SANTA ANITA : Ridder Stable to Go After Consecutive Titles on Wed.

Ridder Thoroughbred Stable will be going after consecutive titles in the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes when San Miguel Stakes winner Tarascon carries his owner’s colors in the $125,000-added race Wednesday at Santa Anita Park.

Ridder’s Past Ages captured the seven-furlong event for 3-year-old California foals last year. Like Past Ages, Tarascon is a homebred son of top California sire Flying Paster, who won this race in 1978 for the late B. J. Ridder.

In the San Miguel, Tarascon was 2 1/2 lengths the best, while Wednesday rivals Express It and Shantin O. had to be separated by a photo for the place. In his only loss since finishing fourth in his career debut in October, Tarascon was a creditable third in the Grade III Hollywood Prevue behind highly regarded Individualist and Top Cash.

With a dozen starters, the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes will be worth $141,900 and the winner will bank $85,650.

In post position order, the field includes Shantin O., Russell Baze riding at 119 pounds; Makaleha, Tom Chapman, 114; Due to the King, Laffit Pincay, Jr., 114; Hawaiian Pass, Sandy Hawley, 114; Wild Too, Robbie Davis, 114; Tarascon, Chris McCarron, 119; Express It, Gary Stevens, 114; Iam the Iceman, David Flores, 117; French Seventyfive, Rafael Meza, 122; Solar Launch, Gary Boulanger, 114; Shapiro’s Hero, Alex Solis, 114; and Kleven Up, Corey Nakatani, 114.

Before their photo-finish battle for second in the San Miguel, Shantin O. and Express It ran first and third, respectively, in the Atherton Stakes at Bay Meadows.

Due to the King hasn’t found the winner’s circle since his debut at Del Mar in August but he tested some of the best youngsters around in the Grade I Norfolk here in October, running third to division leader Grand Canyon and Single Dawn.

Iam the Iceman missed by a head in his first start in late November, but is two-for-two since then. He broke his maiden here on opening day of the meeting and came back to win an allowance test 10 days ago.