Santa Anita Stable Notes

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2025

AYUSO TAKING THINGS TO ‘NEXT LEVEL’ AT HOLLYWOOD MEET
WORKS: DR. VENKMAN ON COMEBACK TRAIL; RICHI GEARING UP
$67K CARRYOVER UP FOR GRABS IN SATURDAY’S $2 PICK 6

AYUSO TAKING THINGS TO ‘NEXT LEVEL’ AT HOLLYWOOD MEET

After ranking eighth in the jockey’s standings at the Classic Meet, which was his first top 10 finish at Santa Anita, jockey Armando Ayuso has continued his ascent at the current Hollywood Meet. Entering Saturday, the 31-year-old native of Panama has nine wins from 43 mounts, a 21 percent strike rate, and is tied for second with Umberto Rispoli in the race for leading jockey. Ayuso and Rispoli are both two wins behind current leading rider Antonio Fresu.

“I’ve been getting better, little by little,” Ayuso said. “There are a lot of good riders here and I try to learn from all of them. Santa Anita is tough. But I think one thing I’ve done is I’ve gotten a little more patient. I try put my horses in a good a position and not get stopped too much.”

Ayuso was also quick to credit his agent, Mike Ciani, for his growing success.

“He’s a real professional and, to be honest, he’s the one that’s helped me get to the next level,” Ayuso said.

In March, Ayuso earned his second career graded stakes win when piloting Air Force Red to an off-the-pace victory in the GIII San Simeon at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course. Ayuso had previously ridden Leonard Powell-trained Air Force Red on one occasion, 11 months earlier, in the GIII San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate. Ayuso and Air Force Red were on the lead that day until being overtaken in the final strides to lose by a head.

“To win with Air Force Red was awesome,” Ayuso said. “The only other time I rode him I got nailed on the wire. I felt I should have won that day, but things happen. That’s what made it very satisfying.”

Air Force Red and Ayuso will be back in action Saturday at Santa Anita when they go postward in the Siren Lure Stakes at six furlongs on turf. They are listed as the 5-2 second choice on the morning line.

“He’s been working really well,” Ayuso said. “He’s an older horse now and has gotten smart. Last time I let him track horses and I think he liked that. I’ll probably have him sit second or third, just behind the speed.”

Ayuso started riding in the U.S. in 2012 mainly at eastern tracks, particularly Monmouth Park where as an apprentice he finished fourth in the jockey’s standings. After moving to Santa Anita in 2016, Ayuso’s jockey career would soon hit the skids. From 2016 to 2019, he had just eight mounts. Ayuso spent those years working as an exercise rider for trainer Mark Glatt.

“I just quit,” Ayuso said. “At the time I felt I needed to step away. It was probably because I was too young. Sometimes you don’t realize what you have. But it ended up helping me a lot. It took me four years, but I finally figured it out and I’m not stopping again.”

Following that hiatus, Ayuso rode in Northern California where he would soon become a perennial top five jockey at Golden Gate. He then spent the summer of 2022 riding at Del Mar before making a full-time move to the Southern California circuit the following year.

“It’s been great here and I’m just really thankful,” said Ayuso, who enters Saturday with 567 career wins. “The goal now is just to keep working hard and keep getting better.”

WORKS: DR. VENKMAN ON COMEBACK TRAIL, RICHI GEARING UP

Among Saturday’s workers at Santa Anita were Grade II winner Dr. Venkman, off since last year’s GI Pacific Classic; stablemates Richi and Splendora, the one-two finishers in last month’s GII Santa Maria; Grade I winners Formidable Man and Raging Torrent plus Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Vodka With a Twist.

In all, there were a combined 175 workouts recorded on the main track and training track.

Dr. Venkman, trained by Mark Glatt, drilled five furlongs in 1:01.60. It was his eighth work since March 17. Last year, the 5-year-old Ghostzapper gelding won the GII San Diego Handicap at Del Mar prior to finishing fourth in the Pacific Classic.

Dr. Venkman was joined on the tab by Grade II-winning stablemate Mi Hermano Ramon. Most recently fifth in the GI Kilroe Mile on March 1, Mi Hermano Ramon worked five furlongs in 1:00.20.

Richi worked four furlongs in 49.0 seconds and Splendora went the same distance in 47.80 seconds. In the 1 1/16-mile Santa Maria, Richi beat Splendora by 4 ½ lengths to earn her second graded stakes win.

Formidable Man, trained by Michael McCarthy, was joined on the tab by stablemates Endlessly and Liguria, both multiple graded stakes winners. Formidable Man, who won the Kilroe Mile, worked five furlongs in 59.40 seconds. It was the fourth fastest of 54 works at the distance.

Endlessly worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds. Most recently, the 4-year-old Oscar Performance colt returned from a 9 ½-month layoff and finished third in the GIII American at Santa Anita. Liguria, winner of the GII Buena Vista on March 1 at Santa Anita, worked six furlongs in 1:12.60.

Raging Torrent, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 for trainer Doug O’Neill. Raging Torrent most recently won the GII Godolphin Mile in Dubai on April 5,

Vodka With a Twist worked five furlongs in 59.20 seconds. It was the fastest of 54 works at the distance. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Vodka With a Twist most recently finished third in the GII Santa Anita Oaks following a four-month layoff.

FINISH LINES: Noble Reflection (6-1) and Eye On Ry (8-1) were both scratched from Saturday’s Siren Lure Stakes for older horses at six furlongs on turf…Saturday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 2:18 p.m. PT with the ninth race from Gulfstream Park. Friday’s Coast to Coast paid $28,898 for two winning tickets…Featured on a nine-race Mother’s Day program Sunday is the Cinema Stakes for 3-year-olds at one mile on turf. Freedom’s Not Free, who’ll have Antonio Fresu up for trainer Mark Glatt, is the 3-2 morning line favorite. First post Sunday is 1 p.m. and the Cinema goes as the seventh race at 4:08 p.m… Eastern-based jockey Kendrick Carmouche will be presented with the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Award on Saturday, May 31 in a winner’s circle ceremony at Santa Anita…Due to high temperatures this weekend, Sant Anita has instituted a series of heat protocols including ice buckets and hoses throughout the grounds. Additionally, riders will be legged up in the saddling barn, horses will go directly to the track and post parades will be shortened.

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