San Juan 'Cap on Sunday

Sadly, Santa Anita will close it's gates to live racing on Sunday (reopens in October with the Oak Tree Meet). The Grade II San Juan Capistrano Handicap is the feature race on closing day. At 1 3/4 miles, and starting on the hillside turf course it is always an intriguing race. For years this has been one of my favorite races.

This year it's a small field. The probable starters are: A.P. Xcellent, Church Service, On the Acorn, One Off, Phar to Win, Runaway Dancer and Sweet Return (maybe).

According to the Daily Racing Form, the winner will receive an invitation to the Melbourne Cup (2 miles on turf, 3.8 million purse in 2006) in November.

Closing Day 2007 for the Santa Anita Meet will also feature the final race contested on natural dirt at the park. An new artificial surface is scheduled to be installed at The Great Race Place this summer.

Here is video of the '88 San Juan (back when it was a Grade I) from my You Tube page and my personal tape collection. Watch Shoe try to steal it on the lead with Fiction.