Santa Anita Park Preview & FREE Picks | La Brea Stakes 2023

Aaron previews the 2023 La Brea Stakes (G1) from Santa Anita Park, then gives his top picks from this Opening Day event.

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The press release:

                In perhaps the most wide-open stakes race of the day, trainer Michael McCarthy’s Clearly Unhinged rates top billing among 10 sophomore fillies going seven furlongs in the Grade I, $300,000 La Brea Stakes on the Santa Anita Classic Meet opening day this Tuesday.

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                Most recently sixth at 23-1 in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint here on Nov. 4, Clearly Unhinged, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Into Mischief, was second two starts back in the Grade III Chillingworth Stakes Sept. 29 and in the best race of her career three starts back, she was second, beaten a head going seven panels in the Grade I Test at Saratoga on Aug. 5.

                Owned and bred by Rock Brothers Racing, Clearly Unhinged, who seeks her first stakes win, will be ridden back by Umberto Rispoli.  With two wins and as many second from six starts, she has earnings of $242,000.

                Two-time Eclipse Award winning trainer Brad Cox appears well represented by lightly raced Howl, a daughter of Practical Joke who ships in from her Kentucky base unbeaten in two starts, her most recent triumph a one length score going seven furlongs in an ungraded stakes at Laurel Park Nov. 25. 

                A runaway 7 ¾ length debut maiden winner with Flavien Prat up going six furlongs Oct. 28 at Keeneland, Howl will be reunited with the talented Frenchman on Tuesday and looms a major contender for owners LNJ Foxwoods.

THE GRADE I LA BREA STAKES AT SANTA ANITA PARK, WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 10 of 11  Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT

1. Blessed Touch – Hector Berrios – 120
2. Daddysruby – Juan Hernandez – 120
3. Howl – Flavien Prat – 120
4. Big Pond – Lanfranco Dettori- 120
5. Royal Spa – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – 120
6. Ice Dancing – Mike Smith – 122
7. Fast and Shiny – Kyle Frey – 120
8. Bangs – Kazushi Kimura – 120
9. Clearly Unhinged – Umberto Rispoli – 120
10. Satin Doll – Antonio Fresu – 120