Santa Anita Stable Notes Thursday, May 18, 2023

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN —-

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2023

PREAKNESS WEEK: BAFFERT, BLACKER, D’AMATO INVADE PIMLICO
EURTON BARN HAS THINGS ROLLING AT THE HOLLYWOOD MEET
BRICKYARD RIDE LEADS A LIGHT WORK TAB THURSDAY
JOCKEY KYLE FREY HEATING UP WITH PAIR OF 2-WIN DAYS
TICKETS FOR BREEDERS’ CUP AT SANTA ANITA NOW ON SALE

PREAKNESS WEEK: BAFFERT, BLACKER, D’AMATO INVADE PIMLICO
Santa Anita-based trainers Bob Baffert, Dan Blacker and Phil D’Amato are all set to compete this week at Pimlico Race Course, which on Saturday hosts the 148th Preakness Stakes.
In the Preakness, Baffert will seek a record eighth win in the second jewel of the Triple Crown when he sends out National Treasure. The Quality Road colt, who is the 4-1 third choice on the morning line, drew the rail in an eight-horse field that includes Kentucky Derby winner Mage. Regular rider John Velazquez will be in the irons.
After capping last year with a third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, National Treasure has made two starts this year: a third in the GIII Sham here Jan. 8 and fourth-place finish in the GI Santa Anita Derby on April 8.
Post time for the Preakness is scheduled for 4:01 p.m. PT. NBC will provide live coverage of the Preakness and other action from Pimlico from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. PT.
Also on Saturday, Baffert will have the morning-line favorites in both the 1 1/16-mile Sir Barton for 3-year-olds and GIII Chick Lang, also for 3-year-olds, going six furlongs on the main track.
In the Sir Barton, Baffert will start Arabian Lion, who is listed 2-5 on the morning line. The Justify colt most recently was beaten just a half-length when second in the GIII Lexington on April 15 at Keeneland. The winner of that race, First Mission, is entered in the Preakness as the 5-2 second choice on the morning line.
In the Chick Lang, Baffert entered Havnameltdown, the 8-5 morning line favorite. The Uncaptured colt won the GII San Vicente here Jan. 29 and most recently was second by a head in the GIII Saudi Derby going a mile in Riyadh on Feb. 25.
One day earlier on Friday, Baffert also has the 7-5 program favorite in the GII Black-Eyed Susan with the undefeated Faiza. The Girvin filly, who is a perfect 5-for-5, won the GII Santa Anita Oaks here April 8 most recently. She will be ridden by Flavien Prat.
Post time for the Black-Eyed Susan is scheduled for 2:44 p.m. PT Friday. It will be broadcast live on USA Network from 2 to 3 p.m. PT.
Blacker will take his turn on the national stage Saturday with the promising sprinter Straight No Chaser in the GIII Maryland Sprint going six furlongs. The Speightster colt was third in the GIII Palos Verdes here Feb. 5 and most recently was a romping 7 ¼-length winner in a six-furlong allowance at Oaklawn Park April 1. He will have the Hall of Famer Velazquez in the irons.
D’Amato will have one starter at Pimlico on Saturday–Beer Can Man in the Jim McKay Turf Sprint. The 6-year-old Can the Man gelding returned from a 14-month layoff April 22 at Keeneland where he ran fifth as the favorite in a classified allowance turf sprint.

EURTON BARN HAS THINGS ROLLING AT THE HOLLYWOOD MEET
Among trainer’s with more than just a handful of starters at the Hollywood Meet, no one has been hotter than Peter Eurton, who entering this week’s action has won at a robust 33 percent clip (6-for-18) during the stand.
On Sunday, M is for Magic became Eurton’s most recent winner when taking a starter allowance on turf by a neck at square price of 5-1. Eurton’s other starter on the card, Warrior Lady, ran a good second at 15-1 in a maiden special weight for California-breds.
Entering this week Eurton ranks fourth in the trainer’s standing. On Thursday, he noted the recent run of success is the result of multiple factors.
“It’s just having horses with conditions and being patient,” Eurton said. “Running them where they are seemingly at their best. And finding the right spots, distance or otherwise.”
Eurton will look to keep the good times rolling here this week with the 3-year-old maiden Uncle John in Friday’s fifth race and the ascending Lottery Pick, who runs in the 10th race on Saturday. (Sunday’s races will be drawn Thursday afternoon).
Eurton’s Uncle John will try to take a step forward in start No. 2 after showing little in his debut against statebred maidens going 5 ½ furlongs on turf here April 1. The 3-year-old Danzing Candy colt returns in Friday’s fifth race, a 6 ½-furlong turf sprint for statebred maidens.
“He was a little green in his debut,” Eurton said. “Frankie Dettori rode him the first time and when he got off, that was the first thing he told me, ‘He’s green.’ Hopefully he learns from the experience. He’s definitely better than what he showed there.”
Lottery Pick will try for his third-straight win Saturday in a starter allowance on turf. The 4-year-old American Freedom gelding earned his diploma Feb. 23 by neck on synthetic at Golden Gate, then came right back to win again here by a neck in a starter allowance that was taken off the turf April 9.
Eurton attributed Lottery Pick’s ascent this winter and spring to being in good health.
“He had some minor issues last year that were nagging him,” Eurton said. “We gave him some time off and since he’s been back everything has come together for him.”
Lottery Pick will be ridden for the second-straight time Saturday by Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez. While Lottery Pick is 0-for-2 on Santa Anita’s turf course, he was beaten just a half length here when going a mile on grass Jan. 21.
“It’s hard to know what his best surface is, but hopefully it’s turf on Saturday,” Eurton said.

BRICKYARD RIDE LEADS A LIGHT WORK TAB THURSDAY AT SANTA ANITA
Top California-bred Brickyard Ride continued his preparations for an expected start next weekend at Santa Anita when working five furlongs in 1:00.60 on the main track.
Winner of the GIII Kona Gold here April 22, Brickyard Ride is a candidate to run either a week from Saturday in the GIII Triple Bend going seven furlongs on dirt May 27 or in the Crystal Water for statebreds going one mile on turf on May 28. Trainer Craig Lewis said he would wait to see the nominations for both races before deciding where to run.
Brickyard Ride contested last year’s Triple Bend and finished fifth.
A 6-year-old full horse by Clubhouse Ride, Brickyard Ride has a record of 13-1-3 in 25 starts and banked $816,977 for owner-breeder Alfred A. Pais. Last month’s win in the Kona Gold was Brickyard Ride’s eighth career stakes tally and third win at the graded level.

JOCKEY KYLE FREY HEATING UP WITH PAIR OF 2-WIN DAYS
Jockey Kyle Frey won five races last week, including a pair on both Friday and Sunday, to move into the top 10 of the jockey’s standings at the Hollywood Meet.
Frey, winner of the Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice in 2011, got things started Friday when winning the second race aboard Established ($3.00) for trainer Mark Glatt and the third with Smokem EZ ($5.40) for trainer Steve Miyadi. On Saturday, Frey won the sixth race for Glatt with Suzie Qzz Brother ($13.20). Then on Sunday, Frey won the fourth on Blonde Bombshell ($5.60) for trainer Debbie Winick and the eight aboard Timely Lucky ($3.80) for trainer Sean McCarthy.
A 33-year-old native of Tracy, Ca., Frey won his first race at Golden Gate Fields in 2010. He has been riding full-time in Southern California since the Del Mar summer meet in 2021 and is represented by agent Jack Carava.
Frey enters this week’s action with six wins from 55 mounts at the Hollywood Meet, which puts him in a three-way tied for seventh in the jockey’s standings. For his career, Frey has racked up 1,101 wins and purse earnings of more than $27 million.

FINISH LINES: Every Friday at Santa Anita on-track fans receive free parking and admission plus $3 beer and $5 margaritas…Jockey agent Jack Carava, will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Friday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m…The win rate for favorites at the Hollywood Meet is 29.82 percent entering Friday’s eight-race card…Jose Valdivia, Jr. is one win away from career victory number 2,000…There is a Rainbow 6 Jackpot carryover of $126,911.75 for Friday…Tickets to this year’s Breeders’ Cup Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased at BrEEDERS’CUP