Siphonic Returns Today

Siphonic, once the future book favorite for the Kentucky Derby, will make his first start since March 17 as the 34th Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita starts today.

Siphonic will run in the third race, a $54,000 optional claimer at seven furlongs.

Owned by the Amerman Racing Stables and trained by Dave Hofmans, the 3-year-old son of Siphon has not raced since finishing third as the 2-5 favorite in the San Felipe Stakes, the final prep for the Santa Anita Derby. That race came two months after he had been beaten at 1-10 in the Santa Catalina.

An injury sidelined Siphonic after the San Felipe, but he has trained well for his return. A winner of three of six lifetime, Siphonic will break from the rail in the field of seven and have a new rider in Mike Smith. The now-retired Chris McCarron rode Siphonic in his first two starts, then Jerry Bailey took over for the next four, including a victory in the 2001 Hollywood Futurity.

Siphonic’s opponents include two double winners at Santa Anita--Slewston, trained by Jack Van Berg, and Waingarth, a gray gelding trained by John Sadler for Oakcrest Stable.

Race of the day: Promising 3-year-olds Golden Arrow and Rushin’ To Altar head the field in the seventh, a $53,000 optional claimer at one mile on turf. The race is the second leg of the pick four.

Who’s hot: Martin Pedroza. The jockey had 27 winners at Fairplex Park to lead that meet for the fourth consecutive year.

Who’s not: Joey Castro. The jockey is only two for 44 at Bay Meadows.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Red Apache in the first, using Cozy Man and Pool Music in the second and Siphonic, Waingarth, Slewston and Lebontempsroulet in the third.