SANTA ANITA : Valiant Nature, Brocco Are Set for a Rematch

Brocco and Valiant Nature will get together again in the $210,000 San Felipe Stakes on Sunday, and their second meeting is getting a lot more attention than their first.

Last time, Brocco was all but conceded the Hollywood Futurity after his five-length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Valiant Nature had only a maiden victory on turf to his credit and was sent off as the second-longest shot in the field at 16-1.

When the Futurity was over, Valiant Nature had beaten Brocco by three-quarters of a length in 1:40 3/5 and had everyone eager for a rematch.

Three months later, the rematch is at hand. California’s top two Kentucky Derby hopefuls were among six entered Friday morning in the San Felipe, which, at 1 1/16 miles, is the same distance as the Futurity.

Both colts appear ready for the race, the final local prep for the Santa Anita Derby on April 9. Brocco, who has won three of four starts, worked three furlongs in 36 4/5 Friday morning. Valiant Nature, who has won two of three, went half a mile in 46 1/5, the fastest of 41 workouts at that distance Friday.

“I think he’s coming up to the race super,” said Brocco’s trainer, Randy Winick. “In my mind, his last three works have been sensational. He’s finished well and he’s been eating well and put weight back on.

“The question is whether he’s dead fit or not. If he didn’t win first time back, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. But I think he’s going to run well.”

Regular rider Gary Stevens agrees.

“He’s doing as well as he was before the Breeders’ Cup and better than he was before the Futurity,” he said. “He’s been training aggressively and he’s on top of his game right now.

“He may be a tad short (Sunday), but going into a race his adrenaline level pumps up so much he’s going to go out there and run his race. Every one of his works has been a step forward and (the San Felipe) will help tighten the screws (for the Santa Anita Derby).”

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Strodes Creek, who had a below-par workout Thursday morning, wasn’t entered in the San Felipe, but Numerous, his stablemate in the Charlie Whittingham barn, was. Numerous is the 1-5 favorite in an allowance race today and it appears he will run in that spot unless it rains.

Soul Of The Matter, Gracious Ghost and Pollock’s Luck were the others entered.

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Possibly Perfect, who lost a shoe when making her first start in nearly three months in the Buena Vista Handicap last month, is the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the $158,500 Santa Ana Handicap today at Santa Anita.

The 16-1 upset winner of the Yellow Ribbon on Nov. 14, Possibly Perfect finished fourth as the 13-10 choice in the Buena Vista and the three mares who were in front of her that day will be back in the Santa Ana.

Possibly Perfect, a 4-year-old Northern Baby filly, was beaten by two lengths in the Buena Vista. Kent Desormeaux will ride again for trainer Bobby Frankel.

Hero’s Love, third in the Buena Vista, is the 7-2 second choice and will be helped by the extra distance. At 1 1/8 miles, the Santa Ana is an eighth of a mile longer than the Buena Vista and Hero’s Love won the San Gorgonio at 1 1/8 miles earlier in the meeting. Laffit Pincay will ride.

Lady Blessington and Skimble, who finished a nose apart on Feb. 27, are both 4-1. Skimble, also trained by Frankel, has been second in six of her last 10 starts and Lady Blessington will be reunited with Corey Black, who is unbeaten in two tries with the 6-year-old mare.

The other entrants in the Grade I race are Miami Sands, Kalita Melody, second to Paseana in the Santa Margarita on the main track, and Waitryst, who has three consecutive victories against allowance rivals for trainer Frank Olivares.