Sir Beaufort Stakes at Santa Anita

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 Sir Beaufort Stakes comes our way from Santa Anita this Wednesday, December 26. Three year olds will be featured as they go one mile on Santa Anita's turf track in search of the winner's share of the $150,000 purse.

The Sir Beaufort has attracted a field of eight to go in race 5 on Santa Anita's packed opening day Wednesday card. Post time is 2:05 PM. Here is a brief glance into the past performances of all eight entries ahead of this Grade 2 event.

2012 Sir Beaufort Stakes Race Favorites

Midnight Crooner - Bob Baffert trained colt most recently won the first division of the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar at this distance to follow and Allowance Optional Claiming score back in May. He also won a Maiden Special Weight at Golden Gate on February 18 but followed that up with a third in the Pasadena Stakes at Santa Anita on March 23. However, his graded stakes results have been very disappointing lately - a ninth last time out in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby and an eighth four back in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes. He is the only stakes winner in the field, has eight career stars with three wins and a third place finish but will be looking for his first money finish in his third graded stakes race.

Fit to Rule - Doug O'Neill trained colt will be making his stakes debut Wednesday after six career Maiden Special Weight races yielded a win, a second and a third place finish. He is coming off his first career win by an incredible 9 1/2 lengths at Hollywood Park November 24 however and will be looking to keep the momentum going in the Sir Beaufort despite trying turf for the first time.

Sir Beaufort Stakes 2012 | Remaining Field Entries

Smart Ellis - will be making his sixth start this year and tenth career start. Smart Ellis opened the year with a second in an Allowance at Santa Anita, took six months off and returned to a score in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Del Mar July 20. His next two starts resulted in a distant eighth three back in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby and an OK third in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby on this track November 2. Last time out was a momentum-squashing twelfth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby November 25.

Big Bane Theory - has just four career starts for trainer Carla Gaines with two wins - an Allowance two back and a Maiden Special Weight before that. He took a huge step up in competition last time out and predictably finished ninth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby just ahead of Smart Ellis.

Silentio - will make his stakes debut after just three career starts resulted in two wins and a close third place finish last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming race here October 12.

Sir Beaufort Stakes betting at Santa Anita with OffTrackBetting.com

Battle Force - John Sherreffs pupil has looked good in four career starts placing in all. Last time out was a second in an Allowance after nearly one full year off. He had a very nice third in the Grade 3 Generous Stakes at Hollywood Park in November of last year to follow a win in a Maiden Special Weight and a second in a similar race in his career debut toward the end of 2011.

Conspiracy - former Chad Brown trainee and new Bob Baffert colt has four career starts under his belt with a win and a pair of second place finishes. Last time out was a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Aqueduct to follow a Maiden Special Weight score at Saratoga back in August.

Press Baron - British bred gelding has seven starts this year with a win, a second and two third place finishes but has yet to line up in a stakes race. He has placed in his last three starts, two of which have come on this track - a third last time out in an Allowance and a second before that in a similar race September 29.

2012 Sir Beaufort Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 5 on Santa Anita's Wednesday card with a Post Time of 2:14 PM.