SANTA ANITA : Magical Mile Will Race Crowded Field on Grass

The star of the Southland’s juvenile division last summer, Magical Mile, and Northern California stakes winner Sumkindasign head a crowded cast for the $75,000-added Baldwin Stakes on Wednesday at Santa Anita Park.

For most of these sophomores, the sprint down the hillside will be their first try on grass, but Solar Launch comes off a victory on this course, and Robyn Dancer was two-for-two on the grass last year at Pimlico.

Magical Mile was turning heads last year at Hollywood Park when he broke his maiden at first asking by 7 1/2 lengths and captured the Grade II Hollywood Juvenile Championship by four. However, he came out of the Juvenile injured and was gone for more than seven months. In his return earlier this month, the son of J. O. Tobin was a disappointing third in a four-horse allowance field.

Sumkindasign is two-for-four at Golden Gate Fields this year, including a victory in the Golden Bear Handicap last month. He beat the well-regarded Cape Ludtke at six furlongs that day but was second to the same competitor when they came back in the Lafayette Invitational on March 10.

If all 13 entrants run, the Baldwin Stakes will be worth $87,425, and the winner will receive $53,675.

In post position order, the field includes Green’s Leader, Corey Nakatani the rider at 114 pounds; Due to the King, Chris McCarron, 117; Predecessor, Corey Black, 114; Iam the Iceman, David Flores, 117; Magical Mile, Eddie Delahoussaye, 122; Sumkindasign, Patrick Valenzuela, 119; Solar Launch, Russell Baze, 117; Farma Way, Ray Sibille, 114; Flying Reb, Laffit Pincay Jr., 117; Hero Worker, Gary Stevens, 114; J. L.’s Tribute, Frank Olivares, 117; Robyn Dancer, Alex Solis, 117, and Cove Way, Robbie Davis, 114. Robyn Dancer and Cove Way will be coupled in the wagering.