Santa Anita: Royal Mo, St. Joe Bay top stakes weekend

By Mike Willman —-

Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Moss’ Royal Mo and jockey Victor Espinoza win the Grade III, $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA.
© BENOIT PHOTO

ROYAL MO STAMPS HIMSELF A TOP TIER DERBY CANDIDATE WITH 3 ½ LENGTH WIN IN GRADE III, $150,000 ROBERT B. LEWIS STAKES; ESPINOZA & SHIRREFFS TEAM FOR 1 1/16 MILES SCORE IN 1:43.48

ARCADIA, Calif.—Idle since breaking his maiden on Nov. 27, Royal Mo broke like a shot from the rail and dictated terms throughout as he scored an impressive 3 ½ length win in Saturday’s Grade III, 1 1/16 miles Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, thus stamping himself as a top tier Kentucky Derby candidate. Ridden by Victor Espinoza, owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by John Shirreffs, the imposing bay colt by Uncle Mo got the distance in 1:43.48.

“I was very happy with how he ran, the pace, the fractions, having that horse (Irap, with Mario Gutierrez) outside of him, hooking him a little bit, so I think he showed a lot of character,” said Shirreffs, who also conditions recent Grade III Sham Stakes winner Gormley for the Mosses.

“You take it as it comes (referring to what might be next for his two talented sophomores). Obviously, you don’t really want to run them together. We’ll just have to see how it goes. I haven’t spoken with Mr. Moss about that, so we’ll see.”

A gate to wire maiden winner at one mile, Royal Mo faced stakes competition for the first time today and was off at 3-2 in a field of five, paying $5.00, $3.40 and $2.20. With the win, he also picked up 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and a check for $90,000, which brings his earnings to $144,200. Second in his first two races sprinting, Royal Mo now has two wins from four starts.

“He’s such a big horse, he doesn’t have that quickness for the first couple of strides,” said Espinoza. “As soon as he gets into rhythm though, he’ll keep going…He’s improving a lot. From the last few races to this race, he’s really coming along. He’s going in the right direction. Hopefully, we keep going that way.”

Moss, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, who gained worldwide notoriety as the owner of the legendary Zenyatta, also teamed with Shirreffs to win the 2005 Kentucky Derby with longshot Giacomo.
“We haven’t had two horses (Royal Mo and Gormley) in this position in a long time and it’s fun,” said Moss. “I’ll have to talk to John, but I think we’ll go to Arkansas with one and stay here with the other. (Royal Mo) is almost 17 hands, but he’s still got some growing to do…We really don’t see anyone coming up that scares us…This horse has been working great and the Derby is a great thing to dream about.”

One of three Doug O’Neill trainees, Irap pressed the winner throughout and held off favored Sheer Flattery by a neck for second money. Off at 4-1, Irap paid $4.20 and $2.60.

“I think pace makes the race and the first half wasn’t overly quick,” said O’Neill. “When you give a horse like Royal Mo an uncontested lead you’re going to be in trouble.”

Third turning for home, Sheer Flattery, who was ridden by Mike Smith, never threatened the winner while finishing 2 ¼ lengths in front of Term of Art. Off at 7-5, Sheer Flattery paid $2.20 to show.
Fractions, all set by the winner, were 23.86, 47.37, 1:11.50 and 1:36.84.

The second, third and fourth place finishers received four, two and one Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

St. Joe Bay and jockey Kent Desormeaux win the Grade II, $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes, Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA.
© BENOIT PHOTO

ST. JOE BAY
(Benoit Photo)

HEAVILY FAVORED ST. JOE BAY TAKES GRADE II, $200,000 PALOS VERDES STAKES BY 2 ¼ LENGTHS UNDER DESORMEAUX; MILLER TRAINEE GETS SIX FURLONGS IN 1:0875

ARCADIA, Calif.—Heavily favored St. Joe Bay shrugged off early pace pressure and a serious challenge a quarter mile from home while registering a 2 ¼ length win in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes under Kent Desormeaux. Trained by Peter Miller, the 5-year-old gelding got six furlongs in 1:08.75.

“There was a lot more pressure (on him) than I thought,” said Miller. When is saw that four-horse (eventual last place finisher, Ocho Ocho Ocho) hounding me in 21 and two, I was like geeez. But this horse is just so good right now he’s got gears. When that gray horse (runner-up Moe Candy) came to him, I got a little concerned, but he had another gear.”

A winner of the Grade III Midnight Lute Stakes here on Dec. 31, St. Joe Bay was off at 3-5 in a field of four older horses and paid $3.40 and $2.20 (no show wagering).

“Well, there are certainly always anxious moments when you’re coming into the stretch like that but fortunately for me, St. Joe Bay did all the work,” said Desormeaux. “He had about 70 yards where he had a nice breather. For me, it’s just great to be on the Peter Miller team. He’s firing bullets right now.”

Owned by Altamira Racing Stable and David A. Bernsen, St. Joe Bay, a Florida-bred gelding by Saint Anddan, got his third consecutive win Saturday and he now has an overall mark of 21-5-5-3. With the winner’s share of $120,000, he now has earnings of $377,175.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Moe Candy loomed ominously turning for home, but the winner found plenty more, relegating “Moe” to second, finishing 4 ¼ lengths in front of Ike Walker. Off at 6-5, Moe Candy paid $2.20 to place.

Fractions on the race were 21.48, 44.40 and 56.37.

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.

Cover Photo: Royal Mo; Benoit