Santa Anita Park Picks | Triple Bend Stakes 2024

Big City Lights, who was scratched from last weekend’s Thor’s Echo Stakes for California-breds, takes aim at a second-straight graded win in the GII, $200,000 Triple Bend Stakes going seven furlongs Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

First post Saturday is at 1 p.m. PT. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.

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Trained by Richard Mandella, Big City Lights is a perfect 2-for-2 this season. He won a second-level allowance/optional going 6 ½ furlongs Jan. 6 at Santa Anita, then came right back to take the GIII Palos Verdes by a nose going six furlongs Feb. 10 at Santa Anita.

A 5-year-old horse by Mr. Big, Big City Lights is 9: 5-4-0 with $392,420 in earnings for owner William R. Peeples. He will be ridden by Kyle Frey for the first time.

Happy Jack makes his second start of the year after a promising comeback effort in the 6 ½ furlong Kona Gold Stakes April 27 at Santa Anita. After a nearly nine-month layoff, Happy Jack was beaten just three-quarters of a length by top sprinter The Chosen Vron in the Kona Gold. The Chosen Vron returned to win last Saturday’s Thor’s Echo.

Trained by Doug O’Neill for owner-breeder Calumet Farm, Happy Jack is 12: 2-2-3 with $325,560 in earnings. The 5-year-old Oxbow horse will be ridden by Edwin Maldonado for the first time.

Dr. Venkman, who showed big promise in three starts last year, makes his 4-year-old debut following a nearly seven-month layoff for trainer Mark Glatt. A gelding by Ghostzapper, Dr. Venkman graduated on debut by 5 ¼ lengths last July at Del Mar and came right back to dominate a first-level allowance by 5 ½ lengths, also at Del Mar.

Dr. Venkman was then sent to Keeneland for a try in the seven-furlong Perryville Stakes. Sent off as the favorite, Dr. Venkman was beaten a head by Raise Cain.

Dr. Venkam is 3: 2-1-0 with $138,500 in earnings for owners Dan J. Agnew, Clint Bunch, Mark Cohen and James Hailey. He will be ridden by Antonio Fresu for the first time.

THE GII TRIPLE BEND AT SANTA ANITA PARK, WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 6 of 9 | Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT

1. Dr. Venkman – Antonio Fresu – 120
2. Happy Jack – Edwin Maldonado – 120
3. Tahoe Sunrise – Juan Hernandez – 120
4. Big City Lights – Kyle Frey – 122