AMERICAN STAKES FRIDAY

BRAZILIAN-BRED OHIO & CLASSY TWENTYTWENTYVISION LOOM LARGE IN GRADE III, $100,000 AMERICAN STAKES AS FIELD OF NINE 3-YEAR-OLDS & UP TO CONTEST ONE MILE ON TURF FRIDAY AT SANTA ANITA

May 1, 2016


Brazilian-bred Ohio, a dazzling 2 ¾ length winner going one mile on turf in his U.S. debut March 5, and classy Twentytwentyvision, who was a solid second to multiple graded stakes winner What a View in the Grade III, one mile turf Thunder Road Stakes April 9, figure prominently in Friday’s Grade III, $100,000 American Stakes at Santa Anita. For 3-year-olds and up at a flat mile on grass, the American has attracted a competitive field of nine on day two of Santa Anita’s 40-day Spring Meet.



OHIO: Trained by Paulo Lobo, this 5-year-old horse by Elusive Quality was an emphatic gate to wire winner under Gary Stevens here March 5, but will be ridden by Brice Blanc in the American, as Stevens is away to ride in Kentucky. A winner of his final start in South America, a four length score going 7 ½ furlongs on turf in Argentina on Sept. 12, Ohio is in search of his third consecutive win in what will be his initial attempt in group or graded company. Owned by Bonne Chance Farm, LLC and Stud R D I, LLC, lightly raced Ohio has five wins and two seconds from eight starts and has a win and a second from three tries at one mile on turf.



TWENTYTWENTYVISION: Trained by Richard Mandella, this 5-year-old Pollard’s Vision gelding rallied strongly to be second, beaten a length, by multiple graded stakes winning What a View in the Thunder Road and was an impressive half length allowance winner two starts back going 1 1/16 miles on turf Aug. 22 at Del Mar. With a recent race under his belt, Twentytwentyvision should be plenty tough with Rafael Bejarano set to ride for the first time. Owned by Peter O. and Ellen Johnson, consistent Twentytwentyvision has a win and two seconds from three tries at the American distance and is 9-4-3-2 overall with earnings of $277,480.



THE GRADE III AMERICAN STAKES IN POST POSITION ORDER WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS

Race 6 (of 9)    Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PDT



Si Sage–Santiago Gonzalez–120
Southern Freedom–Martin Garcia–120
Little Curlin–Martin Pedroza–120
Ohio–Brice Blanc–120
Patentar–Alonso Quinonez–120
Cape Wolfe–Edwin Maldonado–120
Producer–Tyler Baze–120
Twentytwentyvision–Rafael Bejarano–120
Home Run Kitten–Joe Talamo–120
First post time on Friday, Kentucky Oaks Day, at Santa Anita, is at 2 p.m. Admission gates will open for early wagering on eastern tracks at 7:15 and wagering will be available at that time in Santa Anita’s Paddock Room. All other areas will be open for wagering at 11:30 p.m. Approximate post time for the Kentucky Oaks is at 2:49 p.m. PDT.