SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES

By Ed Golden —-

Victor Espinoza; Benoit

ESPINOZA JOINS GOMEZ, CASTELLANO IN SHRINE

Victor Espinoza, the self-proclaimed “happy Mexican,” seemed no more ebullient than usual at Clockers’ Corner Thursday morning, four days after he and fellow jockeys Javier Castellano and the late Garrett Gomez were elected to the contemporary category of racing’s Hall of Fame, along with three-time Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Goldikova.

“I’m excited,” said the native of Mexico City, who turns 45 on May 23. “Every jockey wants to be there, but for me, it was more important to win the Triple Crown. The Hall of Fame is a bonus.

“It is an honor to be in there. The only problem is,” he added, laughing, “I’m kind of starting to feel older. Most people in the Hall of Fame are older But seriously, being a member of the Hall of Fame is good for any jockey to have on his resume.”

The induction ceremony will be held Aug. 4 at Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Espinoza was proud to be voted in with four-time Eclipse Award winner Castellano, 39, and 13-time Breeders’ Cup winner Gomez, and despite his age and achievements, does not have the “R” word on his immediate radar screen.

“I want to continue to ride,” said Espinoza, who is represented by agent Brian Beach. “I’m dedicating myself very hard right now, especially for the Kentucky Derby. I’m focused on that and working even harder than before.

“I adhere to a strict workout routine every day to keep in shape, and always give 100 percent to win every race.”

Veteran agent Tony Matos, who represented Espinoza for 15 years and Gomez for the last three years of his career, said, ”Both were very good to work with, are most deserving, and I hope in some small way I helped get them elected.”

Said Mike Smith, one of four active Hall of Fame members in Santa Anita’s jockey colony, along with Kent Desormeaux, Alex Solis and Gary Stevens: “It’s awesome. They’re all most deserving and their records speak for themselves. I’ve never seen three jockeys voted in the same year. Congratulations to all three.”

Added Stevens: “I’m happy for them. All three are deserving. Craig Perret also was nominated, and he deserves to be in there, too. He’s been overlooked for a long time, although Goldikova (the lone horse and the fourth nominee to be voted in) certainly belongs.”

Bob Baffert, who gave Gomez a leg up on many a stakes winner, as well as Espinoza, who rode Baffert champion American Pharoah to the first Triple Crown sweep in 37 years in 2015, was fully on board with their election.

“Unfortunately for Garrett, he wasn’t able to enjoy it,” Baffert said of the winner of 3,769 races with purse earnings of $205,224,899, who was found dead Dec. 14, 2016, in Tucson, Arizona, at the age of 44. “He definitely deserves to be in there.

“Not only was he a great rider, but a good friend. He was a lot of fun to be around.

“All I can say about Victor is, not only does he deserve to be in it, he’s going to have the biggest plaque ever as a jockey, because he’s ridden some really fantastic horses (most notably American Pharoah and two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome).

“His plaque is going to outdo any jockey who’s in there right now, believe me.’”

SANTA ANITA OAKS WINNER BREEZES FOR KENTUCKY

Paradise Woods, winner of the Santa Anita Oaks by a race record margin of 11 ¼ lengths on April 8, worked six furlongs under regular rider Flavien Prat Thursday morning for the $1 million Kentucky Oaks May 5, in company with Milhaud.

Paradise Woods was clocked in a bullet 1:12.40 while Milhaud went in 1:12.80.

“Beautiful,” is how Richard Mandella summed up the breeze, her final one before shipping May 1 to Churchill Downs where she will gallop into the race.

“Today was her serious work. She galloped out (seven furlongs) in (one) 25 and change. It looked like a morning gallop. I’m pretty excited. She’ll gallop and school at Churchill.
“She’s a young filly who’s still learning. She’s got speed and will probably be on the lead in the race. We’re not going to fight her.”
BOLO BACK QUICK FOR SATURDAY’S THUNDER ROAD
Bolo returns in an uncharacteristically quick two weeks for Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes for four-year-olds and up at one mile on turf.

The son of Temple City was ninth, beaten only 4 ¼ lengths, in the Grade I Maker’s 46 Mile on Keeneland’s turf course April 14. A five-year-old full horse, Bolo has never been out of the money in six races on Santa Anita’s turf, winning four, three at the mile distance of the Thunder Road.

“It was a non-effort,” trainer Carla Gaines said of the Keeneland experience. “The track was very sandy and loose. It’s just very different from Santa Anita. We had been toying with the idea of running him in the Thunder Road rather than working him, because you don’t get to work on the grass here.

“He came back great, like he hadn’t even run. Hopefully, we’re doing the right thing.”
The field for the Thunder Road: Perfectly Majestic, Kent Desormeaux; Twentytwentyvision, Flavien Prat; Bolo, Mike Smith; Mithqaal, Rafael Bejarano; Fabozzi, Corey Nakatani; Farhaan, Tyler Baze; and Sawyer’s Hill, Martin Pedroza.

FINISH LINES: Santa Anita Derby runner-up Battle of Midway is scheduled to work six furlongs at 7:45 Friday morning under Flavien Prat for the Kentucky Derby on May 6, while two-time champion Songbird, prepping for her four-year-old debut, will work a half-mile Friday with Mike Smith up, according to Jerry Hollendorfer assistant Dan Ward . . . Every Saturday and Sunday at Santa Anita, fans can enjoy Family Fun Zone, featuring an Infield full of activities. A special $40 online only discount package includes food for four, two racing programs, two unlimited jumper wristbands, two pony ride vouchers, two face painting vouchers and eight carnival game vouchers. The package can be purchased online at santaanita.com/events.

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.