Saturday Highlights Include Swiss Skydiver's Return
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Swiss Skydiver
Throughout the year, the NTRA and BloodHorse will provide a guide to the best Saturday stakes races in North America and beyond, complete with entries and links to full previews. Races are listed in chronological order (all times ET).
3:03 p.m.—$350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park (FS2 and TVG)
Shedaresthedevil, winner of 2020 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), will make her seasonal debut in the Azeri Stakes, the final major local prep for the grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap April 17.
5:45 p.m.—$200,000 Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn Park (FS2 and TVG)
Whitmore, champion male sprinter of 2020, will be making his seasonal debut in the Hot Springs Stakes where he will attempt to win the six-furlong test for a fifth consecutive year.
6:16 p.m.—$1,000,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park (TVG)
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert bids for an eighth Rebel victory when he sends out unbeaten Concert Tour and recent maiden graduate Hozier in the $1 million race. Also entered are Caddo River, winner of the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Jan. 22, and Keepmeinmind, who captured the grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in November.
6:46 p.m.—$100,000 San Simeon Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park (TVG)
Bob and Jackie would appear to rate a big chance cutting back in distance for Richard Baltas as he faces sharp recent winner Gregorian Chant, defending champ Cistron and Jolie Olimpica, who will be facing males for the first time in North America.
7:20 p.m.—$300,000 Beholder Mile (G1) at Santa Anita Park (TVG)
Swiss Skydiver, reigning champion 3-year-old filly, is poised to make her 2021 debut as she heads a field of eight older fillies and mares.