Prince Of Thieves Holds Key to San Felipe Stakes

There were more horses entered than expected Friday morning for Sunday’s $250,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita.

Smithfield and Halo Sunshine were surprise entries, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will run against Prince Of Thieves and the rest of the field in the final local prep for the April 6 Santa Anita Derby.

Last in the recent San Rafael Stakes, Smithfield is more likely to run in an allowance race, and Halo Sunshine, second in the San Rafael, also is likely to race elsewhere.

“If something were to happen to Prince Of Thieves, and he wasn’t able to run, you want to be able to jump in there,” said Richard Cross, the trainer of Halo Sunshine.

Besides Prince Of Thieves, who has won twice in three lifetime starts, including the Santa Catalina Stakes, the others scheduled to go in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe are Cavonnier, Budroyale, Tiz The Whiz, Ayrton S and Odyle.

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Busy Banana and Richard Of England will be the participants in a match race next Saturday that will pit Gary Stevens against Julie Krone.

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Sandtrap is the 8-5 favorite in today’s Santa Anita feature, the $100,000 Baldwin Stakes on the turf.