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King Of Gosford Tabbed As The 6-5 Favorite In Grade II, $200,000 Mathis Mile

12/20/2024

KING OF GOSFORD TABBED AS THE 6-5 FAVORITE IN GRADE II, $200,000 MATHIS MILE FOR 3-YEAR-OLDS ON TURF THURSDAY AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (Dec. 20, 2024)—King of Gosford, installed as the 6-5 favorite on the morning line, will shoot for his fourth stakes win this year when he takes on eight rivals Thursday in the Grade II, $200,000 Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on turf at Santa Anita. The Mathis Mile is one of six graded stakes on opening day of Santa Anita’s 90th anniversary season.

Trained by Phil D’Amato, King of Gosford most recently was beaten three-quarters of a length when second in the GI Hollywood Derby at Del Mar on Nov. 30. The Zoustar colt, who was bred in England, will break from the rail under top rider Flavien Prat. Previously, Prat rode King of Gosford to victory in the Let It Ride Stakes at Del Mar on Oct. 31, one race prior to the Hollywood Derby.

King of Gosford this year also won the John Shear Mile in April and Desert Code Stakes in May, both at Santa Anita. He has an overall record of14: 5-2-2 with $399,692 in earnings, which includes four starts in Ireland before coming stateside. King of Gosford is owned by Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Jeremy Peskoff.

Looming a major threat to King of Gosford is Stay Hot, who beat the favorite when winning the La Jolla Stakes at Del Mar in August. Trained by Peter Eurton, Stay Hot is the 7-2 second choice on the morning line. He will be ridden for the first time by top Santa Anita rider Juan Hernandez.

Prior to his win in the La Jolla, Stay Hot won both the Pasadena Stakes and Baffle Stakes at Santa Anita and last year’s GIII Cecil B. DeMille at Del Mar. The Summer Front ridgling has an overall record of 12: 5-2-1 with $420,160 in earnings for owners Burns Racing LLC, Exline-Border Racing LLC, SAF Racing, The Estate Of Brereton C. Jones and William Dan Hudock.

The other major contender is Atitlan for trainer John Shirreffs. Atitlan earned his first stakes win when scoring in the GII Twilight Derby at 6-1 on Oct. 26 at Del Mar. He also tried the Hollywood Derby and finished off the board.

Owned by John O’Connor, the colt by The Factor has a record of 6: 2-0-2 with $214,000 in earnings. He will have regular rider Hector Berrios aboard.

Trainer Michael McCarthy has two entered including multiple stakes winner Lord Bullingdon.

Lord Bullingdon returned from a 6 ½-month layoff Nov. 17 and finished off the board in a second-level allowance going a mile on turf at Del Mar. As a 2-year-old last year, the Lord Nelson colt won the Qatar Golden Mile and Eddie Logan Stakes, both at Santa Anita.

Lord Bullingdon will have Umberto Rispoli aboard. He is 10: 2-2-1 with $222,190 in earnings for owners Colbart Stables and Coronado Hill Investments.

THE GII MATHIS MILE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 9 of 11 Approximate post time 3 p.m.

  1. King of Gosford – Flavien Prat – 122

  2. Atitlan – Hector Berrios – 124

  3. Curlin’s Kaos – Armando Ayuso – 120

  4. Siennois – Antonio Fresu – 120

  5. Stay Hot – Juan Hernandez – 122

  6. Heart Headed – Frankie Dettori – 120

  7. Call Sign Seven – Kyle Frey – 120

  8. Cathal – Joel Rosario – 120

  9. Lord Bullingdon – Umberto Rispoli – 122

    First post for an 11-race card Thursday is 11 a.m. Admission gates open at 9 a.m.