Mar. 9 Insights: Big Ticket Purchases Unveiled in California

Gun Runner's Pony Express will debut in the fourth race at Santa Anita Park for John Sadler | Sarah Andrew

6th-OP, $115k, Msw, 3yo, f, 1m, 4:18p.m. ET
Half-sister to last year's GIII Withers S. winner Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}), FLASHY DANCER (Curlin) will be unveiled here for Gary and Mary West. Out of two-time Graded winner Actress (Tapit), who has also produced the winning Hot Rumor (Medaglia d'Oro), the second dam is Canadian champion Milwaukee Appeal (Milwaukee Brew). Riding a healthy work tab and picking up the services of Manny Franco, the morning line has Flashy Dancer tabbed at 8-5 odds. TJCIS PPs

4th-SA, $65k, Msw, 3yo, 6 1/2f, 5:03p.m. ET
In a well-met maiden field, PONY EXPRESS (Gun Runner) will be one of several high-priced auction horses to open his career here. Racing for Talla Racing LLC, Three Chimneys Farm and West Point Thoroughbreds, the chestnut was acquired for $500,000 at KEESEP and is a half-brother to MSP Collaborate (Into Mischief), who had been sent to contest the 2021 GI Florida Derby after breaking his maiden by over 12 lengths. In addition to being a half-brother to two other multiple winners, Pony Express hails from the extended female family of champion Heavenly Prize. John Sadler sends this one to post.

To that one's outside, Santarena (Omaha Beach) will jump for Muir Hut Stables, LLC, Saints or Sinners and Dan J. Agnew from the barn of Mark Glatt. A $425,000 in-training purchase at EASMAY, the colt's second dam tallies daughter Catch the Moon (Malibu Moon), whose claim to fame is as the dam of GSW & MGISP Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow); GISW Girvin (Tale of Ekati); GSW Cocked and Loaded (Colonel John); and GSW Pirate's Punch (Shanghai Bobby). Santarena himself is a half-brother to SW & GSP Dubini (Gio Ponti), SW What A Catch (Justin Phillip), and SP Cancel This (Malibu Moon). This is the extended family of GISW Silver Max (Badge of Silver) and GSW & MGISP Shancelot (Shanghai Bobby).

Farthest of them all will be Winterfell (Arrogate), a $400,000 KEESEP purchase trained by Bob Baffert for the ownership group of SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Robert E. Masterson, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan, and Tom J. Ryan. The colt is a half-brother to two other winners and hails from the family of G1 Epsom Oaks victress Casual Look. TJCIS PPs

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