Ultimate Eagle

The Strub marked the first start over dirt for the $70,000 purchase trained by Mike Pender for B. J. Wright, and it could not have boded much better for the Big ’Cap. Ten 4-year-olds, including Affirmed and Spectacular Bid, have parlayed a Strub win into Santa Anita Handicap dominance.




As the starting high weight at 120 pounds, the Kentucky-bred son of Mizzen Mast will break from post position No. 2. If someone tries to run with Ultimate Eagle early, so be it, suggests Pedroza. “I think he’s the speed of the speed,” said the Panamanian-born rider. “If someone wants to go crazy and go with him, they won’t get far.” Little matter what transpires, adds the ultimately confident Pedroza. “You basically can do whatever you want with him,” he said of Ultimate Eagle, “but he runs his best races when he’s up close, on the pace or close to the pace.”



Ultimate Eagle’s three graded stakes victories have been accomplished in wire-to-wire fashion. He comes into Saturday’s classic with earnings of $467,800 from a 5-0-3 record in nine starts.



Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, whose Setsuko lost by a nose to Game On Dude one year ago, says his 5-year-old gelding never has been better. “He’s ready to run his best race ever,” Mandella insists. And trainer Julio Canani believes his $25,000 claim, Holladay Road, can be dangerous from behind with top rider Rafael Bejarano at the controls. Canani knows about Big ’Cap longshot winners. He trained Martial Law. Eastern-based trainer Bill Mott, one of the country’s most respected conditioners, will send out a Big ’Cap runner for the first time in Ron the Greek.



Santa Anita Handicap Day’s 11-race program gets underway at 12 noon with gates opening at 10 a.m. Projected post time for the Big ’Cap is 5:15 p.m.