Stable Notes

EUROPEAN ACE DANSANT SETTLES IN FOR SANTA ANITA HANDICAP

European invader Dansant enjoyed taking in the scenic sights at Santa Anita for the first time Saturday morning, jogging twice around the track in preparation for the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 7.

“He’s settled in very well and he’s very alert,” said Cindy Niemetz, West Coast representative for the International Racing Bureau. “He’s scheduled to canter tomorrow.”

Andrew Morris, traveling lad for trainer Gerard Butler, supervised Dansant’s maneuvers in Butler’s absence. No rider has been named for Dansant.

REDDAM MULLS SANTA ANITA HANDICAP FOR RED ROCKS
Red Rocks, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2006 and the Grade I Man o’ War Stakes on turf at Belmont Park last July, could make his first start on a surface other than grass in the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap on March 7.
“He’s going to breeze Saturday (five furlongs at Payson Park in Florida) and then we’ll think about it,” trainer Mark Hennig said by phone late Thursday. “Paul’s never shy about taking a shot,” Hennig continued, referring to owner J. Paul Reddam. “He’s expressed some interest.”

COLONEL JOHN ON TRACK FOR MARCH 7 SANTA ANITA HANDICAP
A full field with ample speed is in prospect for the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 7, and that’s encouraging news for Eoin Harty, who trains stretch runner Colonel John.
Winner of the Grade I Santa Anita Derby and the Grade I Travers Stakes as a 3-year-old last year, Colonel John worked seven furlongs on Pro-Ride Wednesday in 1:25.40.
“I would think there will be plenty of pace (in the Big ‘Cap),” Harty said. “He worked good. The track was tiring, because it was dug up Tuesday night, but he went well.”

ZAMBEZI SUN JOINS FULL LINEUP FOR MARCH 7 SANTA ANITA HANDICAP
Zambezi Sun, a disappointing seventh as the 9-10 favorite in his U.S. debut Sunday in the Grade II San Luis Obispo Handicap at 1 ½ miles on turf, will wheel back two weeks later in the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap on March 7, Bobby Frankel said Wednesday morning.
“There’s nothing wrong with him,” the Hall of Fame trainer said. “He didn’t run hard; he’s OK. I just got him fit enough to run (in the Big ‘Cap).”

RAIL TRIP’S NEXT RACE UNDECIDED; VALDIVIA ON CHAMPS ELYSEES IN BIG ’CAP

Although Rail Trip has been nominated to the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 7, chances of the unbeaten gelding running in the mile and a quarter classic seemed extremely remote Sunday.

EXPENSIVE CLAIM BALFOUR PARK EYES NEXT SATURDAY’S SHAM STAKES

Balfour Park, claimed for the rarified price of $100,000 last out by trainer Craig Lewis, likely will make his next start in the Grade III Sham Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles next Saturday.

“More than likely (he’ll run),” Lewis said. Balfour Park, a Kentucky-bred son of the Seeking the Gold sire Mutakddim, has raced only three times, breaking his maiden in the $100,000 race at one mile on Jan.

ON FIRE LOOKS LIKE A NATURAL FOR ABRAMS IN SAN LUIS OBISPO

If ever a horse was a natural for Barry Abrams to train, it’s On Fire.

FRANKEL CALLS AUDIBLE, ENTERS ZAMBEZI SUN IN SUNDAY’S SAN LUIS OBISPO

Zambezi Sun, a highly regarded Group 1 winner in Europe who had been scheduled to make his United States debut in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on Pro-Ride on March 7, instead has been entered in Sunday’s San Luis Obispo Handicap scheduled for 1 ½ miles on turf by Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, who still plans to run the English-bred horse in the Big ’Cap.

“I might have missed a little training, so this way it will be like a workout for him,” Frankel said of the English-bred son of the Danehill stallio

Citing limited opportunities elsewhere and a penchant for seven furlongs, Tom Amoss is bringing Mutadda to Santa Anita for Saturday’s Grade II San Carlos Handicap.

“This looked like a good spot,” Amoss said by phone Monday morning from the Ocala Breeders’ Sales in Florida. “There wasn’t too much around and seven-eighths is his best distance.” Mutadda has two wins and a third in four starts at seven furlongs. He registered his first stakes victory in the restricted Gaudin Memorial at the Fair Grounds on Jan. 10.

Georgie Boy found his comfort zone when he won the Sunshine Millions Sprint at six furlongs on Jan. 24. At least that’s the opinion of Garrett Gomez, who rode the California-bred son of Tribal Rule to a rail-skimming, 2 ¼-length victory in the $300,000 race.

The 4-year-old gelding was fourth in the Grade I Malibu Stakes a month before the Sunshine Millions. In the Malibu, Bob Black Jack was able to dictate the pace en route to a 2 ¼-length victory.