Rigoletto, a rare Swiss-bred, will have his American debut in an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option in Friday's seventh race at Santa Anita on the hillside turf course.
Run at about 6 1-2 furlongs, this will be the shortest race in Rigoletto's career, but conditions could be in his favor. The 4-year-old colt won three times in seven starts in England last year by setting the pace, racing in the middle of the field and closing from the back. He won on surfaces rated good-to-soft or good and performed well on good-to-firm ground.
Rigoletto (4) will get firm ground on Friday and a pace to pursue from runners such as What'sontheagenda (6) and Incensed (8). Rigoletto is 10-1 on the morning-line and will be ridden by Drayden Van Dyke for trainer John Sadler.