Sham Stakes to begin Santa Anita trail to Kentucky Derby

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Arcadia, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - A compact field of six 3-year-olds has been entered for Saturday's $100,000 Sham Stakes as Santa Anita begins its prep races on the trail to the Kentucky Derby.

A pair of Kentucky Derby winning trainers, Doug O'Neill and Bob Baffert, are among those with horses entered in the mile stakes.

O'Neill, who won the 2012 Run for the Roses with I'll Have Another, will saddle I'll Wrap It Up who will start from post 2 with Tyler Baze in the saddle.

I'll Wrap It Up is coming off his maiden win at Hollywood Park on Dec. 7 when he posted a 3 3/4-length victory over seven other 2-year-olds. The gray colt has a second, two thirds and a fourth in his five starts for $47,520.

Baffert, a Hall of Fame trainer and three-time Kentucky Derby winner, will saddle Midnight Hawk for the Sham. Co-owned by Mike Pegram, the gray colt will again be ridden by Mike Smith from the outside post.

The Hall of Fame jockey was in the saddle when Midnight Hawk won his debut race as the 6-5 favorite by 6 1/4 lengths at 7 1/2 furlongs at Hollywood Park on Dec. 13.

Breaking from the inside post will be Kristo and jockey Rafael Bejarano. The colt is owned by Kosta and Pete Hronis and trained by John Sadler.

Kristo found the winner's circle at Santa Anita on Oct. 31 after a pair of seconds to begin his career. He comes into the Sham with $53,400.

Here is the full field from the rail out: Kristo, Rafael Bejarano; I'll Wrap It Up, Tyler Baze; Life Is a Joy, Corey Nakatani; Ontology, Mario Gutierrez; Top Fortitude, Kayla Stra and Midnight Hawk, Mike Smith.

Post-time for the Sham will be approximately 5:30 p.m. (ET).