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.