Baffert in Driver’s Seat for These Graded Stakes

There are two Grade II races at Santa Anita and trainer Bob Baffert has the horse to beat in each.

Too Much Bling, an Ohio bred who was very impressive winning the San Miguel in California debut on Jan. 8, and Pussycat Doll, who won her first Grade I on Dec. 31 in the La Brea, will be favored in the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes and $200,000 La Canada Stakes.

Owned by a partnership, Too Much Bling, who had finished off the board in three graded stakes in New York last year after being purchased privately, won the San Miguel by four lengths under jockey Garrett Gomez.

The gray son of Rubiano relaxed off the fast pace in the six-furlong race that day, then kicked clear in the stretch for his second win in six starts. He had been purchased after he had beaten maidens by 19 1/2 lengths last July 30 at Thistledown. Too Much Bling will stretch to seven furlongs today.

With Proposed scratched after competing in the Santa Maria on Saturday, Pussycat Doll will be heavily favored in the La Canada, a 1 1/8 -mile race for 4-year-old fillies.

Owned and bred by Mike Pegram, Pussycat Doll, a daughter of 1998 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Real Quiet, has won four of eight and three of her last four. She will also be ridden by Gomez.

Race of the day: Creative Force, who has won two of three on the main track, will make his turf debut and first start as a 3-year-old for trainer Chris Block in the $60,000 Hallandale Beach today at Gulfstream Park in Florida.

Mark Guidry will ride the son of Red Ransom for Team Block in the 1 1/16 -mile race that attracted 11 others.

One for the road: Smokey Stover has trained like a gelding who can win at first asking and isn’t meeting the strongest group in today’s fourth at Golden Gate Fields. Macario Rodriguez will ride the 3-year-old son of Put It Back, who is a son of Honour And Glory, and he worked in a bullet 47 2/5 for owner Harry Aleo and trainer Greg Gilchrist. Purchased for $105,000 last year, Smokey Stover will break from post two in the $30,000 maiden contest at six furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Run To The Border, Epic Power and Denied in the sixth, Too Much Bling in the seventh, Pussycat Doll in the eighth and all in the ninth.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 3/100. Money: (previous day/meet total): $17/$634.80. Total money bet: $598.