Santa Anita Stable Notes Friday, May 9, 2025

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2025

FORMER TRAINER KATHY WALSH DIES AT AGE 85
SIREN LURE: BAROCIO HAS 2 SHOTS TO MAKE IT BACK-TO-BACK
HIGH-PROFILE BARNS CLASH IN INTRIGUING MAIDEN RACE SATURDAY
HANDLE, FIELD SIZE, ATTENDANCE ALL UP AT HOLLYWOOD MEET
HEAT PROTOCOLS IN PLACE THIS WEEKEND AS TEMPERATURES SOAR

FORMER TRAINER KATHY WALSH DIES AT AGE 85

Former trainer Kathy Walsh died in her sleep Thursday in Chico, Calif., where she had resided for the past 2 ½ years. She was 85.

In a training career that began in 1970, Walsh won 1,231 races and banked $19,372,724 in purse earnings, according to Equibase statistics. Her final starter came on Oct.3, 2021 at Los Alamitos.

Born March 18, 1940 in Sonoma, Calif., Walsh was the daughter of longtime Northwest-based trainer Jim Walsh. She obtained her assistant trainer’s license in 1962 and in 1970 took over her father’s stable after his passing. Walsh’s notable runners included Grade I winners Georgie Boy and Nany’s Sweep, plus graded winners Devious Boy, Sarah’s Secret, Evening Promise, Mantles Star and Staff Riot.

Walsh’s niece, Joanie Webster, said her aunt had been dealing with dementia in recent years, which prompted Walsh’s move north to Chico.

While memorial details have not yet been finalized, Webster said they plan to have a race named in Walsh’s honor at Santa Anita before the close of the Hollywood Meet on June 15.

SIREN LURE: TRAINER BAROCIO HAS 2 SHOTS TO MAKE IT BACK-TO-BACK

After springing a 16-1 upset in last year’s Siren Lure Stakes with Johnny Podres, trainer Librado Barocio will have two chances on Saturday to make it back-to-back victories in the turf sprint for older horses.

Entered for Barocio this year are Lovesick Blues, the 4-1 third choice on the morning line, and recent claim Noble Reflection (6-1). Both will be tasked with knocking off the two key principles in the field, 9-5 program favorite Bran for trainer John Sadler and veteran multiple stakes winner Air Force Red (5-2) for trainer Leonard Powell.

Last year, the Siren Lure was contested at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course.

Lovesick Blues and Air Force Red will be meeting for the second time in the past two months. In the GIII San Simeon sprinting about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside course on March 8, Lovesick Blue had the lead at the eighth pole but was rundown by Air Force Red and lost by a length. As Barocio noted, that effort came following a seven-month layoff. The trainer hopes recency and the slightly shorter trip in the Siren Lure could play to Lovesick Blues’ advantage.

“This should be a great rematch. Leonard’s horse is a really good horse, but I think I have a really good horse also,” Barocio said Friday. “In the San Simeon, he was coming off a long layoff and I thought he ran a bang-up race. I was proud of him. He’s given me every indication he should run well again.”

A 7-year-old gelding by Grazen, Lovesick Blues will have Geovanni Franco aboard for the third straight start.

Noble Reflection was claimed by Barocio from trainer Peter Miller for $40,000 out of a runner-up effort going six furlongs on turf March 19. The speedy 7-year-old gelding by Liam’s Map holds the record for the downhill course, which was set in 2023 when winning an allowance in a time of 1:11.57.

Noble Reflection will break from the rail under Antonio Fresu. Barocio expects he’ll be sent for the early lead with the inside draw.

“He has tons of speed and we’re going to go,” he added.

Lovesick Blues, Noble Reflection and Air Force Red will all have to deal with Bran, a Grade II winner who hasn’t started since last July. A 7-year-old gelding by Muhaarar. Bran’s only start last year was a high-level allowance win going a mile on turf last summer at Del Mar. He has worked eight times since March 17 for his comeback.

Also in the lineup and making his seasonal bow for Sadler is Final Boss (5-1), a stakes winner around two turns on turf who hasn’t started since last August.

The field for the Siren Lure is expected to be reduced by one entrant as trainer Ron Ellis Friday said Eye On Ry (8-1) would be scratched in favor of an allowance going a mile on turf on Sunday.

The Siren Lure goes as the fifth race on a nine-race card. Post time is set for 3:08 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Noble Reflection, Antonio Fresu (6-1); Final Boss, Juan Hernandez (5-1); Air Force Red, Armando Ayuso (5-2); Bran, Umberto Rispoli (9-5); Eye On Ry, Hector Berrios (8-1); Lovesick Blues, Geovanni Franco (4-1).

HIGH-PROFILE BARNS CLASH IN 3-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN RACE SATURDAY

Hall of Fame trainers Bob Baffert and Richard Mandella, Classic Meet leading trainer Mark Glatt and fellow high-profile conditioners John Sadler and Michael McCarthy are all represented in an intriguing maiden race going 6 ½ furlongs on Saturday.

Both Baffert and Glatt have a pair of runners in the lineup. Entered for Baffert are second-time starter Sierra Silver, the 9-5 favorite, and first-time starter Southern Gentleman (4-1). Both are 3-year-olds.

Sierra Silver, by Game Winner, debuted going six furlongs on April 6 at Santa Anita. He dueled on the lead that day before weakening in the stretch to finish third, 3 ¾ lengths behind highly regarded stablemate Goal Oriented. Goal Oriented came back to win an allowance on Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs and is an intended starter for next weekend’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. The runner-up in Sierra Silver’s debut, Train the Trainer, also came back to graduate in his next start.

Southern Gentleman, by Mitole, was a $700,000 auction buy last year for owner Speedway Stable. He has worked eight times since March 10 for his unveiling.

Glatt has first-time starters Cheever (5-2) and Vasa (12-1), both owned by Muir Hut Stables. Cheever is a 3-year-old colt by Into Mischief out of graded stakes winner Electric Forest, by Curlin. He was purchased for $700,000 at last year’s OBS March Sale. Vasa, by Preservationist, sold for $200,000 at auction as a yearling.

Mandella has first-time starter Legal Heir (6-1), a 3-year-old Nyquist colt. Purchased for $550,000 at last year’s OBS April sale Legal Heir has worked six times since March 16. Last week, he drilled six furlongs in 1:12.80 then on Thursday came back with a two-furlong work in 24.40 seconds.

McCarthy’s entrant is Penalty Box (9-2), a 3-year-old colt by Violence out of stakes winner Lady Alida. Owned by James M. Daniell and Donna Daniell, he was purchased for $170,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September yearling sale. Penalty Box has worked eight times since May 4, which includes a swift four-furlong drill from the gate in 46.80 seconds on Sunday.

Post time for Saturday’s sixth race is set for 3:39 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Catch a Breeze, Cristobal Herrera (30-1); Penalty Box, Kyle Frey (9-2); Sierra Silver, Juan Hernandez (9-5); Cheever, Antonio Fresu (5-2); Vasa, Abel Lezcano (12-1); Southern Gentleman, Drayven Van Dyke (4-1); Legal Heir, Kazushi Kimura (6-1).

HANDLE, FIELD SIZE, ATTENDANCE ARE ALL UP AT HOLLYWOOD MEET

The gains realized in key metrics during Santa Anita Park’s 2024-25 Classic Meet have continued through the first three weeks of the spring Hollywood Meet as handle, field size and on track attendance all show substantial increases over comparable dates last year.

The Hollywood Meet, which began on April 18, has seen a handle increase of more than 14 percent from 2024, paced by two huge Sunday programs that combined for over $25 million in all sources handle.

Three lucrative Pick Six carryovers through the first nine days of the season provided a boost to the handle as horseplayers on track and around the world chased the large pools.

Field size, which directly fuels the handle as wagering opportunities increase, is up nearly 10 percent from last year as the single circuit in California has reaped positive results, with owners supporting the product put together by the track’s Racing Office at all levels.

As Santa Anita Park celebrates its 90th year, the fans have continued to respond accordingly, building off the momentum established during the 2024-25 Classic Meet. On track attendance is up over five percent from the corresponding days last year, despite below average temperatures and damp conditions.

The Santa Anita Hollywood Meet continues through Sunday, June 15. As previously announced, purses for the Hollywood Meet have been enhanced by an average of 10 percent from 2024.

HEAT PROTOCOLS IN PLACE THIS WEEKEND AS TEMPERATURES SOAR

With temperatures expected to be in the 90s this weekend, a variety of heat protocols will be in place for all three race days starting Friday.

Throughout the property, there will be buckets of ice and hoses available for use. Additionally, riders will be legged up in the saddling barn and horses will go directly to the track. Post parades will also be shortened. Once a race is completed, all horses will return to the barn area via the racetrack instead of going through the paddock.

Santa Anita will host nine races all three days starting at 1 p.m.

FINISH LINES: Friday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:36 p.m. PT with the eighth race from Gulfstream Park…Sunday’s feature is the Cinema Stakes for 3-year-olds at one mile on turf. Installed as the 3-2 program favorite is Freedom’s Not Free, who will have Antonio Fresu aboard for trainer Mark Glatt…Santa Anita VIP player host Jeff Chapman will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Saturday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m. PT.

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