Santa Anita Stable Notes Sunday, April 23, 2023
BY VICTOR RYAN —-
STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN
SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 2023
SKINNER WORKS TOWARDS POTENTIAL START IN KENTUCKY DERBY
BRICKYARD RIDE DOING WELL AFTER SHARP GIII KONA GOLD WIN
1-2-3 FINISHERS IN THIS YEAR’S BIG CAP SHINE BRIGHTLY SATURDAY
RISPOLI, HERNANDEZ OFF TO FAST STARTS AT HOLLYWOOD MEET
SEABISCUIT TRAM TOUR RETURNS BEGINNING NEXT SATURDAY
PERMANENTLY DISABLED JOCKEY’S FUND TELETHON IS TODAY
SKINNER WORKS TOWARDS POTENTIAL START IN KENTUCKY DERBY
Skinner continued his preparations for a potential start in the Kentucky Derby when working six furlongs under Hall of Famer Victor Espinoza Sunday at Santa Anita.
Hitting the main track shortly after the 6:30 a.m. renovation break, Skinner broke off at the six-furlong pole and worked to the wire in an official time of 1:13.40.
“Victor worked him perfect,” said John Shirreffs, Skinner’s trainer. “He went the first furlong in 13 seconds and change and gradually picked it up at every pole. I got him the last eighth of a mile in 11 seconds. Could have been 11 and a tick. He finished full of run.”
Unfortunately for Shirreffs and owners Lee and Susan Searing of C R K Stable, Skinner is currently sitting on the outside of the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field. Following his third-place finish in the GI Santa Anita Derby April 8, Skinner has 45 qualifying points, which ranks 22nd on the leaderboard. He would need at least two defections to make the 1 ¼-mile classic on May 6.
On Sunday, Shirreffs said no travel plans have been made to ship Skinner to Churchill Downs.
“If we’re not in, why would we go?” said Shirreffs, who in 2005 won the Kentucky Derby with 50-1 long shot Giacomo. “It’s a tough decision to make to go all the way there and then not get in.”
In 2017, Shirreffs entered in the Kentucky Derby both Gormely, that year’s GI Santa Anita Derby winner, and Royal Mo, a Grade III winner who was tied for 20th in the standings with 30 points. Royal Mo did not make the race. Instead, the maiden Sonneteer, who also had 30 points thanks to running second in the GII Rebel, earned the bid based on having more graded stakes earnings.
“We’ll keep Skinner on his schedule. If we hear something early enough, we’d go,” Shirreffs said. “But if we don’t, I don’t know. I’ve been there before sitting on the outside and didn’t get to run.”
Prior to the Santa Anita Derby, Skinner also ran third in the GII San Felipe. The Curlin colt, a $510,000 auction purchase as a yearling, has a record of 6-1-0-3 with $216,300 in earnings.
Skinner is not the only Santa Anita Derby alum who needs help to make the Kentucky Derby. Mandarin Hero, the Santa Anita Derby runner-up, currently ranks 25th. He is scheduled to work on Wednesday and then ship to Churchill Downs the following day. If the Japanese import does not make the Derby starting gate, the connections said they will await the Preakness on May 20 at Pimlico.
Also on Sunday, trainer Tim Yakteen reported his two expected Kentucky Derby starters, Santa Anita Derby winner Practical Move and Reincarnate, each exited their works this weekend in good order. They are scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Saturday along with stablemates Kangaroo Court and Fort Bragg, both ticketed for the GII Pat Day Mile, and Johannes, who will contest the GII American Turf.
BRICKYARD RIDE DOING WELL AFTER SHARP WIN IN THE GIII KONA GOLD
Brickyard Ride was in fine fettle Sunday morning after successfully defending his title in the GIII Kona Gold here on Saturday.
“All good,” trainer Craig Lewis said trackside Sunday morning.
In the 6 ½-furlong Kona Gold, odds-on favorite Brickyard Ride sped to the front under Juan Hernandez and clicked off sharp fractions of 21.77 and 43.92 seconds for the opening half mile. He was being pressed throughout by 9-5 second choice Anarchist, who would prove a stubborn foe in his first graded stakes on dirt for trainer Doug O’Neill.
Brickyard Ride continued to motor in the stretch and held a one length advantage when reaching the eighth pole in 1:08.95. He held well in the final furlong, ultimately crossing the wire a half-length winner in a time of 1:15.84. The effort returned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form.
“He’s a warrior. This horse has won 13 races. That’s no easy task,” Lewis said.
Of Brickyard Ride’s 13 wins, eight have come in stakes. That includes last year’s Kona Gold when it was held at the end of May at Santa Anita.
Brickyard Ride is a 6-year-old full horse by Clubhouse Ride out of the Southern Image mare Brickyard Helen. He has now banked $816,977 for owner-breeder Alfred Pais.
Brickyard Ride was making his second start following an approximate 11-month layoff in the Kona Gold. He made his 6-year-old bow here on March 5 in the GIII San Simeon over the hillside turf course on March 5. Brickyard Ride flashed his customary speed in his comeback but faltered late to finish third.
Heading into the Kona Gold, Lewis openly wondered whether Brickyard Ride may have lost a step as he’s gotten older. That certainly didn’t seem to be the case on Saturday.
“He didn’t train like he had lost anything, but you never know,” Lewis said. “That’s why they run the race. To find out.”
While Lewis said there is nothing on the immediate radar for Brickyard Ride, the veteran trainer has previously stated he would like to make the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, which this year is being held at Santa Anita on Nov. 4. Brickyard Ride has never run in the Breeders’ Cup.
Lewis also won Saturday’s first race with California-bred Warrens Candy Girl in an open second-level allowance going a mile on turf. The 5-year-old mare, who is also by Clubhouse Ride, remained last of seven at the eighth pole but then closed with a flourish under Umberto Rispoli to win by a head as the 7-5 favorite.
“It was a fun day,” Lewis said.
Warrens Candy Girl is out of multiple stakes winner Warrens Jitterbug, by Affirmative. She is campaigned by breeders Benjamin and Sally Warren.
1-2-3 FINISHERS IN THIS YEAR’S SANTA ANITA HANDICAP SHINE BRIGHT SATURDAY
The top three finishers in the GI Santa Anita Handicap March 5—Stilleto Boy, Proxy and Defunded—all ran huge Saturday in their encore performances.
At Santa Anita, heavy favorite Defunded rallied to win the GII California going 1 1/8 miles for trainer Bob Baffert. It was his sixth win in 16 starts and pushed his career earnings to more than $1.3 million for owners Michael E. Pegram Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.
Meanwhile at Oaklawn Park, Stilleto Boy and Proxy rematched in the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap going the same 1 ¼-mile trip as the Big Cap. In an absolute thriller, Proxy rallied on the outside under Joel Rosario to win a three-way photo. Proxy ($9.40) would edge Last Samurai, the 5-2 second choice, by a head with Stilleto Boy (5-1) another nose back in third.
Like in the Big Cap, Stilleto Boy was ridden by Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux at Oaklawn. Trained by Ed Moger Jr. and owned by his brother Steve Moger, the 5-year-old gelding by Shackleford has now banked more than $1.8 million with a record of 4-4-9 in 22 starts.
RISPOLI, HERNANDEZ OFF TO FAST STARTS AT THE HOLLYWOOD MEET
Jockeys Umberto Rispoli and Juan Hernandez, who each rode two winners on opening day of the Hollywood Meet Friday, added three more victories apiece on Saturday to set the early pace in the race for leading rider.
Rispoli won Saturday’s opener with Warrens Candy Girl ($4.80) for trainer Craig Lewis, the sixth aboard Unbridled Mary ($9.80) for trainer John Sadler and the eighth on Real Fire ($12.20) for trainer Steve Knapp.
At the Classic Meet that ended April 9, Rispoli finished 18th in the jockey’s standings with 14 wins from 138 mounts, a 10 percent strike rate.
Hernandez was the runaway leading rider at the Classic Meet when winning with 63 of 254 mounts, a 25 percent success rate. Flavien Prat ranked second with 31 wins.
On Saturday, Hernandez won both stakes — the GIII Kona Gold with Brickyard Ride ($3.60) for Lewis and GII Californian with Defunded ($2.40) for Bob Baffert. He then added a win in the nightcap with Acquired Class ($12.00) for trainer Peter Miller.
SEABISCUIT TRAM TOUR RETURNS BEGINNING APRIL 29
The Seabiscuit Tram Tour returns to Santa Anita beginning next Saturday. The guided tour, which is free of charge, departs Clocker’s Corner at 9:45 a.m. It includes a visit to Santa Anita’s Stable Area, Receiving Barn, Paddock Gardens and a drive by Seabiscuit’s original barn and stall. Participants will also walk through the Silks Rooms before visiting the saddling paddock.
The Seabiscuit Tram Tour will run every Saturday through June 17 with some exceptions. The tour will not be offered May 6, May 20 and June 10. Free parking is also available through Gate 8 off Baldwin Avenue. To reserve a spot, visitwww.santanita.com/tramtour or call (626) 574-6677.
FINISH LINES: The 5th annual Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund Telethon is set for Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Current and retired jockeys will be on hand at the XBTV studio at Santa Anita answering phones and accepting donations for the worthwhile cause. The phone number to donate is 1-844-TVG-PDJF…With 40 qualifying points in-hand, GI Santa Anita Derby runner-up Mandarin Hero has been galloping daily at Santa Anita. With six horses in front of him, he currently ranks 25th in his quest to be a Derby starter. Mandarin Hero is scheduled to work here Wednesday and fly to Churchill Downs the following day for a potential start in the Run for the Roses…The 28-day Hollywood Meet runs through Sunday, June 18…There is a Rainbow 6 carryover of $93,474.98 entering Friday’s card…Racing resumes this Friday at Santa Anita with first post at 1 p.m. for a nine-race card…Every Friday at the Hollywood Meet on-track patrons will receive free parking and admission plus $3 beers and $5 margaritas.