Kaigun Makes 2015 Debut in Arcadia Stakes

Kaigun, one of the most honest and classy grass horses in training last year, makes his first start since November when he takes on eight opponents in the $200,000 Arcadia Stakes (gr. IIT) Jan. 31 at Santa Anita Park.

The 5-year-old gelded son of Northern Afleet   knocked heads with some of the country’s top turf competitors last year such as champions Wise Dan and Main Sequence, as well as major stakes winners Real Solution  , Twilight Eclipse, and Bobby's Kitten. In 11 starts last year, Kaigun won three stakes and was beaten less than three lengths six times, including a close second, beaten three-quarters of length, to Wise Dan in the Makers46 Mile (gr. IT). He also was beaten only 1 1/2 lengths by two-time Eclipse champion Main Sequence in the United Nations Stakes (gr. IT).

In all, he raced at eight different tracks last year at five different distances from seven furlongs to 1 1/4 miles. In his final start of 2014, he defeated the top-class Za Approval in the grade II Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar.

Corey Nakatani returns to ride for trainer Mark Casse, breaking from post 4 under top weight of 123 pounds.

Owned by Gary Barber and Quintessential Racing et al, Kaigun has been training sharply at Santa Anita, with his most recent work a five-furlong drill in 1:00 flat over the turf course.

Za Approval, who was second to Wise Dan in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT), is back for another crack at Kaigun under Mike Smith. The 7-year-old is a recent shipper from Florida, where he finished fourth in the Fort Lauderdale Stakes (gr. IIT) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 18.

The son of Ghostzapper, making his second start for Casse after previously racing for Christophe Clement, was second to Wise Dan in the grade I Woodbine Mile in 2013 and has grade III stakes wins in the Knickerbocker and Red Bank to his credit.

Heading the horses not trained by Casse are Avanzare, the Washington Park Handicap (gr. III) winner trained by the always dangerous Tom Proctor; Eddie D (gr. IIIT) winner Home Run Kitten, from the barn of David Hofmans; and the Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) third-place finisher Talco.

Rounding out the field are Play Hard to Get, Baccelo, Edge of Reality, and the speedy front-runner El Nino Terrible.