Santa Anita Stable Notes

By Ed Golden —-

• ROSARIO, PRAT IN KEEN RACE FOR RIDING TITLE
• BAFFERT BREEZES MUCHO GUSTO IN A BULLET
• STUBBINS STRETCHES OUT IN PASADENA STAKES
• SANTA ANITA’S MAIN TRACK ‘100 PERCENT READY’
• SINGLE TICKET PICK 6 JACKPOT IS UP TO $629,679

TOP JOCKS VIE FOR SANTA ANITA RIDING HONORS

When super-agent Ron Anderson brought Hall of Fame jockey-in-waiting Joel Rosario to Santa Anita to ride on an everyday basis at the Winter Meet, potentially it changed the dynamics of the jockeys’ race.

Through 37 racing days, that potential has been realized, as Rosario and his primary adversary, Flavien Prat, have outdistanced the field in the battle for the riding title, to date winning 44 and 41 races, respectively. Heriberto Figueroa is a distant third with 22 victories.

The top two also are more than a million dollars ahead of their nearest rivals in money won this meet, Prat in front of Rosario, $2,568,554 to $2,270,864.

Rosario, the regular rider of undefeated Eclipse Award champion as outstanding two-year-old male of 2018 Game Winner, and Prat, also are among the national leaders in wins and purse earnings

“We’ve been well-received and we’ve done well,” Anderson said. “Joel is a really great rider and a really good kid at the end of the day, which everybody recognizes. He’s an exceptional rider and very likable.”

Underplaying his own contribution to the team’s success, Anderson said, “The good ones make things easy.”

Prat’s agent, Derek Lawson, is enjoying the ride and the competition.

“It’s been fun,” he said. “The fact that we’re challenging Joel and Ron is exactly the way we thought it would be when he came out here, back and forth, back and forth between the two.

“And you know what? It looks like all the riders here are having a good season, although we’ve separated ourselves from the rest of the group. Saturday Rosario goes out of town but we’ve been out of town, too, so we’ve both missed time here.

“But it’s been exciting and we’re working hard. Flavien is riding extremely well and I’m actually picking some good horses for him to ride, so it’s all been a plus.”

LEWIS WINNER MUCHO GUSTO ON TRIPLE CROWN TRAIL

Robert B. Lewis Stakes winner Mucho Gusto, one of Bob Baffert’s leading Triple Crown candidates, worked four furlongs in company Thursday with the filly Honeyfromthesouth.

Each was clocked in a bullet 47.60. Joe Talamo was aboard Mucho Gusto, who is slated to run in either the March 16 Rebel Stakes or the March 24 Sunland Derby.

Despite the rash of recent rain, Baffert’s dynamic undefeated duo of champion Game Winner and Improbable remain on course for the Grade II, $500,000 San Felipe Stakes on March 9, a race that offers 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner.

“I’ve been working around the rain,” said Baffert, who has a long-range goal in mind.

“I want them to meet in the Derby,” he said, alluding to the May 4 Kentucky Derby.

Joel Rosario has the mount on Game Winner in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe while Drayden Van Dyke pilots Improbable.

STUBBINS GOES LONG FOR TEAM O’NEILL IN PASADENA

Stubbins, a Kentucky-bred son of Morning Line, stretches out to a mile on grass in Saturday’s $100,000 Pasadena Stakes for three-year-olds after two narrow victories on Santa Anita’s unique downhill turf course at about 6 ½ furlongs.

Stubbins broke his maiden on Jan. 5, winning by a nose, then returned Feb. 10 in an overnight race over the same venue to win by a neck. Owned by McShane Racing, the colt has never been worse than third in four career starts.

“We always thought he was a nice horse,” said Leandro Mora, assistant to the meet’s leading trainer, Doug O’Neill. “After he finished third in his first race going five-and-a-half furlongs on dirt at Del Mar (last Aug. 4), he had a little shin issue, so we took our time with him.

“But we believed he would like a distance and he proved it to us two races back (coming from 10th in a field of 12 to get up by a nose at the wire).”

As to Team O’Neill’s current success, Mora said, “We’re thrilled. We always do the best we can and we’ll try to stay afloat.”

The field for the Pasadena, race six of 10 with a 12:25 p.m. first post time: Stubbins, Tyler Baze, 7-2; $2,000 supplemental nominee Much Better, Joe Talamo, 9-2; Eagle Song, Drayden Van Dyke, 8-1; Colonial Creed, Geovanni Franco, 4-1; Shining Through, Flavien Prat, 12-1; Rijeka, Mario Gutierrez, 3-1; Mayor Cobb, Tiago Pereira, 15-1; Neptune’s Storm, Kent Desormeaux, 5-1; and Big Scott Daddy, Mike Smith, 4-1.

SANTA ANITA’S MAIN TRACK DEEMED ‘ONE HUNDRED PERCENT READY’

Santa Anita’s one mile main track, which was closed to training Tuesday and Wednesday, has been deemed “one hundred percent ready,” by Mick Peterson, PhD, who serves as the University of Kentucky’s Agricultural Equine Programs, and who evaluates soil samples from Santa Anita on a monthly basis.

In addition to soil samples and a thorough examination of the track’s cushion, pad and base, which was conducted by Peterson and Santa Anita Track Superintendent Andy LaRocco, Peterson employed ground-penetrating radar to ensure uniform consistency throughout the one mile oval.

“The ground penetrating radar verified all of the materials, silt, clay and sand, as well as moisture content, are consistent everywhere on this track,” said Peterson on Wednesday afternoon. “This testing ensures all components, the five-inch cushion, pad and base, are consistent and in good order.

“Andy (LaRocco) has inspected the entire oval and has made sure that by pulling the soil (cushion) off and reapplying it, this surface is in fact one hundred percent consistent and ready for training and racing.”

Peterson was also quick to note that physical soundness is a seven-day-a-week, 24 hour-a-day challenge which involves a myriad of issues, in addition to a consistent surface.

“All of the testing and research we’ve done, worldwide, clearly indicates soundness is multi-factorial,” said Peterson. “We must approach this challenge with the knowledge that this is always a process and we need to always strive to get better and that no matter how good the results may be, we must get better.

“If there are issues, they’re going to be addressed. The safety of the horses, jockeys and exercise people is our number one priority and always will be.”

Tim Ritvo, Chief Operating Officer, The Stronach Group, also addressed the current situation.

“At the Stronach Group, we consider the safety and security of the athletes, both equine and human, who race at our facilities, to be our top priority,” said Ritvo. “All industry stakeholders, including our company, must be held accountable for the safety and security of the horses and we are committed to doing just that.”

Santa Anita’s main track was open for training Thursday at 5 a.m. and remained open until 10 a.m. The inner training track, which is approximately three quarters of a mile in circumference, opened at 4:45 a.m. and also remained open until 10 a.m.

FINISH LINES: Through 37 racing days of the Winter Meet, favorites are winning at the national average of about 33 percent on all fronts: 33.33 percent overall (111 of 333 races); 33.64 on dirt (74 of 220); and 32.74 on turf (37 of 113). Odds-on favorites have won 48.44 percent of the time (31 of 64) and favorites have been in the money 71.77 percent of the time (239 of 333) . . Fans can enjoy a slice of New Orleans during Mardi Gras at Santa Anita this Saturday. The trackside party features live music and delicious Cajun cuisine. On March 9, THOROUGHBREDS Club members receive a free Santa Anita hat, courtesy of San Manuel Casino, one per paid admission while supplies last. Also on March 9. Santa Anita presents the annual Big Cap Beer & Cider festival. Tickets are on sale now at santaanita.com/events.

SANTA ANITA STATISTICS
(Current Through Sunday, Feb. 24)
Jockey Mts 1st 2nd 3rd Win% ITM% Money Won

Joel Rosario 190 44 32 34 23% 58% $2,270,864
Flavien Prat 162 41 32 22 25% 59% $2,568,554
Heriberto Figueroa 157 22 16 23 14% 39% $834,913
Tiago Pereira 128 21 18 11 16% 39% $834,595
Geovanni Franco 159 20 18 23 13% 38% $943,202
Mike Smith 62 20 10 11 32% 66% $1,260,336
Rafael Bejarano 133 19 23 26 14% 51% $1,103,457
Tyler Baze 169 16 30 23 9% 41% $1,150,870
Drayden Van Dyke 120 16 16 15 13% 39% $994,177
Joseph Talamo 121 12 21 16 10% 40% $923,399
Assael Espinoza 101 12 9 13 12% 34% $436,583
Ruben Fuentes 78 10 9 15 13% 44% $334,558
Kent Desormeaux 84 10 9 12 12% 37% $776,893
Edwin Maldonado 58 9 8 1 16% 31% $280,350
Mario Gutierrez 86 8 16 12 9% 42% $605,840
Agapito Delgadillo 52 8 6 6 15% 38% $236,230
Aaron Gryder 50 8 6 3 16% 34% $226,939

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

Doug O’Neill 145 23 25 23 16% 49% $1,226,579
Peter Miller 95 19 16 11 20% 48% $1,060,157
Richard Baltas 100 18 20 19 18% 57% $1,067,123
John Sadler 65 17 15 9 26% 63% $954,322
Jerry Hollendorfer 81 14 12 14 17% 49% $1,091,560
Bob Baffert 55 10 9 9 18% 51% $1,003,386
J. Keith Desormeaux 49 10 8 5 20% 47% $479,106
Philip D’Amato 81 9 13 11 11% 41% $684,837
William E. Morey 53 9 12 9 17% 57% $440,670
Mark Glatt 58 9 10 6 16% 43% $423,636
Jeff Mullins 45 9 9 7 20% 56% $579,217
Richard Mandella 38 9 3 2 24% 37% $307,251
Steve Knapp 45 8 4 7 18% 42% $195,204
Simon Callaghan 30 8 3 5 27% 53% $481,198
Hector O. Palma 40 7 7 6 18% 50% $257,338
Peter Eurton 41 7 7 6 17% 49% $340,127
Vladimir Cerin 48 7 4 9 15% 42% $287,079
William Spawr 21 7 2 2 33% 52% $195,175

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.