Race Features Five Hopefuls

Five of the six 3-year-olds entered in today’s fourth at Santa Anita are Triple Crown-eligible.

Whether any of them is a legitimate threat for the Kentucky Derby, Preakness or Belmont Stakes will be a little clearer after they get together in the $52,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles.

Golden Shine, a son of Touch Gold owned by John Amerman and trained by Dave Hofmans, showed plenty of promise last summer at Hollywood Park but has been idle since winning July 3. He will be racing beyond 5 1/2 furlongs for the first time.

Big Top Cat, who figures to vie for favoritism with Golden Shine, has more recent form. The son of Storm Cat out of the stakes winning mare Golden Attraction broke his maiden by a neck in his California debut Jan. 29. He is owned by Overbrook Farm and trainer Wayne Lukas. In his two previous races at Saratoga and Churchill Downs, Big Top Cat finished ninth and sixth.

Also running are Lucky Bid, who has won one of nine starts for trainer Ron McAnally; Cat Robber, whose only victory was on turf; Royal Classic, the only horse inthe field not Triple Crown-eligible; and Distorted.

Race of the day: The fourth at Aqueduct is only a sprint for 3-year-old New York-bred maiden fillies, but it is significant because it is the first leg of a pick six with a carry-over of $43,205. Contenders in the race include first-time Lasix user Two Zero, Honeytakesthemoney and first-time starter Krizz, who lands leading rider Rafael Bejarano.

One for the road: National Pride rejoins the barn of high-percentage trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and returns to his preferred surface, turf, in today’s fifth at Gulfstream Park. Javier Castellano will ride the 5-year-old Vettori horse in the $62,500 claimer at 1 1/16 miles. The race is the first leg of a pick six with a carry-over of $55,006.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Highly Arrogant, Mary Swanson and Snoqualmie Ridge in the sixth, Dad’s Lessons, Kedington and Sharpster in the seventh, and Tintabulation and Natural Route in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/97. Money: Previous day/meet total: $13.40/$517.60. Total money bet: $632.