Shared Belief Untouchable in Big 'Cap

Shared Belief did what was expected of him in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) March 7—blowing an overmatched group of horses away with ease .

In front of 26,134 fans at Santa Anita Park, the indefatigable son of Candy Ride   claimed his seventh graded stakes and fifth grade I score with the easiest of victories in the 78th running of the Big 'Cap, and completed the 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.67 on a track rated fast.

Four-and-a-quarter lengths behind was early pacesetter Moreno, who set fractions of :23, :46.56, and 1:10.89. Shared Belief loomed in sixth up the backstretch before making a move in the final turn under absolutely no urging from Mike Smith, who sat motionless on the gelding as he entered the stretch and gradually pulled away.

Smith avoided any trouble by taking the Kentucky-bred gelding four-wide into both turns. He was ridden along to kick clear in the stretch and was under a significant hold in the final sixteenth of a mile.

"The perfect (trip) with him is just being in the clear, no matter what," Smith said. "Today, I felt we just needed a clear, smooth trip. (Trainer) Jerry (Hollendorfer) and I agreed that it was important to get away well today.

"My main concentration was to catch those first two or three steps and then after that, it was just about pointing him in the right direction. He did the rest."

Smith was so comfortable on his mount in the final stages of the stretch run that he had a chance to admire the gelding on the Southern California track's big screen in the infield. "I was watching the TV from the quarter-pole to the wire, and I feel bad to say this, but I was trying not to win by so far," Smith said. "As they say, don't squeeze a lemon if you don't have to."

Catch a Flight, an optional claiming winner last time out, finished third, a head behind Moreno.

Shared Belief carried highweight of 125 pounds and improved his record to 10 wins in 11 career starts. His earnings now sit just under $3 million with the $600,000 score for the ownership group of Jim Rome's Jungle Racing, Jason Litt, Alex Solis II, George Todaro, KMN Racing, and Hollendorfer.

"Shared Belief makes us look good and he did it easy," Hollendorfer said. "I'm just so grateful to have a horse like this. You never expect (to have a horse considered the best in the country), so I'm very pleased to have this horse and hope that we can keep him racing well like he has been."

The standout gelding, bred by Pam and Martin Wygod, returned $2.60, $2.20, and $2.10. Moreno brought $4.80 to place and $4.20 to show, while Catch a Flight returned $4.20.

It was also Smith's third straight victory in the $1 million race. He rode Game on Dude to victory in 2014 and 2013.

"He surprises me every time," Smith said after the race. "I have to pinch myself that I get to be his pilot. It's Zenyatta, Holy Bull, and then Shared Belief for me."

Lost in the dominant effort was a relatively impressive performance by Moreno, who hung on gamely for second after leading most of the race. The 5-year-old by Ghostzapper   was returning from a significant layoff—his last start was the grade I Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 1 of last year—and trainer Eric Guillot said earlier he was just looking for a good race from the gelding.

"It was almost exactly the race we expected to run," Guillot said. "It was a little faster than I expected with the fractions early. For $200,000 off nine weeks of training, I'm happy with this and not having to ship across the country. At the wire, I thought we were going to be third and I would have been happy with that, but (jockey Santiago Gonzalez) rode him relentlessly and Moreno was game."

Hard Aces hung on for fourth by a neck over Bronzo, who was followed by Dynamic Sky, You Know I Know, Imperative, Sr. Quisqueyano, Cool Samurai, Patrioticandproud, Diamond Bachelor, and Crimson Giant.