El Cielo Is Back on Home Turf

Through the years, there have been a number of horses that have excelled on Santa Anita’s unique hillside turf course, specialists at the distance of about 61/2 furlongs.

Such names as Baffle and Champagne Bid come immediately to mind. Another is running in this afternoon’s seventh race, a $58,000 classified allowance.

El Cielo, who hasn’t run since finishing third as the favorite in the Tanforan Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 4, will try to continue his love affair with the layout.

El Cielo, a 7-year-old gelded son of El Prado who is owned by a partnership and trained by Craig Dollase, has won seven of 10 on the hillside. Two other times he was second, and in the other, he lost his rider at the start.

Overall, El Cielo has won 11 of 17 and he will seeking his fifth consecutive victory at Santa Anita. In addition to three sprint wins, he won by four lengths at a mile in his most recent appearance here on Jan. 4.

Jose Valdivia Jr., who has been aboard the veteran for most of his victories, has the mount today on El Cielo, who has trained as if he will pick up where he left off in Arcadia. Three of his last four works at Hollywood Park were bests of the morning.

Stormy Jack, who earned his only turf victory in a division of last year’s Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar; King Slayer, who has been 1-2-3 in all eight of his starts on the hillside turf; Islander, who has won four of 10 on the grass in his career, and longshot Last Parade complete the field.

Race of the day: Best to look east to Keeneland. The track in Lexington, Ky., begins its 17-day fall meet with two Grade II stakes--the $400,000 Alcibiades for 2-year-old fillies and the $500,000 Winstar Galaxy for older fillies and mares on the turf.

Who’s hot: Kathy Walsh. The trainer has had a solid year and she swept Wednesday’s late double with Jersey Rebel and recent claim I Saw You First.

Who’s not: Big Bank. A 3-year-old son of Water Bank, he has been beaten by a total of 65 lengths in his three starts while defeating a grand total of one horse. When he runs in today’s fourth, a six-furlong sprint for $25,000 maidens, he will race without the blinkers he wore Sept. 14 at Fairplex. In his two other races without blinkers, he finished last and last.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Gatto Fortunado, Window B and King La Boo in the fifth; Baltimore, Fleeting Idea and Commander Lee in the sixth; singling El Cielo in the seventh, and Dancing Afleet, Estrella Prisa and Pay The Premium in the eighth.