Silver Cup Will Have a Lot at Stake in the Santa Ana

Silver Cup will try to become the first three-time stakes winner of the Santa Anita winter-spring meet today when she faces eight other fillies and mares in the $150,000 Santa Ana Handicap.

Owned by Martin Schwartz and trained by Patrick Biancone, the 4-year-old daughter of Almutawakel won the San Gorgonio Handicap at 16-1 odds on Jan. 8, then was 7-1 when she beat 10 in the Buena Vista Handicap on Feb. 20.

A winner of seven of 12 lifetime, Silver Cup had the outside post when she won the Buena Vista and she has post nine in the Santa Ana, a Grade II at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Victor Espinoza, who is two for two on the Irish-bred, retains the mount.

Argentina, a 4-year-old Sadler’s Wells filly, is the likely favorite. Owned by Wildenstein Stable and trained by Bobby Frankel, Argentina will be making her first start in the U.S. after winning two of six in France.

Scheduled to race on Lasix for the first time, Argentina was second in three of her losses. One of her runner-up finishes came behind Divine Proportions in the French Oaks last June 12 at Chantilly.

Frankel and Solis will be looking for their second consecutive win in the Santa Ana, having scored a year ago with Megahertz. A Frankel-trained horse has won the race six times since 1992.

Ticker Tape, Katdogawn, Royal Copenhagen, Beautyandthebeast, Sharp Lisa, Halo Ola and Tivadare round out the Santa Ana field.

Race of the day: After racing in eight consecutive graded stakes, Request For Parole will drop in class in search of his 10th lifetime win in the eighth race at Gulfstream Park. The 7-year-old Judge Smells horse, who has won three of eight over the Gulfstream turf course, will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano in the $46,000 allowance at 1 1/8 miles.

One for the road: Magoffin should improve after being claimed by Bret Calhoun and could get the right trip from behind in a race filled with speed in the eighth at Oaklawn Park. The 8-year-old will be making his debut over the Hot Springs, Ark., track in the $15,500 starter allowance at 5 1/2 furlongs after being claimed by Calhoun for Wimp Free Racing Stables.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Macduff and Special Matter in the first, Mr. Katz in the second and Red Sox Parade, Ameridar and Our Father in the third.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 2/190. Money: (previous day/meet total): $10.80/$1,120.80. Total money bet: $1,120.