Santa Anita Stable Notes Monday, Jan. 20, 2025

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN
MONDAY, JAN. 20, 2025

Barnes; Ernie Belmonte Photo

WORKS: BARNES, RODRIGUEZ WORK IN COMPANY FOR BAFFERT
Unbeaten Barnes, who closed this weekend’s Kentucky Derby Future Wager as the individual 6-1 favorite, and stablemate Rodriguez each returned to the work tab Friday for trainer Bob Baffert. They were joined by another of Baffert’s Derby prospects, Getaway Car.
Barnes worked four furlongs in 47.60 seconds, which was the third-fastest of 69 moves at the distance. It was the Into Mischief colt’s first work since romping to a 5 ½-length victory in the GII San Vicente going seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Jan. 4.
Rodriguez, an eye-catching allowance winner going a mile also on Jan. 4 at Santa Anita, worked in company with Getaway Car. Rodriguez worked in 47.60 seconds, while Getaway Car was clocked in 49.0 seconds. Rodriguez, by Authentic, closed the Kentucky Derby pool at 22-1. Getaway Car, a Curlin colt who most recently was second in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity in December, closed at 83-1.
Continuing to gear up for trainer Dan Blacker was Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Straight No Chaser, who fired a bullet when working five furlongs in 59.20 seconds. Straight No Chaser is ticketed for a trip to the Middle East next month to contest the $2 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia.

KY DERBY FUTURE WAGER: CLOSING ODDS FOR SANTA ANITA HORSES
Barnes, Rodriguez and Getaway Car were among 11 horses based at Santa Anita that were part of pool three of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager that closed Sunday. While Barnes closed as the individual favorite at 6-1, the “All Other” 3-year-olds proposition was the overall favorite at 4-1.
In addition to the above trio, Baffert also trains six of the other nine Santa Anita-based sophomores that were part of the Derby future wager. The remaining two 3-year-olds, Journalism and Bullard, are trained by Michael McCarthy.
Below are the closing odds for all 11 of Santa Anita’s leading Kentucky Derby prospects.
Barnes, 6-1; Citizen Bull, 17-1; Journalism, 20-1; Rodriguez, 22-1; Gaming, 47-1; San Saba, 44-1; Madaket Road, 47-1; Bullard, 76-1; Romanesque, 79-1; Varney, 80-1; Getaway Car, 83-1.
Gaming is entered in this Saturday’s Grade II Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Citizen Bull, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, is expected to make his seasonal debut in the GII Robert B. Lewis going a mile on Feb. 1 at Santa Anita. Journalism still has not worked for McCarthy since winning the GII Los Alamitos Futurity in December.
The 151st Kentucky Derby will be run on May 3 at Churchill Downs. Baffert is seeking his seventh win in the Kentucky Derby, which would break a tie with Ben Jones for most-ever by a trainer. McCarthy has never won a Kentucky Derby.

9-RACE CARD THURSDAY KICKS OFF 4-DAY RACE WEEK AT SANTA ANITA
Santa Anita will host four consecutive days of racing beginning with a nine-race card on Thursday. Two stakes will be run this weekend, the GII San Pasqual on Saturday and the Clockers’ Corner on Sunday.
Thursday’s program begins at 12:30 p.m. The card features 8.4 starters per race
before scratches. On Friday, there will also be a nine-race program starting at 12:30 p.m.
Saturday’s card will be drawn later Monday, and Sunday’s program will be set on Tuesday. The San Pasqual Stakes is for older horses going 1 1/8 miles on dirt. It will feature contenders looking to make their way to the GI Santa Anita Handicap on March 1.
Sunday’s card featuring the Clockers’ Corner will be drawn on Tuesday. The Clockers’ Corner is for older horses going six furlongs on turf. Among the nominees for the Clockers’ Corner are Anarchist, a Grade II winner on dirt for trainer Doug O’Neill; and El Potente, who will cut back to a sprint for trainer Dan Blacker following a sharp second-level allowance win going a mile on turf Jan. 4 at Santa Anita.
In addition to top racing action, Santa Anita this weekend will also host the California Wine Festival. Ticket packages are now available at santaanita.com.

STRONGHOLD, MIXTO DEPART FOR PEGASUS WORLD CUP TUESDAY
Stronghold and Mixto, who are both entered in Saturday’s Grade I, $3 million Pegasus World Cup, are set to depart for Gulfstream Park on Tuesday. They will be joined on the trip by Balnikhov, who is entered in the Grade I, $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf also on Saturday.
Stronghold and Balnikhov are both trained by Phil D’Amato. Stronghold, winner of last year’s GI Santa Anita Derby, drew comfortably in post six in an 11-horse field set to go 1 1/8 miles. Installed at 10-1 on the morning line, Stronghold will be ridden by Antonio Fresu.
Mixto, trained by Doug O’Neill, drew the rail in the Pegasus World Cup. Also 10-1 on the morning line, Mixto will be ridden by Frankie Dettori.
Balnikhov will be part of a full field of 12 in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup Turf. He will break from post nine under Oisin Murphy. Balnikhov, most recently second in the Hollywood Turf Cup Nov. 29 at Del Mar, is 15-1 on the morning line.

TRAINER HESS, PRAT EACH WIN 3 RACES SUNDAY AT SANTA ANITA
Trainer Bob Hess Jr. had a big day Sunday when saddling three winners on an 11-race card. Jockey Flavien Prat also won three races Sunday, including the GIII Las Cienegas, to extend his lead in the jockey’s standings.
Hess won the first race with longshot Hey Lil Lady ($60.40), the fourth race with Sweet Hello ($14.40) and the 11th race with No Poking Around ($8.60). Hess is now 5-for-19 (26 percent) at the Classic Meet.
Prat won the third race on favorite Canto Della Terra ($3.80) for trainer Phil D’Amato, the Las Cienegas with favorite Toupie ($4.20) for trainer Graham Motion and the 10th on Ultimate Authority ($6.80) for trainer Tim Yakteen.
Prat, who is a finalist for the Eclipse Award as 2024’s outstanding jockey, has 20 wins from 74 mounts (27 percent) at the Classic Meet. He holds a four-win lead over Juan Hernandez in the jockey’s standing.

FINISH LINES: The CTBA Winter Mixed Sale is Tuesday at Fairplex starting at 12 p.m. PT. Online bidding will also be available… Nominations for this year’s Triple Crown are due by this Sunday…2-year-olds will be permitted at Santa Anita starting Feb. 15. 2-year-olds will be allowed at San Luis Rey training center on Feb. 1…Santa Anita’s longtime bugler Jay Cohen, who has been sidelined due to back problems, will be back on the horn both Friday and Sunday. If all goes well, he’s slated to return full time next week.

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