SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2017

By Ed Golden —-

‘BOLT’ IN EASY BREEZE FOR BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE
‘OCTOPLUS’ SEXTET IS GOING STRONG AT SANTA ANITA
B SQUARED ‘SPRINTS’ HOME FOR THE CALIFORNIA FLAG
SANTA ANITA FANS SHOULD BE ‘IN THE PINK’ SATURDAY
BARRETTS FALL YEARLING SALE AT FAIRPLEX TUESDAY

BOLT D’ORO WORKS HALF MILE FOR BC JUVENILE

Undefeated Breeders’ Cup Juvenile favorite Bolt d’Oro worked four furlongs Sunday in 48.80 for owner/trainer Mick Ruis, with regular rider Corey Nakatani in the irons.

“He went just like we were hoping,” Ruis said. “Corey never moved on him, he galloped out seven-eighths. That’s all we wanted him to do. We know he has the air to go a mile and a sixteenth (the distance of his 7 ¾-length romp in the Grade I FrontRunner Stakes on Sept. 30 and the distance of the Juvenile on Nov. 4).

“We all saw that. We just have to keep him happy and fit. He’ll have two more breezes here the next two Sundays, ship south the next day, walk that Monday, jog a couple of days, gallop a few days and then run.

“He’ll have his final work six days in front of the race.”

Also among the Breeders’ Cup workers Sunday were Classic contender West Coast (a bullet 1:12 for six furlongs, in company with Cat Burglar, 1:12.80); Distaff contender Abel Tasman (five furlongs in 1:00.40 in company with Zipman (1:02), all for Bob Baffert; and champion Finest City (Filly & Mare Sprint, six furlongs in a bullet 1:12 with Nakatani up) for Ian Kruljac, who said the drill “went smooth.”

Filly & Mare Sprint favorite Unique Bella is scheduled to work Wednesday, said Jerry Hollendorfer assistant Dan Ward.

EIGHTY-PLUS BOYS REVEAL SECRETS OF LONGEVITY

Huey Barnes, Vince DeGregory, Larry Gilligan, Bruce Headley, Ron McAnally, Hector
Palma and Art Sherman, all members of Santa Anita’s Octoplus Club. That’s not octopus, but Octoplus, as in 80 years of age or older.

Each has passed the eight-decade mark and still plies his trade at the race track, their years on the planet approaching a combined total more than five centuries. Each has his own philosophy on how they’ve managed to live the good life approaching the year 2018.

Huey Barnes, who came to California in 1954 with Charlie Whittingham, turned 84 on Oct. 3. The former exercise rider and current assistant starter gives this succinct advice: “Don’t drink, eat the proper food and get the proper rest.”

Vince DeGregory, who celebrated his 85th birthday Aug. 29, has been an agent since opening day at Aqueduct in 1959, representing eight Hall of Fame jockeys: Angel Cordero Jr., Victor Espinoza, Chris McCarron, Laffit Pincay Jr., Bill Shoemaker, Alex Solis, Jacinto Vasquez and Jorge Velasquez, in addition to Darrel McHargue and Joel Rosario. He currently has the book of Sasha Risenhoover. Vinnie offers these sagacious words. “Don’t retire. When you retire, your mind slows, your body falls apart and atrophy sets in.”

Former jockey Larry Gilligan, who turned 80 on Sept. 14, is Santa Anita’s “Quick Official,” aboard a pony following each race to inform stewards after the heat if a rider wants to claim foul, says he’s made it so far because, “I get up every morning and keep moving.”

Trainer Bruce Headley, who was 83 on Feb. 14, claims the secret to a ripe old age is juicing—apples, carrots, celery, cabbage. “Put them in a blender and drink ‘em,” Headley said. “I’m an advocate of Jay Kordich, the Juiceman.” Kordich, an All-Star halfback at Long BeachHigh School, was diagnosed with a serious illness in 1948 at the age of 25 and was told he may not live long. He turned to raw juices and healthy cleansing diets. It wasn’t long before his health was restored. Between 1995 and 2002, his Juiceman Juicer had more than $300 million in sales, according to Kordich, who died at 93 last May.
Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally, who was 85 on July 11, says, “work hard, get a lot of exercise, and take the advice of Bob Baffert.”

Hector Palma, born on the Fourth of July, 1937, says, “I’ve been a lucky man. If you’ve got good horses, you’re lucky. If you get a bunch of dogs, you’re not. The problem with my age is nobody likes an old man trainer.

Art Sherman, who celebrated his 80th on Feb. 17, advises to “keep busy and hope one of the two-year-olds turns into another California Chrome.”

B SQUARED RETURNS HOME FOR CALIFORNIA FLAG HANDICAP

B Squared has been piling up the frequent flier mileage, racing from Santa Anita to West Virginia and Oklahoma in his eight-race career, but next Saturday the Square Eddie colt trained by Doug O’Neill for Reddam Racing returns home for the $100,000 California Flag Handicap at about 6 ½ furlongs on turf.
The California Flag is one in the Golden State Series for California-bred or sired runners, this for three-year-olds and up.

B Squared has never run over the unique downhill course, but he has one win on grass, that coming in the one mile Silky Sullivan at Golden Gate Fields last April 30.

“He’s a traveler,” Doug O’Neill assistant Leandro Mora said of B Squared. “When you have a three-year-old, you’re always trying for the most derbies you can.”

B Squared’s last three starts have come in the Los Alamitos Derby, the West Virginia Derby and the Oklahoma Derby.

“We realize now he’s not more than a miler, so we’re cutting back to 6 ½ and I think from that distance up to a mile is what he wants,” Mora said.

Mario Gutierrez rides B Squared in the California Flag, which also could attract Dr. Troutman, Edwards Going Left, Gold Rush Dancer, Richard’s Boy and Tribal Fighter.

FANS IN PINK COULD WIN BIG

Fans at Santa Anita next Saturday, Oct. 21 who attend wearing pink could win a VIP “Day at the Races” package of epic proportions. Patrons are invited to visit the raffle tent located in the EastPaddockGardens, across from Champions! Gift Shop, to redeem their complimentary first ticket.
All fans, in pink or not, are encouraged to buy additional tickets (at $5 each) to help support Santa Anita’s Breast Cancer Awareness Day. All proceeds will directly benefit the American Cancer Society Making Strides against Breast Cancer.

This VIP “Day at the Races” package will include: lunch for four, champagne toast for four in the Chandelier Room Speakeasy, $100 betting voucher, a race named in the winner’s honor with a paddock and Winner’s Circle tour during their featured race, Club House admission and valet parking. #PINKTOBER.

FINISH LINES: All horsemen please note—The Barretts Fall Yearling and Horses of All Ages Sale will be conducted this Tuesday, Oct. 17 at Fairplex Park. “Game time” is 11 a.m. . . . Due to flight issues leaving Kentucky where he rode at Keeneland Saturday, Mike Smith missed his three scheduled mounts at Santa Anita Sunday . . . Rafael Bejarano rides Summertime Oaks winner Faypien for Bob Baffert next Saturday at Keeneland in the Grade II Raven Run. Faypien worked six furlongs Sunday in 1:12.80. Hers was one of 210 recorded works at Santa Anita, including 20 on the training track . . . Probable for next Sunday’s $70,000 Anoakia Stakes for two-year-old fillies at six furlongs: Artistic Diva, Chatty, Secret Spice and Steph Being Steph . . . Santa Anita’s Pick Six Single Ticket Jackpot carryover has mushroomed to $368,281.17 into Sunday . . . Agent Patty Sterling, whose riders accounted for an $83.60 exacta in Saturday’s second race when Tiago Pereira won aboard Campaigner and Brayan Pena ran second on 31-1 outsider Violent Ridge, celebrates her 54th birthday Monday. Pereira has won four races the past two days, including Saturday’s California Distaff Handicap on Barbara Beatrice for Phil D’Amato . . . Sasha Risenhoover rides at Santa Anita today after winning three races last night at Retama in San Antonio, Texas . . . From John Cherwa’s Los Angeles Times horse racing newsletter Saturday come these random snippets from a question and answer session with The Voice of Santa Anita, Michael Wrona: If you weren’t a race caller, what would you do? “I’d probably try and be a writer. I love words.” . . . If you could lunch with anyone living or dead, who would that be? “Sir Alex Ferguson, the longtime manager of Manchester United . . . ” What’s your favorite food? The iconic Australian dessert Pavlova . . . “ What’s your favorite music? “Alternative rock . . . ” Fans can enjoy Cherwa’s complete interview with Wrona and informative and incisive news every racing day on http://www.latimes.com/newsletters/la-newsletter-racing-signup-page-htmlstory.html . . . Santa Anita is dark Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Live racing resumes 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.

SANTA ANITA STATISTICS
(Current Through Saturday, Oct. 14)
Jockey
Mts
1st
2nd
3rd
Win%
ITM%
Money Won

Evin Roman
59
11
4
11
19%
44%
$281,735
Kent Desormeaux
42
9
5
3
21%
40%
$616,758
Corey Nakatani
24
9
2
1
38%
50%
$470,135
Drayden Van Dyke
45
7
2
3
16%
27%
$449,770
Tyler Baze
60
6
12
7
10%
42%
$439,540
Flavien Prat
63
5
12
11
8%
44%
$883,172
Joseph Talamo
41
5
8
7
12%
49%
$383,575
Gary Stevens
20
5
2
2
25%
45%
$171,540
Tiago Pereira
39
5
2
1
13%
21%
$186,250
Stewart Elliott
27
4
2
2
15%
30%
$121,775
Rafael Bejarano
43
3
9
5
7%
40%
$285,120
Santiago Gonzalez
25
3
2
5
12%
40%
$102,655

Trainer
Mts
1st
2nd
3rd
Win%
ITM%
Money Won

Peter Miller
29
6
1
3
21%
34%
$390,995
Philip D’Amato
32
5
8
3
16%
50%
$320,755
Richard Baltas
32
4
6
2
13%
38%
$204,543
Vladimir Cerin
16
4
4
0
25%
50%
$122,880
Jerry Hollendorfer
25
4
3
7
16%
56%
$195,825
Richard Mandella
16
4
3
3
25%
63%
$449,380
Neil Drysdale
12
4
1
1
33%
50%
$144,185
Mick Ruis
14
4
0
0
29%
29%
$239,325
Mark Glatt
27
3
6
3
11%
44%
$158,576
Bob Baffert
16
3
4
1
19%
50%
$552,169
J. Keith Desormeaux
19
3
2
3
16%
42%
$190,955

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.