Trainer Ron Ellis is having a perfect afternoon at Santa Anita on Saturday, with two winners in as many races and two starters in the upcoming San Simeon Handicap, the day's ninth race.
Ellis won the sixth race with Believe in Hope in an optional claimer over seven furlongs. Believe in Hope was returning from a 19-month layoff. In the seventh race, Ellis won with Dewey's Special, who was returning from a four-month layoff caused by sore feet.
In the Grade 3 San Simeon over about 6 1-2 furlongs on the hillside turf course, Ellis starts defending champion Mr Gruff and Canonize, who is making his first start on turf.
Always a high percentage stable, Ellis has now won with 12 of 50 starters at the meeting.