Santa Anita Stable Notes Thursday, March 14, 2024

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN
THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2024

PASADENA: LORD BULLINGDON GETS ANOTHER CRACK AT STAY HOT
EXTREME WIND CUTS SHORT THURSDAY MORNING TRAINING
MANDELLA/SPENTHRIFT DEBUT WELL-PEDIGREED FILLY SATURDAY
LIVE RACING RESUMES FRIDAY WITH 1 P.M. FIRST POST

PASADENA: LORD BULLINGDON GETS ANOTHER CRACK AT STAY HOT
Lord Bullingdon bagged a pair of turf stakes wins last year as a 2-year-old for trainer Michael McCarthy, including the Qatar Golden Mile at Del Mar in November while still a maiden.
His successful campaign, which also included a win in the Eddie Logan at a mile here Dec. 29, resulted in $186,220 in earnings for the Lord Nelson colt. It could have been more if not for a familiar rival, Stay Hot, who Lord Bullingdon meets for a third time in Saturday’s Pasadena Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf.
Lord Bullingdon finished behind Stay Hot in both a one-mile maiden race on turf at Del Mar in October, and again when fourth beaten 1 ¾ lengths in the GIII Cecil B. DeMille at Del Mar Dec. 3. Despite those setbacks, McCarthy Thursday expressed confidence heading into their third matchup.
“My horse runs his race, I think he’s good enough to beat anyone around here,” the trainer said.
Following his win in the Eddie Logan to close out last season, Lord Bullingdon was given a brief freshening. He has worked seven times for his sophomore bow.
McCarthy said he is pleased with the colt’s development as a 3-year-old.
“We gave him a little break and he’s been training forwardly since,” he noted. “He’s really a straightforward horse. He seems to be getting better as he matures, which you hope.”
Jockey Umberto Rispoli was aboard Lord Bullingdon for both his stakes wins and he again has the call on Saturday.
The Pasadena is one of two stakes on Saturday’s nine-race card. Also on the program is the GIII San Carlos at seven furlongs on dirt for older horses. The Pasadena goes as the third race with post time at approximately 2 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Uncle Truly, Kazushi Kimura (5-1); Stay Hot, Antonio Fresu (8-5); Guy Named Joe, Juan Hernandez (5-1); Lord Bullingdon, Umberto Rispoli (5-2); Island Cruiser, Hector Berrios (5-2).

EXTREME WIND CUTS SHORT THURSDAY MORNING TRAINING
At 3:02 a.m. PT Thursday morning, the National Weather Service sent an alert warning of extreme wind coming to the Santa Anita area with gusts reaching up to 55 miles per hour.
It arrived in full force during training hours. At 8:22 a.m., track officials sent word to horsemen that the main track and training track would each be closing for the day.
“Due to the high wind gusts and the safety of horses and riders, both tracks will close for training at 8:30 a.m.,” the message read.
Prior to training being halted, 44 horses managed to record timed workouts on the main track. That group included multiple graded stakes winners Three Witches and Linda’s Gift.
Three Witches, who won the GII Santa Monica here Feb. 3 in her first start for trainer Michael McCarthy, worked five furlongs in 1:00.00. It was the second-fastest of 27 moves at the distance.
Linda’ Gift worked for the first time since earning her third-straight stakes win in the GIII Santa Ana here Feb. 24. Trained by Richard Mandella, the 5-year-old Arrogate mare went an easy half mile in 49.00 seconds.

MANDELLA/SPENDTHRIFT DEBUT WELL-PEDIGREED FILLY SATURDAY
Saturday’s fourth race at Santa Anita is a six-furlong maiden heat for 3-year-old fillies featuring a pair of notable first-time starters.
Entered for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella and Spendthrift Farm is Quick Brown Fox, a daughter of Triple Crown winner Justify and the first foal out of three-time Grade I winner Bast. Trainer Michael McCarthy is set to unveil Disposition, a daughter of Palace Malice and a half sister to graded stakes winner Dazzling Gem.
Quick Brown Fox is installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite for her debut. Her dam Bast, by Uncle Mo, won the GI Del Mar Debutante, GI Chandelier and GI Starlet in 2019 for trainer Bob Baffert and owner Baoma Corp.
Upon retirement, Bast was entered in the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale while in foal to Quick Brown Fox. Spendthrift Farm stepped up and dropped a cool $4.2 million for the filly and her in-utero foal.
Quick Brown Fox has worked six times for her bow, which includes a bullet six-furlong move in 1:13.00 Feb. 29. Top jockey Joel Rosario will be in the irons Saturday.
Disposition was purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners for $190,000 at last year’s OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. She has worked eight times since Jan. 18, including a four-furlong gate drill in 47.80 seconds last Saturday. Disposition will break from the rail Saturday with Frankie Dettori in the irons.
Post time for Saturday’s fourth race is scheduled for 2:32 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Disposition, Frankie Dettori (5-1); Show Card, Juan Hernandez (2-1); Sweet Gem, Umberto Rispoli (20-1); Ms Bo J, Antonio Fresu (5-2); Vegas Condo, Mike Smith (8-1); Quick Brown Fox, Joel Rosario (9-5).

FINISH LINES: First post Friday is 1 p.m. for an eight-race card…On Sunday, the first 1,000 fans who visit the East Paddock Gardens will receive a free print of the Santa Anita Jockey Colony. Various jockeys will be on hand to sign the print from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m…Sunday’s feature is the Irish O’Brien Stakes on the hillside turf course for older statebred fillies and mares…Doug O’Neill won two races Sunday to extend his lead in the trainer’s standings. He now has 25 wins at the stand, four more than runner-up Mark Glatt. O’Neill’s wins Sunday came in the opener with favorite Phenom ($3) and the nightcap with The Bullion Bomber ($13.40)…Every Friday at the Classic Meet, on-track fans receive free parking and admission plus $3 beers and $5 margaritas.

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