Resident Alien Feels at Home
In races around one turn on the main track, Resident Alien has been almost unbeatable.
The 4-year-old daughter of Bertrando has won five of six sprints. The only loss was in the La Brea Stakes, a Grade 1 on Dec. 31, when she was simply overmatched. She was seventh of 11, beaten by nearly 18 lengths by Pussycat Doll.
Resident Alien will be playing her favorite game this afternoon as she seeks her third victory in dirt starts at Santa Anita in the seventh, a $55,000 optional claimer for older fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs.
Bred in California by the Arnold Family Trust, Resident Alien has done most of her winning for owner Bob Bone and trainer Jeff Mullins, who claimed her for $40,000 Aug. 1. She broke her maiden by 9 1/2 lengths that day at Del Mar. Since then, she has won five of seven.
Victor Espinoza, who has been aboard for her last four victories, including one Feb. 1, has the mount again today against Cream Donut Keith, Scarlett Memories, Sterling Cat, Feel Ridge, Indian Flare and Hot Attraction.
Scarlett Memories, who also has two victories at Santa Anita, will be making her first start for owner Roddy Valente and trainer Bill Spawr after being claimed for $62,500 on Jan. 5. She previously had been trained by Mullins for Bone.
Race of the day: Bandini will make his first start since finishing 19th in the Kentucky Derby on May 7 when he takes on eight others in an optional claimer today at Gulfstream Park. John Velazquez will ride the 4-year-old son of Fusaichi Pegasus for owners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith and trainer Todd Pletcher in the one-mile race. Bandini’s biggest victory came in last year’s Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.
One for the road: Big Blind, who beat maiden claimers easily in her most recent race for trainer Mark Hennig, catches a weak field for her first against winners in the sixth race today at Aqueduct.
Eibar Coa will ride the 4-year-old Gilded Time filly for owner-breeder Alan Brodsky in the $30,000 claimer at one mile.
The race is part of a pick six with a carry-over of more than $36,000.
Exotically speaking: A late pick three using Go Bye Bye, Suspicious Town and Bakersfield Champ in the sixth, Cream Donut Keith, Resident Alien and Indian Flare in the seventh and Stonecutter in the eighth.
Winners: (previous day/meet total): 2/133. Money: (previous day/meet total): $8.80/$821. Total money bet: $792.