2023 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Preview | Dr. Schivel Faces Arabian Lion, Speed Boat Beach

Trainer Mark Glatt’s 5-year-old Dr. Schivel will hope to have his running shoes on Saturday as he takes on top sophomore sprinter Arabian Lion and seven others at six furlongs in the Grade II, $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship presented by Estrella Jalisco.

The Santa Anita Sprint Championship will be race 6 of 10 with an approximate post time of 3:30 p.m. PT.

A Grade I winner at age two and again versus older at age three, Dr. Schivel was a desperate second in the 2021 Grade I Breeders’ Cup Sprint and he was also ultra impressive off a 10-month layoff when making his 5-year-old debut here three starts back on May 13.

Off as the 1-2 favorite in a six furlong classified allowance, he was in control throughout and drew off to win by 4 ¼ lengths, earning a career-top 105 Beyer Speed Figure.

Subsequently well beaten in the Grade I Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont Park June 10, Dr. Schivel was most recently third, beaten a neck by top sprinter The Chosen Vron in the Grade I Bing Crosby July 29 at Del Mar as the 9-5 favorite.

A Kentucky-bred bay horse by Violence out of the Mining for Money mare Lil Nugget, Dr. Schivel, a two-time Grade I winner, has three wins from five starts at Santa Anita and will be ridden back by Juan Hernandez, who was also up for his classified allowance score May 13.

Owned by Red Baron’s Barn, LLC and Rancho Temescal, Dr. Schivel is 13-6-2-3 overall with earnings of $1,207,100.

A winner of the Grade I Woody Stephens Stakes going seven furlongs at Belmont Park two starts back, Bob Baffert’s Arabian Lion was most recently third, beaten 3 ¼ lengths over a muddy track going seven panels at Saratoga Aug. 26 in the Grade I H. Allen Jerkens Memorial. 

An impressive first-out six furlong maiden winner here on Oct. 9 of last year, Arabian Lion, a chestnut colt by Justify out of the Distorted Humor mare Unbound, will be facing older horses for the first time on Saturday.

Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Inc., Arabian Lion will be ridden for the first time by Edwin Maldonado as he bids for his third stakes victory and his fourth win from nine overall starts.

THE GRADE II SANTA ANITA SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST ORDER:

1. American Theorem – Umberto Rispoli – 122
2. Dr. Schivel – Juan Hernandez – 122
3. Arabian Lion – Edwin Maldonado – 122
4. Fort Bragg – Ramon Vazquez – 120
5. Visitant – Antonio Fresu – 122
6. C Z Rocket – Geovanni Franco – 122
7. Sir Atticus – Mike Smith – 122
8. Speed Boat Beach – Victor Espinoza – 120
9. Spirit of Makena – Joe Bravo – 126

First post time on Saturday for a 10-race card that will include three other stakes, is at 1 p.m.  Admission gates open at 11 a.m.