Santa Anita Looking Forward to a Dry Weekend

A dusting of snow on the San Gabriels above Santa Anita.

In California, horsemen and horses alike are looking forward to some dry weather. For the past five days, Southern California has been hammered by a series of four storms caused by a strong El Nino over the Pacific Ocean. The strongest series of storms to hit the area in five years dumped 4 to 8 inches of rain in the coastal and valley regions and up to 12 inches in the mountains, caused 15-20 foot waves along the coast, and sent hundreds fleeing from their homes as mudslides hit the foothills below the burn areas caused by last Fall's wildfires.

Santa Anita lost three days of racing (Monday, Thursday and Friday) when its track was pounded day and night by rain that seemed like it would never let up. Hopes are high for a good, dry weekend of racing that includes the historic Palos Verdes Handicap on Saturday.

Here's the field for the Palos Verdes Handicap with jockeys and weights in post position order: Dancing in Silks, Joel Rosario, 123; Ez Dreamer, Alex Solis, 116; Paul’s Hope, Victor Espinoza, 115; Eaton’s Gift, Tyler Baze, 117; Quietly Mine, Garrett Gomez, 113; Supreme Summit, Rafael Bejarano, 114; Kinsale King, Martin Garcia, 116, and Ventana, Joseph Talamo, 113.

The Palos Verdes Handicap will be run as the eighth race on a nine-race program with first post at 12:30 p.m.