Santa Anita Stable Notes Friday, Jan. 3, 2025

By Victor Ryan —-

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN
FRIDAY, JAN. 03, 2025

GII SAN VICENTE: DEBUT WINNERS BARNES, ROMANESQUE GO FOR BAFFERT
The road to the GI Santa Anita Derby on April 5 kicks off Saturday with the Grade II, $200,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will be seeking his record-extending 14th win in the San Vicente, which includes the last two editions with Muth in 2024 and Havnameltdown in 2023. For the 83rd running of the San Vicente, Baffert has the well-regarded pair of Barnes and Romanesque. Both colts exit promising debut wins.
Barnes earned an 87 Beyer Speed Figure when shipping to Churchill Downs and scoring by a head going 5 ½ furlongs on Nov. 27. The runner-up, Innovator, has come back to break his maiden and finish second in the Advent Stakes, both at Oaklawn Park, for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
“He had every reason to get beat that day,” Baffert said of Barnes. “And 5 ½ furlongs is probably a little short for him.”” Baffert said.
In his unveiling, Barnes was drawn towards the inside in post three in a 10-horse field. He was forwardly placed while racing on the inside under Martin Garcia, then was tipped out for the stretch drive. Barnes drifted out some through the lane but was able to collar front-running Innovator late and prevail in a photo finish.
“We knew he was a nice horse. He shipped there and handled everything well,” Baffert said. “He was a little bit green. He was in a bad post and got jostled around a little bit. But he handled it well.”
Barnes, a $3.2 million auction purchase as a yearling by owner Zedan Racing, is named after Baffert’s longtime assistant, Jimmy Barnes. He has had four works at Santa Anita since his debut, including a bullet six-furlong move from the gate in 1:12.80 on Dec. 22.
“We’ll see how he handles the next step,” Baffert said.
Barnes is the 8-5 second choice on the morning line.
Romanesque won his debut going 6 ½ furlongs at Del Mar by 2 ½ lengths on Nov. 23. The Practical Joke colt attended the pace that day and kicked clear in the final furlong under Juan Hernandez.
“I thought his first race was pretty impressive. He ran pretty fast,” Baffert said.
Romanesque’s final time was 1:15.91 after setting a six-furlong split in 1:09.46. The effort earned an 84 Beyer Speed Figure.
A $435,000 auction buy, Romanesque has also worked four times since his debut. On Monday, he drilled a half mile in 47.80 seconds. Romanesque is owned in partnership by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables et al. He is the 5-1 third choice on the morning line.
With Hernandez taking the mount on Barnes, Romanesque will be ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith.
The 4-5 morning line favorite is unbeaten Grade III winner Bullard for trainer Michael McCarthy. The Gun Runner colt most recently rolled to a 4 ¾-length win in the GIII Bob Hope going seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 17. Umberto Rispoli was aboard for both of his wins and retains the mount in the San Vicente.
The San Vicente goes as the fifth race with post time set for 1:33 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: McKinzie Street, Antonio Fresu (10-1); Barnes, Juan Hernandez (8-5); Romanesque, Mike Smith (5-1); Smooth Cruisein, Ricky Gonzalez (12-1); Bullard, Umberto Rispoli (4-5).

TOP PROSPECT EAGLES FLIGHT RETURNS SATURDAY FOR SADLER
After more than seven months on the sidelines, highly regarded prospect Eagles Flight makes his much-anticipated second start in a first-level allowance Saturday going a mile. Eagles Flight, who won his debut going six furlongs on May 27 at Santa Anita, is a half brother to undefeated 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline.
“We’re anxious to get him started,” said trainer John Sadler, who also conditioned Flightline. “He had some delays last year obviously, but he’s a talented horse.”
In his debut, Eagles Flight came from off the pace under Flavien Prat and won going away by 2 ¾ lengths. The Curlin colt is installed as the even-money favorite for his second start.
Eagles Flight has been working steadily since mid-October. Last Saturday, he fired a bullet when drilling five furlongs in 59.00 seconds. It was the fastest of 59 works at the distance.
“We’ve gotten some good training into him. He’s ready to go,” Sadler said.
Connections also believe Eagles Flight will relish the stretch-out to two turns.
“We think distance is his friend and he’ll be better going longer,” Sadler added.
In addition to more distance, Eagles Flight will also have a new rider and new equipment Saturday. Umberto Rispoli takes over in the irons for Flavien Prat, who was aboard for Eagles Flight’s debut but is riding at Oaklawn Park Saturday. Eagles Flight will also be adding blinkers.
“He has a little tendency to look around a little bit,” Sadler said. “We worked him in blinkers the other day and he worked really good.”
Eagles Flight’s chief rivals include New King and Mirahmadi, both trained by Bob Baffert. New King, an Into Mischief colt, exits a maiden win going a mile at Los Alamitos when making his third start.
“I thought he was pretty impressive in that race at Los Alamitos. He showed he could stalk a little bit,” Baffert said.
New King was ridden by Juan Hernandez in his graduation win. He’ll have Kazushi Kimura Saturday as Hernandez takes the call on Mirahmadi.
Mirahmadi exits a troubled sixth in the GIII Native Diver going 1 1/8 miles on Nov. 23 at Del Mar.
“He had a horrible trip that day,” Baffert said.
Mirahmadi previously romped by 10 lengths in a 1 1/16-mile maiden race at Santa Anita in October.
The return of Eagles Flight comes in Saturday’s seventh race with post time set for 2:36 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Mici’s Express, Tiago Pereira (30-1); Eagles Flight, Umberto Rispoli (1-1); New King, Kazushi Kimura (3-1); Mirahmadi, Juan Hernandez (5-2); Ghazaaly, Serafin Carmona (20-1); Demotivate, Antonio Fresu (20-1); Invigorated, Frankie Dettori (8-1).

WORKS: 7-TIME STAKES WINNER KINGS RIVER KNIGHT BACK ON TAB
Kings River Knight, a seven-time stakes winner who’s been sidelined since late May, returned to the work tab Friday for trainer John Sadler. Also continuing on a steady work regiment for trainer Bob Baffert were Grade 1 Citizen Bull and Gaming, who finished one-two in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
Kings River Knight was clocked going a quarter mile on the main track in 24.80 seconds. The 7-year-old California-bred gelding by Acclamation has been off since winning the Crystal Water Stakes May 25 at Santa Anita. He is 16: 10-5-0 with $649,380 in earnings for owners Integrity Thoroughbred Racing LLC, The Ellwood Johnston Trust and Kenneth A. Tevelde.
Citizen Bull earned a bullet when drilling five furlongs in 59.20 seconds. The Into Mischief colt has worked four times since earning a front-running victory by 1 ½ lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Gaming worked five furlongs in 1:00.40. By Game Winner, Gaming followed his Breeders’ Cup runner-up effort with a third-place finish in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 14. Earlier this week, Baffert told Daily Racing Form’s Brad Free that Gaming “lost it” in the paddock prior to the Futurity. He added Gaming is currently slated to run in the GIII Southwest Stakes on Jan. 25 at Oaklawn Park.

FINISH LINES: Jockey Umberto Rispoli had the first three-win day by a jockey at the Classic Meet on New Year’s Day. Rispoli earned a natural hat trick when winning with Ms Brightside ($6.80) in the third race for trainer Phil D’Amato, Gila ($12) in the fourth for trainer Bob Hess Jr. and Jeweled Shillelagh ($6.40) in the fifth for trainer Michael McCarthy…Voting is now open for the 2024 NTRA Moment of the Year. Santa Anita was the site for two of the 10 moments nominated. Frankie Dettori’s six consecutive winning rides on Santa Anita Derby day, which included two stakes victories, is nominated. As is Flavien Prat breaking the single season record for graded stakes wins. On Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, Prat won the GII City of Mile aboard King of Gosford for his 56th graded stakes victory of the year. Voting for NTRA Moment of the Year is available on X and NTRA.com…Sunday’s feature is the GIII Fasig-Tipton Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, which starts the road to the GII Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita Oaks April 5. It is also an official prep for the Kentucky Oaks. The Santa Ynez goes as the seventh race at approximately 2:30 p.m. PT…Jockey agent Matt Nakatani will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Saturday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 10:20 a.m…Every Friday at the Classic Meet on-track fans will receive free parking and admission, $3 beers and $5 margaritas…First post time on both Saturday and Sunday is 11:30 a.m. Admission gates will open at 9:30 a.m.

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SANTA ANITA STATISTICS
(Current Through Wednesday, January 1, 2025 Inclusive)
Jockey Mts 1st 2nd 3rd Win% ITM% Money Won

Flavien Prat 32 7 10 6 22% 72% $522,860
Juan Hernandez 32 6 3 6 19% 47% $357,638
Umberto Rispoli 27 5 3 3 19% 41% $307,220
Tiago Pereira 18 3 4 2 17% 50% $117,720
Kazushi Kimura 23 3 2 3 13% 35% $354,660
Lanfranco Dettori 21 3 2 1 14% 29% $374,386
Antonio Fresu 11 3 1 2 27% 55% $375,200
Hector Berrios 13 2 3 2 15% 54% $120,220
Diego Herrera 11 2 1 2 18% 45% $83,360
Welfin Orantes 7 2 1 1 29% 57% $64,520

Trainer Sts 1st 2nd 3rd Win% ITM% Money Won
Philip D’Amato 14 5 1 0 36% 43% $408,940
Mark Glatt 13 3 4 3 23% 77% $181,140
Steve Knapp 15 3 4 3 20% 67% $106,800
Bob Baffert 13 3 2 2 23% 54% $296,900
Jeff Mullins 15 3 2 1 20% 40% $183,518
Mike Puype 8 3 2 0 38% 63% $115,720
George Papaprodromou 13 2 2 2 15% 46% $94,860
Doug O’Neill 16 2 1 2 13% 31% $332,200
Michael McCarthy 17 2 0 3 12% 29% $107,460
Dan Blacker 2 2 0 0 100% 100% $35,400

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