SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES

By Ed Golden —-

INSTILLED REGARD WORKS FOR SANTA ANITA DERBY
ESPINOZAS POST SANTA ANITA TRIPLE ON SATURDAY
MIDNIGHT BISOU AMONG 257 SANTA ANITA WORKERS

INSTILLED REGARD IN ‘GOOD’ DRILL FOR SANTA ANITA DERBY

Instilled Regard, prepping for the $1 million, Grade I Santa Anita Derby on April 7, worked seven furlongs at 6:45 Sunday morning in 1:25.80 for the West Coast’s major steppingstone to the Kentucky Derby on May 5.

Going in company with Shackleford Banks, both horses began at the six furlong marker, Instilled Regard starting some 16 lengths behind his workmate before passing him at the wire, according to Santa Anita clocker Dane Nelson.

Exercise rider Edgar Rodriguez was on Instilled Regard. Shackleford Banks received a six furlong time of 1:15.80.

“He went real good,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said of Instilled Regard, an Arch colt that won the Lecomte at the Fair Grounds before finishing fourth as the favorite in the Risen Star on Feb. 17. “He galloped out real well. He’ll have a little blowout before his race and we’re all set.”

Told it looks like a short field, with fewer than a handful of candidates at press time, Hollendorfer said, “He’d probably be better off in a large field.”

Leading Triple Crown contender Bolt d’Oro, meanwhile, is scheduled to work four furlongs Monday for the Santa Anita Derby. Owner/trainer Mick Ruis has the son of Medaglia d’Oro set to go a half-mile in company at 7:45 a.m. under former jockey Agapito Delgadillo.

The Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles awards 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner, 40 to the runner-up, 20 for third and 10 for fourth.

IT’S ALL IN THE FAMILY FOR JOCKEYS ESPINOZA

It was all relative for the Espinozas at Santa Anita Saturday.

Apprentice Asa Espinoza won two races and his uncle, Victor, one, the elder Espinoza missing a double when Hayabusa finished second by three-quarters of a length behind victorious Itsinthepost in the Grade II San Luis Rey Stakes.

“It was a good day,” said their agent, Brian Beach, Sunday morning. “We wish we could have won the San Luis Rey but we’ll take two wins for Asa and one for Victor any day.

“Now Victor’s off to Dubai and Asa is just a couple wins away from losing the 10-pound ‘bug.’ But when he does, his business will actually improve (riding with a seven-pound advantage), if that makes any sense, because current regulations prevent him from riding first-time starters or horses running down the hill, so we’re sort of looking forward to that since we’ve easily lost three or four winners by not being able to ride first-time starters.”

Asked if the 18-year-old nephew and his 45-year-old uncle celebrated last night, Beach said, “Not likely. Knowing those two, they probably went to the gym.”

Victor, no stranger to the Middle East having won the Dubai World Cup on California Chrome in 2016, was scheduled to leave at 4:45 p.m. today on a non-stop, 15-hour flight that leads to Meydan Race Course where he rides Mubtaahij in the World Cup and Daytona Stakes winner Conquest Tsunami in the Al Quoz next Saturday, March 31.

MIDNIGHT BISOU WORKS ‘EXTREMELY WELL’ FOR SANTA ANITA OAKS

Mike Smith said Midnight Bisou went “extremely well” after he worked the Santa Ynez Stakes winner six furlongs Sunday morning in 1:17.60 for the Grade I, $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks on April 7.

Trained by Bill Spawr, Midnight Bisou was but one of 257 recorded workouts at Santa Anita this morning, including 10 on the training track.

Also working was champion Unique Bella, who went five furlongs in a bullet 57.80, breezing, as she prepares for the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park on April 13.

FINISH LINES: Evin Roman, comfortably atop the jockey standings with a 44-38 lead despite losing his apprentice allowance March 11, rides in eight of today’s 10 races. “Business is just as good or better without the bug,” said his agent, Tony Matos . . . Santa Anita simulcast co-host Michelle Yu is in Dubai this coming week working for Meydan and XBTV. Filling in for her on XBTV alongside her co-host Megan Divine will be Zoe Cadman (Thursday), Millie Ball (Friday) and Aaron Vercruysee (Sunday) . . . Trainer Michael Pender said Lombo, winner of the Grade III Robert B. Lewis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 3, would return to sprints and is a candidate for the Grade III Lazaro Barrera Stakes at seven furlongs on May 12 . . . Agent Bill Sadoo now represents jockey Kyle Frey . . . Santa Anita will be closed for live racing Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, but be open for simulcast racing Wednesday with free admission and free parking. Admission gates open at 10 a.m. Live racing resumes Thursday, March 29, with first post time at 12 noon.