Group 1 action in Santa Anita with familiar names on show

We have been starved of racing action in Britain and Ireland for over two months now but Santa Anita will go some way to filling the void late on Monday night with the track hosting two Grade 1s, with many familiar runners. Here are the key things to look out for at Santa Anita on Monday.

12.38 | Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile Stakes 

This $300,000 is the first race in the win and you’re in series of qualifying races for the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Mile and has attracted a typically strong field, including former Royal Ascot winner Without Parole.

However, Without Parole has not replicated his British form thus far and it could be worth looking elsewhere, of which fellow former European-trained River Boyne stands out.

Gordon Elliott doesn’t train many for the level but in River Boyne the master jumps trainer produced a good one. Now in the care of Jeff Mullins, River Boyne comes into this race on a roll after back-to-back victories.

Of the remainder, the former Johnny Murtagh-trainer True Valour is also worth noting. Representing Simon Callaghan, who is based at Santa Anita, True Valour boats solid each-way claims.

1.39 | Grade 1 Gamely Stakes

There are also recognisable names in this 1m1f contest for fillies and mares, including Lady Prancealot and Bodhicitta.

Lady Prancealot, who shed her maiden tage at Chelmsford in 2018 for David Evans, has already won a Grade 1 in America and rates as a leading contender for Monday’s contest.

Bodhicitta, formerly trained by Michael O’Callaghan, has decent each-way claims under Flavien Prat, who has been on fire at Santa Anita in recent weeks.

Stats to consider

As mentioned, Prat is the man in form when it comes to jockeys at Santa Anita. This year alone, Prat has ridden 10 winners from 47 rides at the track and is operating at a 21 per cent strike-rate.

When it comes to the trainers worth keeping an eye out on at Santa Anita, the usual suspects of Bob Baffert, Jeff Mullins and John Sadler have the best recent form at the venue.