Santa Anita Stable Notes Tuesday, December 26, 2023

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2023

KAZUSHI KIMURA; BENOIT PHOTO
KIMURA LATEST JAPANESE STAR TO JOIN L.A. SPORTS SCENE
LA BREA: CLEARLY UNHINGED RETURNS AFTER BC TRY
2-YEAR-OLDS TAKE SPOTLIGHT IN FRIDAY TURF STAKES
FIRST POST FRIDAY IS 12 P.M.

JOCKEY KIMURA LATEST JAPANESE STAR TO JOIN L.A. SPORTS SCENE
Japanese superstars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto made international headlines earlier this month when signing for more than $1 billion in combined contracts to pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers next season.
About 18 miles up the road from Dodger Stadium at Santa Anita Park, there’s another top Japanese athlete ready to display his world-class talent to local sports fans. For the second straight winter, top jockey Kazushi Kimura is set to ride full-time at The Great Race Place.
Kimura, 24, returns to Santa Anita fresh off winning his third-straight jockey’s title at Woodbine Race Course in Toronto. During Woodbine’s nearly eight-month season, Kimura racked up 161 wins, which was 24 more than his closest pursuer, and $7.1 million in purse earnings.
At the conclusion of the Woodbine meet Dec. 17, Kimura the following day packed his blue Jaguar crossover and made the more than 2,500-mile trek from Toronto to Santa Anita. He arrived last Thursday.
“It’s great to be back. This is a wonderful place,” Kimura said Tuesday morning after working several horses.
In Kimura’s first go-around at Santa Anita, he finished the 2022-23 Classic Meet with 11 wins and more than $1.3 million in purse earnings, which ranked seventh among the local jockey colony. And although he didn’t win it, the highlight of his stay was guiding longshot (and fellow Japan-bred) Mandarin Hero to finish second by a nose in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby.
“I had a great opportunity here last year. Hopefully I can continue to build my name in California,” Kimura said.
This season Kimura will be represented for the first time by veteran agent Brian Beach. They have four mounts booked Tuesday and six more on Friday when racing resumes at Santa Anita. His rides opening day include the GI Malibu aboard Giant Mischief (5-1) for trainer Brad Cox and GI La Brea aboard Bangs (30-1) for trainer Librado Barocio.
Entering the Classic Meet, Kimura this year ranks 22nd among all North American jockeys in purse earnings with more than $8.7 million. He said his goal this winter is to surpass his previous accomplishments at Santa Anita.
“I always have big dreams. But if I could become the leading rider here, that would be my biggest goal,” Kimura said.
As for his countrymen joining the Dodgers, Kimura said he’ll be keeping a close eye on the pair come this spring.
“So many Japanese people live here along the West Coast. It’s great to see Shohei and Yamamoto both came here to Los Angeles,” Kimura said. “For people in Japan, it’s great as well because it’s easier to watch games on the West Coast than in the east because of the time difference.”
Kimura has been riding in the U.S. since 2018. In 2019, he won the Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey.

LA BREA: CLEARLY UNHINGED RETURNS AFTER BREEDERS’ CUP TRY
Installed as the lukewarm 3-1 favorite in Tuesday’s Grade I, $300,000 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies is Clearly Unhinged for trainer Michael McCarthy.
By Into Mischief, Clearly Unhinged is back in with straight sophomores after taking on older in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint here Nov. 4, which is the same seven-furlong distance as the La Brea. Dispatched as a 23-1 longshot under Umberto Rispoli, Clearly Unhinged raced along the inside in mid-pack before fading to sixth beaten eight lengths.
In the La Brea, which drew a field of 10, Clearly Unhinged will break from post nine with Rispoli up.
“I didn’t think her race in the Breeders’ Cup was that bad at all,” McCarthy said “She was a 3-year-old taking on older and was stuck down on the inside. Now she’s got an outside draw, is back in with 3-year-olds and has been working great. This is a big race for her. She’s already Grade I-placed, but to get a Grade I win would be huge.”
Clearly Unhinged is owned by Rock Brother Racing. Prior to the Breeders’ Cup, she was second beaten a head in the GI Test at Saratoga in August and was second again when taking on older in the GIII Chillingworth here Sept. 29.
The La Brea goes as the 10th race on Tuesday’s 11-race card with post time set for 3:30 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Blessed Touch, Hector Berrios (20-1); Daddysruby, Juan Hernandez (4-1); Howl, Flavien Prat (4-1); Big Pond, Frankie Dettori (5-1); Royal Spa, Irad Ortiz Jr. (6-1); Ice Dancing, Mike Smith (6-1); Fast and Shiny, Kyle Frey (10-1); Bangs, Kazushi Kimura (30-1); Clearly Unhinged, Umberto Rispoli (3-1); Satin Doll, Antonio Fresu (30-1).

2-YEAR-OLDS TAKE SPOTLIGHT FRIDAY IN EDDIE LOGAN, BLUE NORTHER
After opening day Tuesday, Santa Anita will take a two-day break before racing resumes on Friday with first post at 12 p.m. PT. Highlighting the nine-race card are a pair of one-mile turf stakes: the $100,000 Eddie Logan for 2-year-olds and $100,000 Blue Norther for 2-year-old fillies.
The Eddie Logan attracted a nine-horse field led by Stay Hot for trainer Peter Eurton. By Summer Front, Stay Hot finished off-the board in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf here Nov. 3. A month later, Stay Hot returned at Del Mar and rallied to win the GIII Cecil B. DeMille at Del Mar going a mile on turf.
Stay Hot’s leading rival figures to again be Miracle Mark, who was beaten just a neck in the DeMille by Stay Hot.
The Eddie Logan goes as the seventh race with post time at approximately 3 p.m. The field in post position order: Charge for Gold, Ricky Gonzalez; Lord Bullingdon, Umberto Rispoli; Practically Broke, Juan Hernandez; Invincible, Luis Contreras; Twirling Point, Kazushi Kimura; Final Boss, Frankie Dettori; Miracle Mark, Diego Herrera; American Hope, Flavien Prat; Stay Hot, Antonio Fresu.
The Blue Norther drew a field of nine including likely favorite Zona Verde for trainer Phil D’Amato. Bred in Ireland, the daughter of Kingman stallion Calyx most recently won the GIII Jimmy Durante going a mile on turf at Del Mar. Dec. 2.
Another intriguing contender is Chatalas for trainer Mark Glatt, who will be making her turf debut just 21 days after finishing fourth in the GII Starlet at Los Alamitos. Prior to the Starlet, Chatalas won the GII Chandelier going two turns on dirt here Oct. 7 and was a troubled ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.
The Blue Norther goes as the fifth race Friday with post time at approximately 2 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Hattie T, Armando Ayuso; Antifona, Hector Berrios; Chatalas, Frankie Dettori; Blue Oasis, Kazushi Kimura; Highlands, Flavien Prat; Zona Verde, Juan Hernandez; Medoro, Antonio Fresu; Mo Fox Givin, Umberto Rispoli; April Vintage, Edwin Maldonado.

FINISH LINES: On-track fans opening day will receive a free wall calendar while supplies last with paid admission. Other opening day highlights include a Craft Beer Festival on the Grandstand apron, Whiskey in Winter Chandelier Room Party, Infield Family Fun Zone, restaurant specials at Frontrunner and SILKS and much more…Every Friday during the Classic Meet fans will enjoy free admission and parking plus $3 beers and $5 margaritas.

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