Friday marks the first day of the new meet at Santa Anita.  The card contains three well-subscribed graded stakes races: the Malibu (GI), the La Brea (GI), and the Mathis Brothers Mile (GII).  All three provide three-year-olds with one more chance to run against three-year-olds only before they turn four, and must navigate the older horse division.  All three races drew large, deep fields consisting of a mix of existing stars (Shared Belief!  Taris!  Heart to Heart!  That gorgeous heart on Heart to Heart’s face, which itself is both literally and figuratively a star!) and less heralded runners who are still trying to make names for themselves in tougher company.

I have detailed all three of those races at Picks and Ponderings.  Head on over there, see what I think about them, and let me know in the comments what you think about the races!