Budroyale Gets 122 for ‘Cap

Budroyale will be the starting high weight for Saturday’s $1 million Santa Anita Handicap, but the 7-year-old gelding wasn’t exactly overburdened in his quest to win the track’s richest race.

Owner Jeffrey Sengara’s pride and joy was assigned 122 pounds, one more than he carried in his victory in the San Antonio Handicap on Feb. 6 and one more than Strub Stakes winner General Challenge.

The last time there was a high weight who carried less in the Big ‘Cap was Helmsman, who finished fourth under 121 pounds in 1996.

Cat Thief, who finished second to Budroyale in the San Antonio, but defeated him in the Breeders’ Cup Classic three months earlier, is next with 120 pounds. The other probables and their weight assignments are: Malek and Puerto Madero (118), Dixie Dot Com (117) and Bagshot (113).

*

Jockey Brice Blanc completed a sweep of the weekend stakes at Santa Anita when 6-1 shot Fortifier, who has done his best running over off-tracks, rallied to win the $111,450 Baldwin Stakes on Sunday.

A day after Lexa’s 8-1 surprise in the Buena Vista Handicap, Blanc rallied widest of all on the gray son of Major Impact to 14-1 shot Performing Magic by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:16 3/5 for the 6 1/2 furlongs.

Fortifier won for the fourth time in nine starts and paid $15.80 as part of the mutuel field with fourth-place finisher Sign Of Fire.

Fortifier had won over a track listed as good at Bay Meadows last Nov. 10 and he broke his maiden first time out last June 19 at Calder Race Course on a sloppy surface.

*

Horse Racing Notes

Besides likely favorite War Chant, six other 3-year-olds are considered probable for Saturday’s $200,000 San Rafael Stakes. Archer City Slew, the upset winner of the San Vicente Stakes, Cocky, Commendable, Hugh Hefner, I’ve Decided and Tender Offer also may run in the prep for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 8. . . . Jockey Chris Antley finished last aboard Dance Master in the Baldwin Stakes, his first mount since the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 6.