Express Train Looks for Rare Triple in Big 'Cap

Express Train  has the opportunity to put a triple together that hasn't happened in 31 years—he could become the first horse since Farma Way in 1991 to capture the San Antonio Stakes (G2), San Pasqual Stakes (G2), and Big 'Cap in the same season.

The likely favorite in the March 5 $650,000 Santa Anita Handicap presented by Yaavama' Resort & Casino (G1), CRK Stable's Express Train, a 5-year-old son of Union Rags  , is slated to meet three of his rivals from the Feb. 5 San Pasqual: fourth-place Spielberg , fifth-place Kiss Today Goodbye , and sixth-place American Theorem . 

Law Professor , second in the San Pasqual and winner of the Dec. 26 Santa Anita Mathis Brothers Mile (G2T), has opted for the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1T) the same day on turf. 

With the giant cards that 1ST/BET is conducting at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park March 5, stakes horses have several options. Trainer George Papaprodromou has cross-entered American Theorem in the 1 1/4-mile Big 'Cap and the seven-furlong San Carlos Stakes presented by FanDuel (G2). Papaprodromou is believed to be leaning toward the Big 'Cap and must choose prior to scratch time, the morning of March 3.

The Santa Anita Handicap, established in 1935 as the first $100,000 race in the United States, attracted a field of eight, including two shippers. Express Train, assigned top weight of 124 pounds, is the top earner of the field with $935,800 and has won the most stakes—four—including the 2021 San Pasqual and San Diego Handicap (G2), the latter at Del Mar.

"He's coming up to the race very well," said John Shirreffs, who conditions Express Train for CRK. "I think he's been very consistent. He ran well last time, and I don't see any reason he wouldn't do it again."

Lee and Susan Searing race in the CRK name, and Victor Espinoza will ride from post 6. 

"He's obviously a big, good-looking, strong horse, and John has a way of training horses like this," said Lee Searing after the San Pasqual.

Shirreffs is looking for his first Santa Anita Handicap victory. Express Train finished second in the race last year to Idol .

Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox is shipping in Warrant , an interesting 4-year-old from Louisiana. Never worse than third in eight lifetime starts and a son of Constitution  , Warrant won the 2021 Oklahoma Derby (G3) and Texas Derby. In his 2022 debut, the Twin Creeks homebred finished third to 2021 TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Mandaloun  and recent Saudi Cup (G1) third Midnight Bourbon  in the Jan. 22 Louisiana Stakes (G3).

Stilleto Boy  goes into the Santa Anita Handicap following a trip to Gulfstream for the Jan. 29 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes presented by 1/ST BET (G1). In that $3 million race at 1 1/8 miles, the 4-year-old gelded son of Shackleford  finished third to Life Is Good  and 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go  . 

Winner of the 2021 Iowa Derby when owned by other interests, Stilleto Boy is trained by Ed Moger Jr. for his brother Steve. Second at Santa Anita in the 1 1/8-mile Awesome Again Stakes (G1) last fall, Stilleto Boy ran fifth in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar. John Velazquez is set to pilot Stilleto Boy in the Big 'Cap from post 8.

"I think he'll benefit from the mile and a quarter," said Ed Moger. "He ran well at that distance in the Breeders' Cup, but the race was just too tough for him."

Moger said that while Stilleto Boy seemed tired when he returned from Florida, he bounced back quickly.

"After about four days, we had to get him back to the track," said Moger. "He was tearing the barn down, so he's doing really good."

Trainer Bob Baffert has entered Spielberg  (jockey Abel Cedillo, post 1) for a large ownership group headed by Golconda Stables, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing. A 4-year-old son of Union Rags   and a $1 million 2019 Keeneland September yearling purchase, Spielberg captured the 2020 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).

Should Papaprodromou keep American Theorem in the Big 'Cap as expected, Mike Smith will ride the 5-year-old son of American Pharoah   from post 5 for owner Kretz Racing. Smith is also named on American Theorem in the San Carlos, where they drew post 2, just outside of the speedy Brickyard Ride  on the rail.

JKX Racing's Why Why Paul Why , previously trained by Penny Pearce, makes his debut for locally based conditioner Michael McCarthy. A 5-year-old son of Archarcharch , Why Why Paul Why was a $30,000 claim at Churchill Downs in mid-2021. In seven starts since, he has won five times, including the Dec. 28 Kris Kringle Stakes at Parx Racing, and finished second twice. McCarthy has named Juan Hernandez to ride, and they drew post 2.

Entries: Santa Anita H. presented by Yaamava' Resort & Casino (G1)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, March 05, 2022, Race 11

• Grade I
• 1 1/4m
• Dirt
• $650,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 5:00 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Spielberg (KY)	Abel Cedillo	118	Bob Baffert	-
2	Why Why Paul Why (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	117	Michael W. McCarthy	-
3	Warrant (KY)	Flavien Prat	121	Brad H. Cox	-
4	Soy Tapatio (KY)	Diego A. Herrera	116	Doug F. O'Neill	-
5	American Theorem (KY)	Mike E. Smith	116	George Papaprodromou	-
6	Express Train (KY)	Victor Espinoza	124	John A. Shirreffs	-
7	Kiss Today Goodbye (KY)	Kyle Frey	118	J. Eric Kruljac	-
8	Stilleto Boy (KY)	John R. Velazquez	121	Ed Moger, Jr.	-