MIND YOUR BISCUITS TAKES GI MALIBU; CONSTELLATION IN LA BREA

Santa Anita Media —-

MIND YOUR BISCUITS TAKES GRADE I, $300,000 MALIBU STAKES BY A HALF LENGTH UNDER ROSARIO; TRAINED BY FALCONE, JR., HE GETS SEVEN FURLONGS IN 1:20.81
ON-TRACK CROWD OF 46,514 COMES OUT FOR FOUR GRADED STAKES UNDER IDYLLIC CONDITIONS

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 26, 2014)—Breaking from the inside in a field of nine sophomore sprinters, Mind Your Biscuits sat a close third under Joel Rosario a quarter mile from home and overhauled Sharp Azteca late to take Monday’s Grade I, $300,000 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita by a half-length as he covered seven furlongs in 1:20.81. Third, beaten 1 ¼ lengths here in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 5, Mind Your Biscuits, who is trained by Robert Falcone, Jr., posted his fourth win from nine starts this year.

Although Mind Your Biscuits returned to his Belmont Park base following the Breeders’ Cup (in which he was subsequently awarded second money due to the medical disqualification of runner-up Masochistic), he returned to Santa Anita to drill a bullet half mile in 47.20 on Dec. 18 and the sharp drill obviously served him well in the Malibu.

Although favored on the morning line, he was off as the second choice at 7-2 and paid $9.40, $5.00 and $3.20.

Owned by J Stables, Head of Plains Partners, LLC, Summers, Summers, Kisber and Summers, the New York-bred colt by Posse improved his overall mark to 13-4-4-3. With the winner’s share of $180,000, he increased his earnings to $675,366.

Ridden by Edgard Zayas, Sharp Azteca showed good speed throughout and was second best on the day, finishing 2 ¼ lengths in front of favored Ten Blessings. Off at 4-1, Sharp Azteca paid $5.00 and $3.40.

One of three Bob Baffert-trained runners, Ten Blessings, with Rafael Bejarano up, was mid-pack early and was third turning for home, but never threatened the top two. Off at 8-5, he paid $2.40 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.16, 43.80 and 1:08.10.

Monday’s Winter Meet opening day crowd of 46,514 was up from last year’s 44,873. Total pari-mutuel handle of $18,363,495 was up roughly $900,000 over last year’s $17,406,122.

CALIFORNIA-BRED BETTYS BAMBINO TAKES GRADE III SAN SIMEON BY 2 ¼ LENGTHS UNDER ROSARIO

Earlier in the day, Bettys Bambino overcame a 22 month layoff to register a 2 ¼ length win in the Grade III, $100,000 San Simeon Stakes, which was contested at 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course. A 6-year-old California-bred gelding by Unusual Heat, he got the distance in 1:11.95. Off at 6-1 in a field of 12 three year olds and up, he paid $15.80, $7.80 and $5.20.

Ridden by Joel Rosario, trained by Peter Eurton and owned by Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable and Ciaglia Racing, LLC, Bettys Bambino was bred by Sharon Alesia, Joe Ciaglia and Mellen.

Ridden by Norberto Arroyo, Jr., Stormy Liberal finished second at 6-1 and paid $8.20 and $5.40.
Favored at 4-1 with Victor Espinoza up, Richard’s Boy paid $3.60 to show.

Fractions on the San Simeon were 21.60, 43.36 and 1:05.95.

HOLLENDORFER & PRAT TEAM FOR 12-1 UPSET IN GRADE I, $300,000 LA BREA STAKES AS CONSTELLATION WINS BY A HALF-LENGTH WHILE GETTING SEVEN FURLONGS IN 1:21.83

LA BREA ONE OF FOUR GRADED STAKES ON SANTA ANITA’S WINTER MEET OPENING DAY CARD

Attentive to a fast pace throughout, LNJ Foxwoods’ Constellation overhauled a tenacious Finley’sluckycharm inside the sixteenth pole en route to a half-length victory in Monday’s Grade I, $300,000 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and ridden by Flavien Prat, the 3-year-old filly by Bellamy Road negotiated seven furlongs in 1:21.83.
A 5 ¼ length winner of the six furlong Phoenix Stakes at Turf Paradise on Nov. 12, Constellation was scheduled to be ridden back by David Flores, but when Flores was reportedly unable to make flight connections from Kentucky, he was replaced early in the day by Prat, who sat second through splits of 22.24, 44.58 and 1:09.05.

Off at 12-1 in a field of eight, Constellation paid $27.00, $9.40 and $6.00.

Originally based in New York with trainer Steve Asmussen, Constellation made her second start for Hollendorfer in the La Brea and notched her first career graded stakes victory. In so doing, she improved her overall record to 8-5-1-1. With the winner’s share of $180,000, she increased her earnings to $479,464.

Ridden by Brian Hernandez, Jr. Midwest-based Finley’sluckycharm, finished three lengths in front of Enola Gray and paid $3.80 and $3.00 as the narrow second choice at 9-5.

Ridden by Mike Smith, Enola Gray was third best at 9-2 and paid $3.40 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.24, 44.58 and 1:09.05.

FAVORED CONQUEST ENFORCER TAKES GRADE II MATHIS BROTHERS MILE (TURF) BY 1 ¼ LENGTHS

Although pressed through fast splits, favored Conquest Enforcer kicked clear turning for home under Flavien Prat and went on to an authoritative 1 ¼ length win in Monday’s Grade II, $200,000 Mathis Brothers Mile (turf) at Santa Anita while covering the distance in 1:33.64.

The final race on Santa Anita’s nine-race opening day card, the Mathis Brothers Mile anchored a $1 million guaranteed Late Pick 4 and it attracted a field of 10 three year olds. Off at 9-5, Conquest Enforcer, who is trained by Phil D’Amato and is owned by Loooch Racing Stables, Inc., Imaginary Stables and Raquel Ritchie, paid $5.60, $3.80 and $3.00.

Irish-bred Mittersill, who was ridden by Joel Rosario, rallied from far back to be second turning for home, but never threatened the winner, running second by a half-length over Italian-bred Moonlight Drive. Off at 7-1, Mittersill paid $7.00 and $5.40.

Moonlight Drive, under Rafael Bejarano, was off at 10-1 and paid $5.60 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.91, 46.11, 1:10.29 and 1:22.07.

About Us
Santa Anita Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is North America’s premier supplier of virtual online horseracing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.