Trainer O’Neill Stays Busy at Santa Anita

Trainer Doug O’Neill, who set a record for most wins at a Santa Anita winter-spring meet a year ago, has starters in three of the eight races on today’s card, the fourth day of the season.

O’Neill, who won 54 races a year ago to top the previous mark of 47 set by Gary Jones in 1974-1975 and matched by Bob Baffert during the 1997-1998 meet, is scheduled to run Beau’s Appeal in the second, Sky Reality in the fifth and Leslie Lill in the sixth.

Of the three, only Leslie Lill is coming off a win. In her debut against $32,000 maiden claimers on Nov. 5 at Santa Anita, the 2-year-old daughter of Crowning Storm won by 5 1/2 lengths as the 4-5 favorite and was claimed by O’Neill for a partnership.

Leslie Lill has had two bullet works at Hollywood Park since the victory and is the probable choice against eight opponents in a $24,000 allowance at 5 1/2 furlongs. Corey Nakatani will ride in a race that is part of a pick six with a carry-over of more than $97,000.

Nakatani also has the call on Sky Reality, who was claimed by O’Neill for $10,000 on Nov. 16. She is stretching out to a mile this afternoon on the grass, where she has won before.

Beau’s Appeal, a 2-year-old Beau Genius gelding, is stretching out to 1 1/16 miles after finishing sixth in his debut at six furlongs on Dec. 8 at Hollywood Park.

Race of the day: Coined For Success, who has earned three of his five career wins over the inner track at Aqueduct, will try for another in today’s eighth, a $50,000 optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles.

One for the road: Aunt Dot Dot makes her first start at Louisiana Downs and first for high percentage trainer Cole Norman, and she should improve immensely in today’s eighth. Tony Lovato will ride the 3-year-old Gulch filly for Courtlandt Farms in the $41,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles. She’s moving to the main track after six consecutive races on the turf. Her lone win came on dirt.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Stormin Lucy, Chanel Islands, Brave Vixen and Sky Reality in the fifth, Leslie Lill and Exquisite Beauty in the sixth, Taco Willy, Lil Mitch, Like New Money and Common Trust in the seventh and Only Girls in the eighth.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 4/9. Money: (previous day/meet total): $28.60/$51.40. Total money bet: $50.