26th of December to Remember: Santa Anita Lineups Take Shape

December 26 promises to be one of the most important days in the history of 1/ST Racing. It’s opening day of the Classic Meet at Santa Anita, opening day of the Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park and host date of the Christmastide Day stakes card at Laurel Park. All month, 1/ST BET will prepare you for a 26th of December to Remember with special content.

Santa Anita’s 6 stakes races on Dec. 26 recently closed nominations and all 6 are of the graded-stakes variety. Let’s take a look.

The Grade 1 $300,000 Malibu for 3-year-old sprinters attracted 15 nominations, led by Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby and Pennsylvania Derby winner Taiba. Other noms include Grade 2 San Felipe winner Forbidden Kingdom, Grade 2 Twilight Derby turf winner Cabo Spirit and multiple graded winner Slow Down Andy, most recently third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

Three-year-old turf fillies meet in the Grade 1 $300,000 American Oaks, a race attracting 20 nominations. Those are topped by Bellabel, winner of the Grade 2 San Clemente; Bellestreet Bridie, the Grade 3 Red Carpet winner; Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Pizza Bianca; Winter Memories winner Salimah for Chad Brown; Grade 2 Sands Point winner Skims for Shug McGaughey; and Virginia Oaks 1-2 finishers Spirit And Glory and Sparkle Blue.

The Grade 1 $300,000 La Brea for 3-year-old filly sprinters delivered 18 nominations. They include Grade 2 Chandelier winner Ain’t Easy, Grade 2 Zenyatta 1-2 finishers Midnight Memories and Awake At Midnyte, Grade 1 Test runner-up Hot Peppers, Grade 3 Delaware Oaks winner Midnight Stroll, multiple Grade 2 winner Under the Stars and Grade 3 Fantasy heroine Yuugirl.

The Grade 2 $200,000 Mathis Mile on turf has 15 nominations. Grade 3 Bryan Station winner Balnikhov, Grade 2 Twilight Derby winner Cabo Spirit, Grade 2 Del Mar Derby winner Slow Down Andy and Hollywood Derby winner Speaking Scout lead the potential names.

Older dirt routers meet in the Grade 2 $200,000 San Antonio, a race that lured 16 nominations. Grade 1 Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer joins Grade 1 Awesome Again winner Defunded atop the marquee. Millionaire earner Stilleto Boy, multiple Grade 3 winner Heywoods Beach and defending San Antonio champ Kiss Today Goodbye also are among the considerations.

Turf routers match up in the Grade 2 $200,000 San Gabriel and 20 have been nominated. Defending champ Bob and Jackie, Mike Maker’s millionaire earner Field Pass, Grade 1 Kilroe Mile winner Hit the Road, multiple Grade 2 winner Hong Kong Harry, Grade 2 Eddie Read winner Master Piece, Grade 2 John Henry winner Masteroffoxhounds and Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup 1-2 finishers Prince Abama and The Grey Wizard top the nominees.

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The 26th of December to Remember Stakes Lineup

Gulfstream Park | Championship Meet | Opening Day
$100K Tropical Park Derby
$100K Tropical Park Oaks

Santa Anita | Classic Meet | Opening Day
$300K G1 Malibu
$300K G1 American Oaks
$300K G1 La Brea
$200K G2 Mathis Mile
$200K G2 San Antonio
$200K G2 San Gabriel

Laurel Park | Christmastide Day Stakes
$100K Carousel
$100K Dave’s Friend
$100K Gin Talking
$100K Heft
$100K Robert Manfuso
$100K Willa On the Move

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