Triple Bend

A graded stakes trio, led by the GII Triple Bend S. at Santa Anita, will kick off Memorial Day weekend on Saturday afternoon. The lightly raced 5-year-old Bruce Chandler homebred Spirit of Makena (Ghostzapper) looks for his third straight victory for trainer George Papaprodromou following a 1 1/2-length score over the re-opposing Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) in the GIII San Carlos S. last time Mar. 11. Spirit of Makena is the 8-5 morning-line favorite. The field of seven also includes last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint runner-up and popular 9-year-old...

West Point Thoroughbreds, Edwin Barker and William Sandbrook's Elector (Constitution), two-for-three in his young career, will take his first shot in stakes company against five rivals in the GII Triple Bend S. Sunday at Santa Anita. Making just one start as a 3-year-old, on Dec. 26, the $65,000 Keeneland September buy stumbled early and raced greenly en route to a last-place run. Coming back at this seven-furlong trip Feb. 22, the bay was away much better and ran away to a 4 3/4-length graduation, earning a gaudy 97 Beyer. The...

Grade II winner Air Strike (Street Sense--Omnitap, by Tapit) has been acquired by Daryl and Sally Duncan and will enter stud at their Duncan Farms in Warsaw, Ohio in 2021. Raced in partnership by Sol Kumin's Madakat Stables, Slam Dunk Racing and Michael Nentwig, Air Strike won the GII Triple Bend S. at Santa Anita as a 4-year-old in 2019. Also fourth in last year's GI Bing Crosby S. and GI Forego S., the bay retired with career earnings of $338,810. "We were looking to add a true dirt-sprint pedigree...

Three-time Grade I winner and 'TDN Rising Star' McKinzie (Street Sense) returns to action against four rivals in Sunday's GII Triple Bend S. at Santa Anita. Beaten 28 lengths when last seen in the $20-million Saudi Cup Feb. 29, McKinzie is two-for-two at this seven-furlong distance, including a win in Santa Anita's GI Malibu S. in 2018. The 2019 GI Whitney S. hero was second-best in several high-profile races term, led by the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, GI Runhappy Metropolitan H. and GI Santa Anita H. McKinzie, trained by Hall...