Middleweight Is a Contender

Less than a week after having the greatest day a trainer has ever had, Richard Mandella will be shooting for a less impressive prize in the seventh today at Santa Anita.

Mandella, who set a record by winning four Breeders’ Cup races on Saturday, will send out Middleweight, the 5-2 favorite, in the $48,000 optional claimer at 1 1/4 miles on the turf.

Owned by B. Wayne Hughes, Middleweight, a 3-year-old son of Grand Slam purchased for $260,000 as a yearling, has won twice and been second in four starts on the grass.

He won two in a row, at Hollywood Park and Del Mar, before finishing sixth of nine in his first appearance in a stakes, the Del Mar Derby, on Sept. 6.

Away since then, Middleweight will be racing without blinkers for the first time and trying 10 furlongs, also for the first time.

He was second against maidens June 28 at Hollywood Park going 1 3/16 miles. David Flores will ride.

Only two in the field have won at the distance. Que Borges, the longest shot in the seven-horse lineup, and Nazirali, the 4-1 third choice.

Race of the day: Trimontium returns to the Southland for trainer Carla Gaines and is the only horse in today’s fifth at Santa Anita that has won on the turf. The eight other horses in the $25,000 starter allowance at one mile are a combined 0 of 17 on the grass.

One for the road: Stoic drops out of the Spinaway, a Grade I, to meet softer in today’s eighth at Aqueduct. The 2-year-old Forestry filly could have the best early speed in the $47,000 allowance at 6 1/2 furlongs for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. Edgar Prado will ride and the race is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $64,365.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Hope Rises and Future Thought in the second, Cosmic Glitter, Cooperstown and Vancouver in the third and Hoovergetthekeys in the fourth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/68. Money: Previous day/meet total: $10.60/$365.40. Total money bet: $418.