Midnight Transfer at Santa Anita Park

Warren B. Williamson's Midnight Transfer, who blew away maiden rivals on opening day at Santa Anita, impressed in a different way in his stakes debut in Sunday's $82,500 San Pedro Stakes. After the promising three-year-old drew the rail, trainer Carla Gaines was concerned that her colt might not get enough of an education, if he simply gunned it in the 6 1/2-furlong dash. As it turned out, Midnight Transfer got a lesson in waiting his turn from a patient Joel Rosario, and rallied in time to collar Got Even at the wire.

"I was thinking the other horse's head (Got Even) was longer than mine," Gaines quipped when asked about the photo finish. "We're hoping to stretch him out. We'll look at the San Felipe (a Grade 2 over 1 1/16 miles on March 10)."



While Midnight Transfer's stock rose appreciably, 8-5 favorite Drill further dented his reputation. The Bob Baffert colt was shortening up off three bad losses routing, but threw in another disappointing effort to cross the wire fifth in a six-horse field







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