SANTA ANITA: RED-HOT GYPSY BLU HEADS SUNDAY’S $100,000 FRAN’S VALENTINE STAKES

By Mike Willman —-

GYPSY BLU
BENOIT PHOTO

RED-HOT GYPSY BLU HEADS SUNDAY’S $100,000 FRAN’S VALENTINE STAKES FOR CALIFORNIA-BRED OR SIRED FILLIES & MARES AT MILE ON TURF

RACE IS PART OF LUCRATIVE GOLDEN STATE SERIES FOR CALIFORNIA-BRED OR SIRED HORSES

ARCADIA, Calif. (May 8, 2019)—A winner of three in a row and four out of her last five starts, trainer Mark Glatt’s Gypsy Blu heads a field eight California-bred or sired fillies and mares three and up in Sunday’s $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes at one mile over the Santa Anita turf.

The Fran’s Valentine, named for the legendary Earl Schieb’s multiple graded stakes winning homebred daughter of Saros, out of Iza Valentine, by Bicker, is a part of the lucrative Golden State Series, which is sponsored by the CTBA. A California-bred foal of 1982, Fran’s Valentine won 13 out of 34 starts and banked $1,375,645.

Gypsy Blu, who was claimed for $20,000 out of a state-bred optional allowance/claimer three starts back on Jan. 25, comes off a half length win in the Irish O’Brien Stakes, which was contested at 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course on March 31.

Gypsy Blu’s primary opposition would appear to be trainer Anna Meah’s Fiery Lady, who pressed the early pace in the Irish O’Brien before tiring to finish fourth, beaten 3 ¼ lengths.

Fifth, beaten 4 ½ lengths by “Gypsy” in the Irish O’Brien, trainer Mike Pender’s Queen Bee to You, who took a first condition allowance at a mile on dirt two starts back on Feb. 1, brings an impressive resume and rates a big chance.

GYPSY BLU

Owner: Philip J. Wood & Jim Hailey
Trainer: Mark Glatt

A 5-year-old mare by Papa Clem, lightly race Gypsy Blu has made the most of limited career opportunity, winning five out of her eight starts, all of which have been sprints. In winning the Irish O’Brien, she defeated classy S Y Sky, who came back to totally dominate as the favorite in the $100,000 Camillo Urso Stakes going five furlongs on turf at Golden Gate Fields April 27. With Kentucky Derby-winning Flavien Prat aboard for the first time, Gypsy Blu figures to be a short price as she stretches out for the first time.

FIERY LADY

Owner: Dario Bernardi, Christopher Custer, John Cavali, Ron McCauley & Timothy Mickelson
Trainer: Anna Meah

A 5-year-old mare by Unusual Heat out of the multiple stakes winning Lady Railrider, by Ride the Rails, she was fourth, beaten 3 ¼ lengths by Gypsy Blu in the Irish O’Brien, but should enjoy the stretch out, as she’s unbeaten in three starts at one mile on turf. A two length winner of a first condition allowance in open company going 6 ½ furlongs on a wet fast main track two starts back with Mike Smith, she’ll be reunited with “Big Money” Mike on Sunday. With proven ability stalking or attending the early pace, Fiery Lady rates a big chance as she brings an overall mark of 20-6-3-3 to the Fran’s Valentine party.

QUEEN BEE TO YOU

Owner: Christopher Hilaine & Adam Vali
Trainer: Mike Pender

With an impressive career resume in-hand, this 5-year-old mare by Old Topper, out of the Touch Gold mare Silk Queen, never threatened while fifth, beaten 4 ½ lengths by Gypsy Blu in the Irish O’Brien will be ridden for the first time on Sunday by upstart Ruben Fuentes. A three quarter length first condition allowance winner going a mile on dirt two starts back on Feb. 1, she was a big second, beaten a half length by S Y Sky three starts back going 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint here on Jan. 26. With a win and a second from five tries at a mile on turf, she’s 25-4-10-4 overall with earnings of $330,419.

THE $100,000 FRAN’S VALENTINE STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 9 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

Cordiality—Joe Talamo—125
Sapphire Kid—Evin Roman—121
Pulpit Rider—Aaron Gryder—125
Queen Bee to You—Ruben Fuentes—121
Halo Darlin—Geovanni Franco—121
Fiery Lady—Mike Smith—123
Bella Luma—Drayden Van Dyke—125
Algorhythmic—Norberto Arroyo, Jr.—121
Gypsy Blu—Flavien Prat—121

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 1 p.m. Admission gates open at 11 a.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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.

ABOUT THE STRONACH GROUP
The Stronach Group (TSG) is a world-class entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horse racing at the core. The company’s mission is executed through the distinct but interconnected pillars of Racing and Gaming, Entertainment, Technology and Real Estate Development. TSG is dedicated to delivering the best in class Thoroughbred horse racing content and operations. The company holds some of the greatest brands in the industry including, Southern California’s Santa Anita Park, “The Great Race Place”; South Florida’s Gulfstream Park, home to the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series and retail destination, The Village at Gulfstream Park; Pimlico Race Course, home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Laurel Park and Rosecroft Raceway in Maryland; Oregon’s Portland Meadows; and the San Francisco Bay Area’s, Golden Gate Fields. TSG is a leader in digital and mobile wagering technology through its subsidiaries AmTote and Xpressbet and is a major distributor of horse racing content to a global audience through Monarch Content Management. The award winning Adena Springs is the breeding and training facility of The Stronach Group with stables in Kentucky, Florida and Ontario.