Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens is expecting big things from Sareen Family Trust's Om (Munnings) when the two team up for the GIII American S., Tuesday's holiday feature at Santa Anita. Stevens has ridden Om in his last 10 starts, with the consistent 5-year-old winning three and hitting the board in additional six graded races, including a narrowly beaten runner-up effort behind Obviously (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.
“I haven't been on him in the mornings, but I've been watching him train all winter,” Stevens said. “He's training lights out, he looks great and I'm looking forward to being back on board. I think he's using me as the fuse to light the firecrackers.”
Om, a two-time winner over Santa Anita's turf course at the American's one-mile distance, will be making his first start since finishing third, beaten a half-length, in the Nov. 26 GII Seabiscuit H.
Also in the American's eight-horse field is millionaire Alert Bay (City Zip). The 6-year-old gelding opened the year with a pair of wins at Golden Gate Fields, including a 1 1/4-length tally in the one-mile GIII San Francisco S. over the lawn Apr. 29. He was third in a blanket finish over the Tapeta in the May 29 GIII All-American S. last time out. Flamboyant (Fr) (Peer Gynt {Jpn}), second that day, reopposes in the American.
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