SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2019

By Ed Golden —-

• CALF MOON BAY SEEKS AN UPSET IN LAS VIRGENES
• FLAMBOYANT GOES FOR SAN MARCOS GRAND SLAM
• OHIO STATES HIS CASE FOR THUNDER ROAD STAKES
• SPECIAL EARLY FIRST POST SATURDAY IS 11:30 A.M.
• FIRST ‘SATURDAY AT THE RACES’ AIRS TOMORROW
• GOLD AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW PICK SIX TODAY
• TODAY’S STRONACH 5 GUARANTEES A $100,000 POOL

HOLLENDORFER EYES FOURTH WIN IN LAS VIRGENES
Jerry Hollendorfer has won 7,570 races in his illustrious career, including the Las Virgenes Stakes three times, but if he captures Saturday’s edition with Calf Moon Bay, it will mark a gargantuan upset compared to his previous three triumphs.
All were recorded by champions: Blind Luck (2010), Songbird (2016) and Unique Bella (2017). Calf Moon Bay not only has never won a stakes race, she has never run in one.
But the bay daughter of Bodemeister owned in part by Hollendorfer is doing well enough to merit a chance against 2-5 morning line favorite Bellafina and a trio of other three-year-old fillies in the one mile race, a major steppingstone to the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks on April 6.
Calf Moon Bay broke her maiden going one mile at Los Alamitos, winning stylishly by five lengths, then returned to the same distance at Santa Anita on Jan. 11 and won by a nose.
The Las Virgenes, race five of 11 with an 11:30 am. first post time: Calf Moon Bay, Joel Rosario, 12-1; Enaya Alrabb, Mike Smith, 4-1; Bellafina, Flavien Prat, 2-5; Mother Mother, Drayden Van Dyke, 7-2; and Tomlin, Tyler Baze, 15-1.

FLAMBOYANT RUNS FOR FOURTH TIME IN SAN MARCOS
Not many Thoroughbreds are durable enough to run in the same race four times over a four-year span, let alone four stakes races, but Flamboyant is about to achieve that when the French-bred trained by Paddy Gallagher goes in Saturday’s Grade II San Marcos Stakes.
Flamboyant won the mile and a quarter turf race in his first attempt, on Feb. 6, 2016. The bay gelding, now eight, was third in the race on Feb. 4, 2017, and sixth on Feb. 3, 2018.
“He’s been good to us,” Gallagher said of the son of Peer Gynt, owned by David Bienstock and Chuck Winner, Chairman of the California Horse Racing Board.
In 36 career starts, six in his native France, Flamboyant has six wins, five seconds and 11 thirds, good for earnings of $1,103,612.
Still, Flamboyant’s San Marcos record doesn’t hold a candle to that of California Flag, who ran in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint five consecutive years, from 2008 through 2012, winning in 2009 at Santa Anita.
The gelded gray son of Avenue of Flags, now 15, was trained by Brian Koriner back in the day and won 11 of 27 starts, earning $1,288,825. “He was an aggressive, good-feeling horse all the time,” Koriner recalled. “Always happy.”
The San Marcos, which goes as race nine: Unapologetic, Geovanni Franco, 10-1; Roman Rosso, Evin Roman, 12-1; Chicago Style, Drayden Van Dyke, 3-1; Epical, Tyler Baze, 7-2; Platinum Warrior, Shane Foley, 12-1; Sejo, Flavien Prat, 12-1; Dabster, Joe Talamo, 5-1; Beach View, Rafael Bejarano, 5-1; Lucky Soul, Heriberto Figueroa, 30-1; Flamboyant, Brice Blanc, 12-1; India Mantuana, Joel Rosario, 20-1; Ya Gotta Wanna, Aaron Gryder, 12-1; and Prince of Arabia, Kent Desormeaux, 30-1.

OHIO TAKES ON FAVORED RIVER BOYNE IN THUNDER ROAD
Michael McCarthy hopes to continue reaping dividends with $50,000 claim Ohio in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes for older horses at a mile on turf.
The Brazilian-bred son of Elusive Quality is making a relatively quick return, having won the Cotton Fitzsimmons Stakes on Jan. 12 at Turf Paradise by 6 ½ lengths as the 4-5 choice.
“Unfortunately, with the weather what it was the past week, we couldn’t get a work into him but he’s certainly an old pro,” said McCarthy, who made his bones on Jan. 26 by saddling City of Light to a spectacular victory by some six lengths in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup.
“It’s a big ask tomorrow trying to get the better of River Boyne who’s been so good here the last year. It seems he likes this surface, too, so we’ll try not to let him get too far out of our sights and go from there.”
The Irish-bred River Boyne, trained by Jeff Mullins, is unbeaten in six starts on Santa Anita’s turf course, with three wins and a second at one mile on grass, thus most deserving of being the 8-5 morning line favorite.
McCarthy had sound reasons for claiming Ohio, an eight-year-old gelding now with eight wins and earnings of $228,065.
“Obviously the horse had a bunch of back class,” McCarthy said. “He had quite a reputation when he came here. His first few races in the United States were out of sight . . . but it took us a little while to get him into the program.
“He had some nagging minor things that required some time to resolve, but overall he was in very good shape when we got him.”
The Thunder Road, which goes as race seven: River Boyne, Flavien Prat, 8-5; Ohio, Ruben Fuentes, 5-2; Le Ken, Tyler Baze, 10-1; Desert Stone, Joel Rosario, 3-1; True Valor, Andrea Azteni, 8-1; and Blackjackcat, Mike Smith, 5-1.

FOX2 AIRS LAS VIRGENES STAKES SATURDAY
Fox2 begins its “Saturday at the Races” program tomorrow featuring the Grade II Las Virgenes Stakes for three-year-old fillies at one mile airing from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Nine other ‘Saturday at the Races” shows from Santa Anita are scheduled, with Michelle Yu reporting. In addition to the Las Virgenes, they are:
Monday, Feb. 18, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., the California Cup Derby; Saturday, Feb. 23, the Grade II Buena Vista Stakes, 12 noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 2, the Pasadena Stakes, 12 noon to 3 p.m.; Saturday, March 9, the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, March 16, the Grade I Beholder Mile and the Grade III San Simeon Stakes, 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Saturday, April 6, the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Races to be determined will also air on Friday, April 12, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 13 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday, April 20 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

20 CENT SINGLE TICKET RAINBOW PICK SIX JACKPOT PAYS $20,461.50
With three “live” horses in Santa Anita’s popular 20 cent Single Ticket Pick Six Jackpot heading into Thursday’s eighth and final race, there was decent chance one would come home on top and provide one lucky ticket holder with a Jackpot payout of $86,547.
It wasn’t to be however, as #4 Big City Bane (30-1), #9 Silent Musketier (19-1) and #11 Cryin’ Chuck (9-2), finished seventh, ninth and 10th, respectively.
Instead, the winner was #3 Blame It On Kitty. Trained by Craig Dollase, he provided Tyler Baze with his third win on the day and paid $14.80 to win.
Although there was no Single Ticket Jackpot winner, there were two winning consolation tickets, each worth a healthy $20,461.50.
With an eight-race card on tap today, there is a Jackpot carryover of $45,624. Approximate post time for the third race, leg one in the Rainbow Six, is 1:30 p.m. PT.
For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

TODAY’S STRONACH 5 FEATURES $100,000 GUARANTEED POOL
The Stronach 5, featuring an industry-low 12-percent takeout, will have a $100,000 guaranteed pool today while showcasing races from Santa Anita Park, Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park, and Golden Gate Fields.
The national pick 5 sequence kicks off at 1:35 p.m. Pacific Time with a 10-horse field going seven furlongs at Laurel Park. After stops at Gulfstream and Santa Anita, the sequence will conclude with the fifth race from Golden Gate. There will be two turf races, one from Gulfstream and one from Santa Anita.
Past performances for the Stronach 5: https://www.xpressbet.com/bet-the-stronach-5
• Leg One – Laurel -Race 9 (10 entries, seven furlongs) 1:35 PT
• Leg Two –Gulfstream -Race 10 (11 entries, one mile) 1:40 PT
• Leg Three –Santa Anita -Race 4 (eight entries, 6 ½ furlongs turf) 2 PT
• Leg Four – Gulfstream -Race 11 (15 entries, one-mile turf) 2:13 PT
• Leg Five – Golden Gate -Race 5 (10 entries, 5 ½ furlongs) 2:45 PT
The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.
If a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.
The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.

LITTLE GIRL WITH BIG DREAM AT SANTA ANITA
Anna McLain is a little girl with a big dream.
At five feet tall and 90 pounds, the 22-year-old native of Texas who has been in Los Angeles for five years aspires to be a jockey.
Towards that goal, she has been working at trainer Hector Palma’s BG Thoroughbred Farm in Hemet and has been a fixture at Clockers’ Corner on recent mornings, absorbing the ambiance and atmosphere that is Santa Anita’s alone.
“We’re committed,” said Anna’s mother and mentor, Leah Lanier, always seated within arm’s length of her daughter as they fully absorb their surroundings.
“We’re on a mission and we’re here rain or shine.”

LATEST CONTENT FROM XBTV:
MICHAEL MCCARTHY SHEDROW STROLL: GET TO KNOW VIBRANCE, STARTING HER JOURNEY TOWARDS THE KENTUCKY OAKS

MICHAEL MCCARTHY SHEDROW STROLL: GETTING TO KNOW AXELROD
MICHAEL MCCARTHY SHEDROW STROLL: GET TO KNOW LIAM THE CHARMER, A GRADED STAKES WINNER

MULTIPLE GRADED STAKES WINNER CARIBOU CLUB WORKED 5 FURLONGS FOR TRAINER TOM PROCTOR.

ELYSEA’S WORLD WORKED 5 FURLONGS FOR TRAINER RICHARD BALTAS.

MULTIPLE GRADED STAKES WINNER CHASING YESTERDAY WORKED 6 FURLONGS FOR TRAINER BOB BAFFERT.

BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE VICTOR GAME WINNER (OUTSIDE) AND SPEED FREAK WORKED 5 FURLONGS AT FOR TRAINER BOB BAFFERT.

KANTHAKA, 2ND IN THE PALOS VERDES IN HIS LAST START, WORKED 5 FURLONGS FOR TRAINER JERRY HOLLENDORFER.

THE UNDEFEATED IMPROBABLE WORKED 6 FURLONGS FOR TRAINER BOB BAFFERT.

IMPRESSIVE DEBUT WINNER FLOR DE LA MAR (OUTSIDE) AND QAHIRA WORKED 5 FOR TRAINER BOB BAFFERT.

FINISH LINES: With rain forecast over the next few days and wet weather having caused either a sloppy or a closed main track for nine of the last 11 days since Jan. 31, clockers’ pens were running dry as 350 workouts were recorded Friday, 57 on the training track. Heading the list was a five furlong main track breeze in 1:00.20 by undefeated Triple Crown contender and Eclipse Award champion two-year-old male of 2018 Game Winner for Bob Baffert, and another Baffert Triple Crown contender, Improbable, who went six furlongs in 1:15 flat. All top works are available free anytime on XBTV.com . . .Yesterday, Tyler Baze followed Doug O’Neill’s three victories Sunday by posting a triple of his own, with one difference: O’Neill’s wins came in consecutive races. “First time I’ve ever done that,” said the meet’s leading trainer . . . An additional reminder, special early first post time for Saturday’s 11-race card is 11:30 a.m.

SANTA ANITA STATISTICS
(Current Through Thursday, Feb. 7)
Jockey Mts 1st 2nd 3rd Win% ITM% Money Won
Flavien Prat 116 28 23 16 24% 58% $1,795,659

Joel Rosario 126 25 23 23 20% 56% $1,416,736
Heriberto Figueroa 115 19 10 18 17% 41% $683,801
Tiago Pereira 85 16 10 9 19% 41% $595,838
Geovanni Franco 110 15 14 14 14% 39% $753,322
Rafael Bejarano 91 14 14 13 15% 45% $749,605
Mike Smith 46 14 9 7 30% 65% $952,263
Tyler Baze 127 13 22 18 10% 42% $876,850
Drayden Van Dyke 87 11 14 11 13% 41% $664,299
Joseph Talamo 88 8 15 14 9% 42% $710,458
Ruben Fuentes 61 8 7 12 13% 44% $266,921
Kent Desormeaux 55 8 5 11 15% 44% $594,312
Assael Espinoza 70 8 3 10 11% 30% $282,102
Edwin Maldonado 43 6 6 1 14% 30% $226,954
Agapito Delgadillo 35 5 5 4 14% 40% $139,136
Martin Pedroza 44 5 4 3 11% 27% $163,991
Aaron Gryder 32 5 3 1 16% 28% $131,472

Trainer Mts 1st 2nd 3rd Win% ITM% Money Won
Doug O’Neill 92 17 17 10 18% 48% $756,055
Peter Miller 68 13 12 9 19% 50% $807,405
Richard Baltas 72 12 17 12 17% 57% $826,008
Jerry Hollendorfer 58 11 9 7 19% 47% $754,356
John Sadler 46 9 9 9 20% 59% $579,179
J. Keith Desormeaux 34 9 6 5 26% 59% $363,691
Philip D’Amato 58 8 9 8 14% 43% $561,469
William E. Morey 40 8 8 7 20% 58% $385,359
Bob Baffert 45 7 8 7 16% 49% $725,333
Mark Glatt 41 7 7 5 17% 46% $288,532
Jeff Mullins 32 7 6 6 22% 59% $461,424
Richard Mandella 27 6 2 2 22% 37% $231,558
Peter Eurton 31 5 5 3 16% 42% $262,365
William Spawr 14 5 2 2 36% 64% $135,176
Steve Knapp 30 5 1 5 17% 37% $121,027

ABOUT SANTA ANITA PARK
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.