Mrazek (Benoit Photo)
RACE PART OF GOLDEN STATE SERIES FOR CALIFORNIA-BRED OR SIRED 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP
ARCADIA, Calif. (July 1, 2016)—Reddam Racing’s homebred Mrazek returns from a disappointing foray to Belmont Park on June 11 to head Monday’s $100,000 Thor’s Echo Handicap at Santa Anita. To be contested at six furlongs, the Thor’s Echo, which attracted a field of six, is a part of the Golden State Series and is for California-bred or sired 3-year-olds and up.
Mrazek’s competition includes Raised a Secret, who comes off a third place finish to recent Grade I winner Lord Nelson, consistent Forest Chatter, comebacking Magic Mark and Nardo, who comes off a pair of recent allowance wins.
MRAZEK: By red hot sire Square Eddie, he’s out of the Wild Rush mare Heckuva Rush. A well beaten 10th in the Grade II, seven furlong Woody Stephens Stakes June 11 at Belmont Park, he was second, beaten a neck two starts back here in the Grade III, seven furlong Lazaro Barrera Stakes on May 14. A winner versus statebreds of Del Mar’s 5 ½ furlong Graduation Stakes last August, Mrazek is quick from the gate and should relish his post position on the far outside. He has earnings of $169,437 from an overall mark of 7-2-4-0.
RAISED A SECRET: Third, beaten 6 ¾ lengths by eventual Grade I Triple Bend Stakes winner Lord Nelson on June 3, this Mark Glatt trainee was a close third two starts back in the Grade III, six furlong Los Angeles Stakes on April 16 and rates a huge chance dropping in class on Monday. Owned by Rodney Orr, the 6-year-old full horse by Songandaprayer will hope to get a stalking trip from his rail post position. Never worse than third in nine tries at six furlongs, Raised a Secret is 30-5-10-8 overall with earnings of $490,130.
FOREST CHATTER: Winless from just one start on dirt, all five of his career wins have come on turf, which is no longer an option at the current meet. Trained by Richard Mandella, he showed good speed in his only main track appearance, a close fourth three starts back versus statebreds in the seven furlong Cary Grant Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 22. Third and subsequently second in a pair of statebred stakes down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course on Feb. 27 and May 28, the 5-year-old Kentucky bred and California-sired gelding by Dixie Chatter retains the services of Mike Smith. His overall mark stands at 13-5-2-2 and he has earnings of $268,510.
MAGIC MARK: Idle since winning the one mile Bertrando Stakes versus state-breds at Los Alamitos one year ago, this 6-year-old Benchmark gelding will hope to run well fresh for owner/breeders Dorine and John Lanza. Trained by Ron Ellis, he has a sparkling six furlong gate drill in 1:11.20 here on June 26 (best of 13 at the distance) and must be respected with five wins from 14 starts. Out of the Deputy Governor mare Jewel Magic, he has earnings of $258,734.
NARDO: Trained by Mike Puype, he comes off a pair of recent allowance wins at 6 ½ furlongs and appears to be a “now” commodity for owner/breeders Tony and Suzy Narducci. A 4-year-old gelding by Olmodavor out of the Decarchy mare Bella Castagna, Nardo appears to be coming to his best as he tries stakes competition for the first time. With an overall record of 7-3-1-2, he’ll be ridden for the fourth consecutive time by Flavien Prat.
LOVE MY BUD: A 5-year-old Pamela Ziebarth homebred gelding, he was bred in Kentucky and is California sired, by Tizbud. A state-bred or sired allowance winner going 5 ½ furlongs two starts back on April 22, he tired late to finish sixth, beaten 2 ½ lengths, in an open first condition allowance going 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf here on May 19. A longshot, he’s out of the Forest Wildcat mare Kathwen and he has two wins from five starts.
THE $100,000 THOR’S ECHO HANDICAP IN POST POSITION ORDER WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS
Race 8 (of 9) Approximate post time 5 p.m. PDT
1. Raised a Secret—Santiago Gonzalez—123 2. Love My Bud—Rafael Bejarano—117 3. Forest Chatter—Mike Smith—122 4. Nardo—Flavien Prat—118 5. Magic Mark—Drayden Van Dyke—122 6. Mrazek—Mario Gutierrez—115
First post time on Monday, Independence Day, is at 1:30 p.m. Admission gates open at 11:30 a.m. Monday is also Fan Appreciation Day and there will be one dollar beers, sodas and hot dogs offered throughout the day.