Christina Balina Tries to Help Record Pace

Heading into the final quarter of Santa Anita’s winter-spring meet, trainer Doug O’Neill is within reach of a record.

Through Thursday, O’Neill has 40 victories, 17 more than defending champion Jeff Mullins, and seven fewer than the record of 47 shared by Gary Jones and Bob Baffert. Jones set the record during the 1975-76 season and Baffert equaled it in 1997-98.

O’Neill, approaching 200 starters for the meet, has only one entrant on today’s program. Christina Balina, a 4-year-old daughter of Truly Met, will debut in the fourth race, a $32,000 maiden claimer for older fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs. The race is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $91,977.

Owned by breeders Tony and Josephine Rescigno, Christina Balina will break from the outside in the field of seven under jockey Felipe Martinez.

Three races later, Boasting will try for her second win in four starts on Santa Anita’s turf course in a $56,000 allowance at one mile. Patrick Valenzuela will ride the 4-year-old Kris S. filly for owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms and trainer Bobby Frankel.

Race of the day: Stephie’s Cat, no worse than second in four starts, will run for the first time for trainer Stanley Hough in today’s ninth at Gulfstream Park.

Edgar Prado will ride the 3-year-old Catienus filly for the first time for Castletop Stable in the $33,000 allowance at 6 1/2 furlongs. She was second to the unbeaten Letgomyecho in her Gulfstream debut for former trainer Ronny Werner on Feb. 6.

One for the road: She Is Raging finished second in her comeback behind eventual repeater Annika Less on Feb. 10 and should be set for her best in today’s sixth at Aqueduct. Mike Luzzi will ride the 6-year-old Aggressive Chief mare for owners Weatherwatch Farm and Roddy Valente and trainer Bruce Levine in the $47,000 optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs. She Is Raging has won two of three on Aqueduct’s main track.

Exotically speaking: A trifecta in the first keying Stop The Talking on top with Thermostatic, the Our Fling entry and Al Yafil in the two hole and all in the third spot.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/146. Money: Previous day/meet total: $20.60/$773.40. Total money bet: $1,028.