SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES

By Ed Golden —-

SATURDAY’S STAKES RACE IS NAMED FOR CALIFORNIA FLAG
CHILD ACTOR ETHAN JONES TO APPEAR IN ‘LET THERE BE LIGHT’
‘DIAMONDS’ WORKS FOR BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE SPRINT
FANS WILL BE ‘IN THE PINK’ THIS SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA

CALIFORNIA FLAG SET BREEDERS’ CUP RECORD

California Flag, for whom Saturday’s $100,000 stakes race is named, didn’t come close to the laudatory achievements of Goldikova, but he did exceed the magnificent mare in one respect: running in Breeders’ Cup races five consecutive years.

Goldikova ran in Breeders’ Cup races four straight years, that being the Breeders’ Cup Mile, which the Irish-bred earner of more than $7 million for trainer Frederic Head won in 2008, 2009 and 2010. She was third in her fourth and final attempt, beaten only a length on Nov. 5, 2011, at Churchill Downs.

California Flag, a gray California-bred son of Avenue of Flags, competed in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, winning the downhill event at about 6 ½ furlongs under Joe Talamo for trainer Brian Koriner at Santa Anita on Nov. 7, 2009.

Overall, California Flag won 11 of 27 starts and earned $1,288,825.

“He was a very nice horse and hard to replace,” Koriner said. “You can’t find those horses. I sure would like to have another one like him.”

Trivia question: who trained California Flag in his first three races? (answer below).

The California Flag, race five of nine: California Diamond, Brice Blanc; Gold Rush Dancer, Corey Nakatani; Dr. Troutman, Marin Pedroza; El Tovar, Drayden Van Dyke; Richard’s Boy, Flavien Prat; B Squared, Mario Gutierrez; and Tribalist, Victor Espinoza.

CHILD ACTOR ETHAN JONES ON BIG SCREEN’S ‘LET THERE BE LIGHT’ OCT. 27

Fledging child actor Ethan Jones, 11, is poised to make what could be a career breakthrough, as he has a pivotal role in Director/Actor Kevin Sorbo’s “Let There Be Light,” which will appear in theatres beginning Friday, Oct. 27. (Locally in AMC 16, located in the Westfield Santa Anita Mall).

The son of racing personality JoAnne Jones (formerly with HRTV) and jockey Clinton Potts, Ethan Jones is also the grandson of legendary public handicapper Professor Gordon Jones (LA Herald Examiner). Ethan plays the role of “Davey,” a boy who dies at a young age and comes back into the life of his grieving father (a world renowned author and atheist) whose life has spun out of control and is in need of redemption following a near-death experience.

Starring Kevin Sorbo and written by his wife, Sam, “Let There Be Light,” which counts Fox News A-Lister and talk radio titan Sean Hannity as an Executive Producer, can be seen at Regal Cinemas, Edwards and United Artists Theatres and could well prove a signature moment in the career of Ethan, who recently appeared in a nationally distributed Dodge SUV commercial and who also has a part in the as-yet released movie, “Dreadspace.”

A frequent Santa Anita press box visitor and contributor to the hit TV series “Teachers,” which airs weekly on TV Land, Ethan Jones is also scheduled to appear in the season finale of Seth McFarland’s “The Orville,” which airs weekly on Fox.

PINKTOBER WITH PINK’S HOTDOGS

Santa Anita Park is teaming with the one and only Pink’s Hot Dogs to benefit the American Cancer Society Making Strides against Breast Cancer on Saturday.

This Pinktober Trackside package will not only offer the local cult classic’s famous dog, but access to amazing views of the stretch run where fans are right on top of the action. The $40* package includes one Pink’s famous loaded hot dog or chili dog, one bag of assorted Lay’s potato chips, one craft beer (12 oz.) or soda (20 oz.), Hot dog options include: All-beef stretch, veggie or turkey. *Get $10 OFF your package with promo code: PINK17. For more information visit: www.santaanita.com/events.

FANS IN PINK COULD WIN BIG

Fans in attendance this Saturday could win a VIP “Day at the Races” package of epic proportions. Patrons can visit the donation tent located in the East Paddock Gardens, across from Champions! Gift Shop, to redeem their complimentary first ticket.

The Great Race Place will offer a bonus entry ticket to any person wearing pink on Santa Anita’s Breast Cancer Awareness Day. There will also be Breast Cancer Awareness memorabilia available for a donation. All donations made 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 paddock and Winner’s Circle tour during their featured race, Club House admission and valet parking. #PINKTOBER.

FINISH LINES: Leandro Mora, assistant to Doug O’Neill, reports that Pavil (Classic) and Mopotism (Distaff) ship south on Oct. 22, where they will have their final major breezes for the Breeders’ Cup . . . Bargain claim Skye Diamonds worked five furlongs on Santa Anita’s dirt training track Thursday in 1:01.80 under Tiago Pereira. Trainer Bill Spawr is getting the California-bred daughter of First Dude, claimed for $40,000 last summer and now a multiple graded stakes winner, ready for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on Nov. 4. Unique Bella, favored for the Filly & Mare Sprint, worked four furlongs handily from the gate Wednesday in a bullet 47.20 for Jerry Hollendorfer under Mike Smith . . . Roy H, winner of the Santa Anita Sprint Championship, worked four furlongs for Peter Miller in 51.80 . . . Patrick Valenzuela, operating under an exercise rider’s license, has been working horses at Santa Anita the past four days and hopes to resume his riding career by the end of November, if granted a jockey’s license by the California Horse Racing Board. Valenzuela, who turned 55 on Oct. 17, has not ridden since last Dec. 8 . . . Royal F J, 4-1 morning line chance in today’s eighth race, makes his 102nd start and will be running for his lowest claiming price ever, $6,250. The 10-year-old Royal Academy gelding trained by Jack Carava has a 9-19-18 record with earnings of $567,805 . . . Tiki Bar Logic, the odds-on favorite in Sunday’s second race, won by a Secretariat-like 23 ¼ lengths under leading rider Kent Desormeaux for trainer Mike Machowsky in the one mile race for $20,000 maiden claimers. The three-year-old chestnut Shackelford filly bred in Kentucky was not claimed . . . Multiple graded stakes winner Danzing Candy will stand at Tom and Nancy Clark’s Rancho San Miguel for the 2018 season for a fee of $5,000 live foal, as property of a syndicate . . . Santa Anita Autumn Handicapping Challenge winner Robert Talstra and The Voice of Santa Anita, Michael Wrona, will be Tom Quigley’s guests, Saturday and Sunday, 11:20 a.m. in the East Paddock Gardens . . .Trivia answer: Doug O’Neill.

SANTA ANITA STATISTICS
(Current Through Sunday, Oct. 15)
Jockey
Mts
1st
2nd
3rd
Win%
ITM%
Money Won

Kent Desormeaux
48
12
6
3
25%
44%
$687,161
Evin Roman
67
11
5
12
16%
42%
$299,163
Corey Nakatani
24
9
2
1
38%
50%
$470,135
Drayden Van Dyke
45
7
2
3
16%
27%
$449,770
Tyler Baze
65
6
14
7
9%
42%
$459,410
Tiago Pereira
44
6
2
1
14%
20%
$217,630
Flavien Prat
66
5
12
13
8%
45%
$895,772
Joseph Talamo
47
5
9
8
11%
47%
$408,861
Stewart Elliott
31
5
2
3
16%
32%
$148,733
Gary Stevens
21
5
2
2
24%
43%
$171,885
Santiago Gonzalez
28
4
2
5
14%
39%
$121,655

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

Richard Baltas
35
6
7
2
17%
43%
$278,323
Vladimir Cerin
19
6
4
1
32%
58%
$154,080
Peter Miller
30
6
2
3
20%
37%
$396,795
Philip D’Amato
35
5
9
3
14%
49%
$332,355
Mark Glatt
29
4
6
3
14%
45%
$176,321
Jerry Hollendorfer
29
4
3
7
14%
48%
$201,370
Richard Mandella
16
4
3
3
25%
63%
$449,380
J. Keith Desormeaux
21
4
2
3
19%
43%
$234,380
Neil Drysdale
12
4
1
1
33%
50%
$144,185
Mick Ruis
14
4
0
0
29%
29%
$239,325

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 industr