INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 23, 2008) - Trainer Peter Miller, who sent Thoroughly north from his San Luis Rey Downs training base a year ago to win the Willard L. Proctor Memorial, will try for a repeat in Sunday's 44th running of the 5½-furlong event with Backbackbackgone.
Corey Nakatani, who rode Thoroughly to victory in 2007, has the mount on Backbackbackgone, who won his career debut by ten lengths on May 11 at Bay Meadows.
"We're going back-to-back with 'Backbackback'," Miller said. "I don't want to sound overconfident, but he's as good a 2-year-old as I've ever had."
Miller bought the son of Put It Back for $85,000 at the March Ocala Breeders Sale. He is owned by Gerson Racing and Charleville Stables. Gerson Racing also owned Thoroughly.
The Proctor drew a field of seven 2-year-olds, which lines up as follows from the rail out:
Matt's Marauder, with David Flores up, carries 120 pounds; Fassnacht, Joel Rosario, 115; Conclusive, Jose Valdivia Jr., 120; Making Dreams, Paul Atkinson, 120; Aromatica, Tyler Baze, 117; Backbackbackgone, Corey Nakatani, 120, and Jack Flash, Martin Garcia, 120.
Aromatica is the lone filly in the field. The daughter of Momentum broke her maiden at first asking on March 28 at Santa Anita Park.
Trainer Jean-Pierre Dupuis elected to run in the Willard Proctor rather than have Aromatica face fillies in the co-featured Cinderella Stakes.
"Both races are tough, but I think the fillies are better," he said. "At two, fillies can beat colts. She beat colts in her first start at Santa Anita."
Northern California-based trainer Jeff Bonde, meanwhile, who saddled the last two winners of the Cinderella, will try to win the Willard Proctor with Matt's Marauder, winner of his first career start May 1 at Bay Meadows.
"He's a nice colt, doing well, and we're going to see what we've got," said Bonde, who saddled 2007 Proctor Run Brother Ron.
Sunday's 46th running of the Cinderalla Stakes drew a field of eight juvenile fillies, which lines up as follows:
Atka, Jon Court up, carries 120 pounds; Gonging Wild, Michael Baze, 120; Upper Manhattan, Joe Talamo, 117; Got Tobe Rio, Paul Atkinson, 120; Trifecta King, Rafael Bejarano, 115; Call Aly, Valdivia, 117; Makasi, Rosario, 115, and She'smylittleman, Isaias Enriquez, 120.
The Willard L. Proctor runs as the third race on Sunday's card, while the Cinderalla runs as the eighth. First post time is 1:20 p.m.
GONGING WILD SUPPLEMENTED TO CINDERELLA
Gonging Wild, who set a Santa Anita track record of :20.87 for two furlongs with a 1¾-length maiden victory in her debut April 17, was supplemented for $1,500 Thursday to the $75,000-added Cinderella Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at 5½ furlongs Sunday.
"I got her a month ago and forgot to nominate," said trainer Paul Aguirre, who took the filly over from trainer Adam Kitchingman after she was purchased by Galley Farm and Sundance Racing Stable.
Gonging Wild, a California-bred, is by Expressionist out of the Truckee mare Bangthegong. She drew post two in a field of eight under Michael Baze in the eighth race.
