Keeneland Sales Alumni Omaha Beach, Bellafina Headline Opening Day at Santa Anita

Keeneland sales alumni, led by Grade 1 winners Omaha Beach and Bellafina, highlight the graded stakes contenders entered on Saturday’s opening-day card at Santa Anita.

Omaha Beach, second in his last start, the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), tops the field for the Malibu (G1), which also includes Grade 1-winning Keeneland sales graduates Complexity and Roadster.

Three-time Grade 1 winner Bellafina, second in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1), is one of seven Keeneland sales alumni competing in the La Brea (G1). Among the other Keeneland-sold entries are Grade 1-placed Mother Mother and the talented allowance winner Hard Not to Love.

Grade 2 winner Mucho Unusual and Grade 1-placed Vibrance are featured in the American Oaks (G1).

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28

AMERICAN OAKS (G1), Santa Anita, 1¼ Miles (T), 3YO Fillies

MUCHO UNUSUAL, 3YO filly by Mucho Macho Man – Not Unusual ($170,000 RNA, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent) O/B- George Krikorian; T- Tim Yakteen

GIZA GODDESS, 3YO filly by Cairo Prince – Comfort and Joy ($200,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Clarkland Farm; Buyer- West Point Thoroughbreds & Vosburgh) O- Mercedes Stables, West Point Thoroughbreds, Scott Dilworth, Dorothy Ingordo, David Ingordo & Steve Mooney; B- Clarkland Farm (KY); T- John Shirreffs

VIBRANCE, 3YO filly by Violence – Block ($40,000, 2016 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Warrendale Sales, agent, Buyer- Al Bell; $155,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Terrazas Thoroughbreds, agent, Buyer- Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners) O- Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Donna & Jim Daniell; B- Jason Hall & Bill Vanlandingham (LA); T- Michael McCarthy

LA BREA S. (G1), Santa Anita, 7 Furlongs, 3YO Fillies

DEL MAR MAY, 3YO filly by Jimmy Creed – Big Lou ($55,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Cross Keys Sales, agent; Buyer- David Meah, agent) O- Calvin Nguyen; B- T/C Stable (KY); T- Richard Baltas

FREE COVER, 3YO filly by Congrats – Candybedandy ($65,000, 2016 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Woodford Thoroughbreds, agent, Buyer- Springhouse Farm; $130,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Paramount Sales, agent, Buyer- JSM Equine) O- ERJ Racing; B- SF Bloodstock (KY); T- Andrew Lerner

STIRRED, 3YO filly by Shakin It Up – Fay Na Na ($52,000, 2017 Jan Horses of All Ages, Consignor- Four Star Sales, agent; Buyer- East Hickman Bloodstock) O- Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B- Darrell Curry (KY); T- Michael McCarthy

BELLAFINA, 3YO filly by Quality Road – Akron Moon ($220,000 RNA, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent) O- Kaleem Shah, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B- JSM Equine (KY); T- Simon Callaghan

HARD NOT TO LOVE, 3YO filly by Hard Spun – Loving Vindication ($400,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Anderson Farms, agent; Buyer- West Point Thoroughbreds) O- Mercedes Stables, West Point Thoroughbreds, Scott Dilworth, Dorothy Ingordo, David Ingordo & Steve Mooney; B- Anderson Farms (ON); T- John Shirreffs

MOTION EMOTION, 3YO filly by Take Charge Indy – Golden Motion ($55,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Select Sales, agent; Buyer- Michael Puhich) O- Abbondanza Racing, Mark DeDomenico & Medallion Racing; B- WinStar Farm (KY); T- Richard Baltas

MOTHER MOTHER, 3YO filly by Pioneerof the Nile – Mother ($450,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- VanMeter-Gentry Sales, agent; Buyer- George Bolton) O- Old Bones Racing Stable, Barry Hall, Barry Lipman & Mark Mathieson; B- T. F. VanMeter (KY); T- Bob Baffert

MALIBU S. (G1), Santa Anita, 7 Furlongs, 3YOs

MUCH BETTER, 3YO ridgling by Pioneerof the Nile – Dust and Diamonds ($600,000, 2016 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Three Chimneys Farm, agent; Buyer- R. C. Thoroughbreds) O/B- Three Chimneys Farm (KY); T- Bob Baffert

COMPLEXITY, 3YO colt by Maclean’s Music – Goldfield ($375,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent; Buyer- Mike Ryan, agent) O- Klaravich Stables; B- Stonestreet (KY); T- Chad Brown

ROADSTER, 3YO colt by Quality Road – Ghost Dancing ($525,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Stone Farm; Buyer- Speedway Stables) O- Speedway Stable; B- Stone Farm (KY); T- Bob Baffert

OMAHA BEACH, 3YO colt by War Front – Charming (RNA to Sale, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Eaton Sales, agent) O- Fox Hill Farms; B- Charming Syndicate (KY); T- Richard Mandella

SAN ANTONIO S. (G2), Santa Anita, 1 1/16 Miles, 3YOs & Up

DRAFT PICK, 4YO colt by Candy Ride (ARG) – Firehouse Red ($450,000, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Hinkle Farms; Buyer- Mayberry Farm) O- C R K Stable; B- Hinkle Farms (KY); T- Peter Eurton

MIDCOURT, 4YO gelding by Midnight Lute – Mayo On the Side ($450,000, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Four Star Sales, agent; Buyer- Mayberry Farm) O- C R K Stable; B- Dixiana Farms (KY); T- John Shirreffs

FIGHT ON, 4YO colt by Into Mischief – Havenlass ($340,000, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Vinery Sales, agent; Buyer- Spendthrift Farm) O- C T R Stables & Steven Keh; B- Haymarket Farm (KY); T- Doug O’Neill

MATHIS BROTHERS MILE (G2), Santa Anita, 1 Mile (T), 3YOs

OCEAN FURY, 3YO colt by Stormy Atlantic – Indy Annestesia ($75,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Lane’s End, agent; Buyer- Charles Marquis) O- Great Friends Stable, Neil Haymes, Leandro Moro & Mark Schlesinger; B- K & G Stables (KY); T- Doug O’Neill

NEVER EASY, 3YO colt by Candy Ride (ARG) – Wasted Tears ($300,000 RNA, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Stonehaven Steadings, agent) O- Bart B. Evans; B- Bart Evans & Stonehaven Steadings (KY); T- Richard Mandella

NEPTUNE’S STORM, 3YO gelding by Stormy Atlantic – Immortal Life (IRE) ($50,000, 2016 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- Sheltowee Sales, agent, Buyer- War Horse Place; $70,000, 2017 Sept Yearling, Consignor- War Horse Place, Buyer- Bradley Thoroughbreds, agent) O- CYBT, Saul Gevertz, Lynn Gotimer, Mike Goetz, Michael Nentwig & Daniel Weiner; B- Tracy Farmer (KY); T- Richard Baltas

ROBERT J. FRANKEL S. (G3), Santa Anita, 1 1/8 Miles (T), 3YOs & Up, F&M

DON’T BLAME JUDY, 4YO filly by Blame – Zultanite ($97,000, 2016 Sept Yearling, Consignor- Shawhan Place, agent; Buyer- John Sondereker) O- R. Albert, E. Dunham, F. Lewkowitz, K. Lewkowitz & J. Sondereker; B- Michael Waresk Cane Street Stables (KY); T- Eric Kruljac

MS PEINTOUR, 4YO filly by Paynter – Dyna’s Destiny ($24,000 RNA, 2015 Nov Breeding Stock, Consignor- James B. Keogh) O- Jay Em Ess Stable; B- Bill Adair, Phyllis Adair & Connie Brown (KY); T- Brian Koriner