top of the lane, Fi Fi Pharoah joined the battled with a furlong to run and prevailed in a game effort.

“Last time, it worked for her with Rispoli,” said Solis in reference to the maiden score on May 15.  “I didn't think we would get beat this time.  She just ran from the three eighths, she knows when she has to speed up.  When she got in front, she started waiting for everybody.  She's a classy filly.  I knew the filly was coming in 100 percent.  I told Terry, 'We got the filly.'”

Off as the 2-1 favorite in a field of California-bred or sired three-year-old fillies, Fi Fi Pharoah paid $6.00, $3.60 and $2.60.

Co-owned by Lovingier, Tom Beckerle and Amanda Navarro, Fi Fi Pharoah, who is out of the Ghostzapper mare My Fiona, notched her first stakes winin the Melair and improved her overall mark to 5-2-1-1.  With the winner's share of $90,000, she increased her earnings to $178,560.

“She's so lazy in the mornings, she won't give you anything until she reaches the quarter pole and takes off, so that's what I was expecting for the race,” said Rispoli.  “I knew the pace was on, so I stayed inside because she doesn't mind staying back until I find a nice gap.  I was following Mario (Gutierrez, aboard Eddie's New Dream) until I had a chance to go into the clear.”

Eddie's New Dream who finished 2 ½ lengths clear of I'm So Anna, was off at 7-2 and paid $4.00 and $2.80.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, I'm So Anna was the second choice at 5-2 and paid $2.40 while finishing 6 ¼ lengths in front of Pawnee.

Fractions on the race were 23.49, 47.47, 1:12.93 and 1:39.54.

The Melair is part of the lucrative Golden State Series.  Sponsored by the CTBA, the Golden State Series is for eligible California-bred or sired horses.

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Second, just off the hip of early pacesetter Found My Ball, Jimmy Blue Jeans seemed relaxed while into a rhythmic stride up the backside, took command a sixteenth of a mile from home and prevailed under the veteran Desormeaux, who notched his 147th career stakes win at Santa Anita.

“I only spoke to the assistant (trainer) and he told me to just try to get him home and he'll probably be forwardly placed and just try to enjoy the ride,” said Desormeaux, who was aboard for the first time today.  “That's all he said.  This ride started two or three days ago, I was a tour guide for the owners.  I had to show them where to get licensed and everything, so this is a nice omen, I think is what it is.”

Well beaten by None Above the Law two starts back going one mile on synthetic Tapeta at Golden Gate April 25, Jimmy Blue Jeans came off a first condition allowance win at one mile on turf at Golden Gate on May 16 and was off at 15-1 in a field of nine California-bred or sired 3-year-olds and returned $33.40, $10.60, and $6.80 .

A 3-year-old gelding by James Street, out of the Marino Marini mare Blue Blizzard, Jimmy Blue Jeans is owned by his owner/breeders Perry Bruno and John Gezon.  With his first stakes win, “Jimmy” bagged $90,000 on the day and increased his earnings to $143,646.

“This is the biggest race I've won yet,” said Bruno, who made the trip with an entourage from his home in Salt Lake City, Utah.  “It's like surreal, it's so good, it's like a dream.  I'm just a small guy who owns a couple of mares with my partner, John Gezon.”

Ridden by Flavien Prat, None Above the Law was mid-pack most of the trip, had to wait for room between horses turning for home and flew late to just miss.  Off at even money, he paid $2.80 and $2.40.

Ferrariano, ridden by Abel Cedillo, finished a nose back in third and paid $5.20 to show while off at 12-1.

Fractions on the race were 23.06, 47.60, 1:11.86 and 1:36.69.

The Snow Chief is part of the lucrative Golden State Series.  Sponsored by the CTBA, the Snow Chief is for eligible California-bred or sired horses.

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Winless in two starts since taking the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 6, Brickyard Ride was pressed through opening quarter miles of 21.40 and 21 flat in his last two starts—resulting in a fourth-place finish in a six-furlong classified allowance May 7 and a second-place finish in the G3 Kona Gold Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs on April 18.

With an opening quarter mile of 22.62, Brickyard Ride was in complete control of the Thor's Echo, and although Colt Fiction appeared full of run while two lengths back turning for home, Brickyard Ride was never challenged through the lane.

“Craig told me a clean break with him was the key today,” said Hernandez.  “I never bothered him, he felt comfortable the whole way.  It felt like he ran faster when I worked him the other day (a bullet five furlongs in 58 flat on June 4) than he ran today.  I looked at three or four replays of his races and it looked like today, he relaxed better.”

Owned and bred in California by Alfred Pais, Brickyard Ride was off as the 8-5 favorite and returned $5.20, $3.60 and $2.60.

“I don't like to make excuses for my horses but, he was pretty much eliminated last time,” said Lewis.  “He hit the gate and then he ducked in real bad, he just lost his best attribute, which is speed.  I just felt like he trained well and we know he's a brilliant horse when he's right…Juan knew he had a lot of horse under him.

“We're probably going to point for the Bing Crosby (G1, six furlongs at Del Mar July 31), possibly.  We could stretch him out in a Cal-bred stake.  He's a lovely moving horse, big horse with a wonderful stride, very athletic and has plenty of speed…We don't know if he can could do it (be effective routing) but we know this, he will be in front.”

A striking looking 4-year-old chestnut colt by Clubhouse Ride out of the Southern Image mare Brickyard Helen, Brickyard Ride notched his third stakes victory and he now has six wins from nine Santa Anita starts.  With an overall mark of 16-8-1-2, the winner's share of $60,000 increased his earnings to $464,477.

Ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli, the Bill Spawr-conditioned Colt Fiction saved every inch of ground from his rail post and although he accelerated when called upon was no match for the winner, finishing 1 ¼ lengths in front of Fashionably Fast.

The second choice at 5-2, Colt Fiction paid $3.20 and $2.20.

Fashionably Fast, who was off at 7-2 with Tiago Periera, paid $2.60 to show while finishing 2 ¾ lengths in front of Loud Mouth.

Fractions on the race were 22.62, 45.16 and 56.99.

Sponsored by the CTBA, the Thor's Echo is part of the lucrative Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired horses.

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With a pair of scratches earlier in the day, the Fran's Valentine was reduced to a field of four older California-bred fillies and mares. To the surprise of no one, Leggs Galore bounced out of the gate from her rail post and turned the race into a virtual parade to the far turn, with Kristi's Tiger a length and a half off the lead three furlongs out and Warren's Showtime another half length back.

With the chestnut Warren's Showtime in high gear mid-way around the turn, she had the leader well within her sights while two lengths back turning for home, but Leggs Galore never backed up and in fact maintained her advantage on the gallop out around the Club House turn.

“The main thing with her is trying to get her to relax, get a breather down the backside,” said Gonzalez, who has now ridden the 4-year-old daughter of Bayern in her last six starts, winning five of them.  “I knew that if she got it, that little breather, that she would be just fine because her speed is her main weapon and she proved that today.”

A well beaten sixth as the 6-5 favorite in the six furlong turf Mizdirection Stakes versus open company here on April 17, Leggs Galore was the second choice today at 2-1 and she paid $6.00 and $2.60 with no show wagering.

“It opens the big door, to where we have two options and just kind of pick the right spot that suits her best,” D'Amato said, when asked by TVG's Britney Eurton about winning around two turns.  “There's a nice little Grade 3 at the end of the meet and I might try her in there,” said D'Amato.  “I think it's the Wilshire ($100,000, at one mile on turf June 20).  When I saw 23, I was thinking 22 and change, 23 if we are lucky, and when I saw that, I thought we had no excuses and we'll see what she's made of.  Ricky did a beautiful job.”

Out of Sims' Indian Charlie mare Cashing Tickets, Leggs Galore now has three stakes wins and six victories from nine overall starts.  With today's winner's share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $322,708.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, consistent Warren's Showtime was perhaps done in by the short field as much as anything else, as she attended the pace, but was unable to threaten the winner despite mounting a solid stretch rally.

Off at 3-5, Warren's Showtime paid $2.10 to place while finishing 3 ½ lengths clear of Pulpit Rider.

Fractions on the race were 23.00, 46.77, 1:10.96 and 1:22.93.

The Fran's Valentine, named for the multiple Grade 1 stakes winning Earl Scheib homebred daughter of Saros, is part of the lucrative Golden State Series.  Sponsored by the CTBA, the Golden State Series is for eligible California-bred or sired horses.

Live racing resumes on Friday, with first post time for an eight-race card at 1 p.m.  Fans are advised that admission gates will open at 7 a.m. for Preakness Day simulcasting on Saturday, with Infield Admission gates opening at 9 a.m.

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Taken in-hand from his outside post, “Brando,” although a joint last with Prodigal Son heading to the far turn, was only four lengths off the lead.  Turning for home with two horses beat, Rispoli angled five-deep and Brandothebartender did the rest, easily reeling in the front-runners for a decisive win.

“He's such a versatile horse,” said Rispoli, who's ridden Brandothebartender eight times, finishing second three times and third on four occasions.  “He's a fighter, he's the kind of horse that you will love for life. … Obviously today the key was to be on the outside and give him a clean run, without any trouble.  Last time, that stakes on the dirt (third by a neck in the one mile Tiznow on Feb. 28), I thought I was the winner at the quarter pole, but he's old.  He can save his energy, he knows to do it, so I'm glad that he gave me back the stakes today.”

Off at 5-2 in his fourth career appearance in the Sensational Star, Brandothebartender paid $7.40, $3.80 and $2.60.

“I'm just so happy for these owners,” said an ebullient Dollase.  “They're new to the business and we've had a lot of seconds and thirds, but the wins have been tough to come by.  Looking at the race, I thought he could win because of the way it set up.  It looked like there was plenty of speed and there was.  I loved the outside post today and it worked out.  This horse brings it every time.  He's eight years old, but he doesn't know it!”

Claimed 25 starts back for $40,000 by owners Flawless Racing, Brian Flanagan and Michael Jarvis, Brandothebartender notched his second career stakes win, with his first coming in the California Flag Handicap at five furlongs on turf here on Oct. 20, 2018.

Out of the Stravinsky mare Frysland, Brandothebartender is now 42-7-6-15 and with today's winner's share of $60,000, has earnings of $608,364.

(Although Brandothebartender won a 1,000 yard race five starts back on Dec. 19 at Los Alamitos, it does not count as a Thoroughbred win, as it was a mixed breed race).

Jamming Eddy, who was third, about one length off the lead set by favored Jetovator at the top of the lane, finished second by a neck over Desmond Doss.  Ridden by Flavien Prat, Jamming Eddy was off at 4-1 and paid $4.40 and $2.80.

Desmond Doss, who battled back gamely under Abel Cedillo, was the third choice at 3-1 and paid $2.80 while finishing a nose better than Jetovator.

Fractions on the race were 21.44, 44.67 and 56.62.

The Sensational Star is part of the lucrative Golden State Series which is sponsored by the CTBA and is for eligible California-bred or sired horses.

Racing will resume with an eight-race card on Friday, with first post time at 1 p.m.  For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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