He Has Much at Stake Before Breeders’ Cup

Before he tries to have a big Breeders’ Cup Day, Bobby Frankel, the country’s dominant trainer, will attempt to sweep both of the stakes on today’s card at Santa Anita.

In the $100,000 Morvich Handicap, a Grade III at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf, Frankel will be represented by War Zone. And he is scheduled to start the Juddmonte-owned entry of Epicentre and Staging Post and Continuously in the $125,000 Carleton F. Burke Handicap at 1 1/2 miles on the grass.

Owned and bred by Juddmonte, War Zone is returning to California after a two-race stay in New York. He won the Poker Handicap, a Grade III, at Belmont Park on July 5, then floundered at Saratoga, finishing ninth of 11 in the Fourstardave Handicap.

A winner of three sprints in his career, the 4-year-old Danzig colt has won down the Santa Anita hillside and will be ridden for the first time by Jerry Bailey.

In the Burke, a Grade III, Staging Post will make his first start at Santa Anita since he was second to Ringaskiddy in the 2002 San Juan Capistrano Handicap. Patrick Valenzuela will ride the 5-year-old son of Pleasant Colony while Edgar Prado has the call on Epicentre.

A 4-year-old Diesis colt, Continuously has won going 1 3/8 miles and was beaten by only a little more than three lengths by Storming Home in last month’s Clement L. Hirsch Handicap.

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Race of the day: Lion Heart, who was purchased for $1.4 million this winter, will make his debut for trainer Patrick Biancone in today’s sixth at Santa Anita. The six-furlong race for 2-year-old maidens attracted some other well-bred youngsters.

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One for the road: Snake Mountain makes his first start since May 16 for trainer Jimmy Jerkens and the 5-year-old A.P. Indy gelding should get a favorable scenario with Abreeze and Rockin On Ready likely to carve out some lively fractions in Belmont Park’s eighth, a $58,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles.

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Exotically speaking: A pick three using Stocks Are Rising and Disguys Dalimit in the seventh, the Epicentre-Staging Post entry, Continuously and Researched in the eighth and Hagerstown, Satan’s Song and Validating in the ninth.

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Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/54. Money: Previous day/meet total: $21.60/$279.40. Total money bet: $324.