SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES; MONDAY’S BAFFLE STAKES PREVIEW

By Ed Golden —-

• SUNNY DAYS AHEAD AS HORSEMEN WEATHER THE STORM
• SANTA ANITA JOCKEYS IN CHARITY GAME NEXT THURSDAY
• CTBA PRESENTS GRAY WITH KENNETH L. MADDY AWARD

MOVE OVER ANNIE: THE SUN WILL COME OUT TOMORROW

Yes, that was the life-sustaining star known as the sun breaking through rain clouds at Santa Anita Saturday morning after the biggest storm of the Winter Meet took respite.

After the storm that hit the Arcadia area with just over three inches of rain Friday, forcing cancellation of that day’s races, it’s game on for Saturday and that’s good news for everyone, including local horsemen.

“We’re all going through the same thing,” said trainer Eric Kruljac, who turns 64 next
Saturday. “Some of us are more willing to run on an off track than others, but I’m not real keen on it. I’ve never been a mudder.

“I’ve got my share of grass horses, so the weather’s slowed us way down, but I’m optimistic and looking to the future. I started training at 38 and owned horses when I was 23. I claimed my first two horses in 1976 and bought my first two yearlings in 1977.”

Kruljac comes from a family of horsemen. His grandfather, Walter S. (for Stele) Markham was a horse owner, cattle rancher and produce broker. Some of his horses were trained by Hall of Famer Buster Millerick.

Born in San Jose, Kruljac “kind of split my childhood in Carmel Valley and Phoenix. When Mr. Markham died, he was the longest tenured member of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA).”
Eric’s 28-year-old son, Ian, is an accomplished trainer in his own right, having developed Finest City into an Eclipse Award champion as best female sprinter of 2016, mainly by virtue of her victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita last Nov. 4.

Since mid-December, Santa Anita’s Winter Meet that began Dec. 26 has been hit with more than 23 inches of rain, according to ever-diligent Track Superintendent Dennis Moore.

But if you think it’s been rough at Santa Anita, it could be worse.

You could own a car wash.

SANTA ANITA VS. HOLY ANGELS CHARITY GAME FEB. 23.

The 50th annual Santa Anita Jockeys vs. Holy Angels Elementary School game will be
played on Thursday, Feb. 23, at La Salle High School in Pasadena, with proceeds to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), Holy Angels athletic program and the Eye on Jacob Foundation.

Given the historic nature of the game, individual jockey sponsors, representing a wide array of racing industry stakeholders, will lend financial support to this worthy cause. Tip off is scheduled for 7:15 pm., with admission doors opening at 6:15 p.m.

Hall of Fame jockeys Kent Desormeaux, Laffit Pincay, Jr., Mike Smith, Alex Solis and Gary Stevens will all be available at center court for an autograph session at 6:30 p.m.

TVG’s Kurt Hoover will be back for his 16th consecutive season as Santa Anita Jockeys’ Coach. Tickets are $5 per person, and for every two tickets purchased, individuals receive one free admission ticket to Santa Anita.

ASSEMBLYMAN GRAY RECEIVES MADDY AWARD FROM CTBA

California State Assemblyman Adam Gray has been honored as recipient of the prestigious Sen. Kenneth L. Maddy Award, presented by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association at its annual awards banquet

“Adam has been a great supporter of racing and agriculture in the state and CTBA is honored to present him with such a prestigious award,” said Doug Burge, president of CTBA.

Gray, a Democrat representing the 21st District that includes his native Merced, is only the second legislator to receive the award, which is named for the late California senator who was a great friend of the California Thoroughbred industry and a force behind a bill that brought licensing relief to tracks. The only other recipient of the award was Sen. Andy Vidak in 2014.

“It is an honor to receive the Senator Kenneth L. Maddy Award,” Gray said. “California horse racing and the breeding of quality California-bred Thoroughbreds are synonymous with Senator Maddy.
“California is at the forefront of producing top-quality Thoroughbred racehorses, which are able to compete and win races throughout the country and the world. Two words – California Chrome.”

Gray authored a bill in 2016 that will save $1 billion in worker’s compensation costs and he worked tirelessly on an Internet poker bill that would have boosted race purses by $60 million. Gray also has been committed to preserving and protecting agricultural water rights.

Gray, first elected in 2012, is chairman of the Assembly’s Governmental Organization Committee and serves on committees for aging and long-term care, agriculture and appropriations.

The CTBA works diligently at all governmental levels to create the optimum legislative climate to maximize the profitability of California breeders and the overall popularity and growth of Thoroughbred racing.

FINISH LINES: There is a Pick Six carryover into Saturday of $32,114 . . . Richard Baltas and Peter Miller are tied for the training lead with 15 victories each, with Jerry Hollendorfer one back at 14 and Phil D’Amato three behind with 12. D’Amato has Lily Pod entered in today’s Buena Vista Stakes and he didn’t mind that rain forced it to be moved from turf to dirt. “I really entered based on the chance it would come off the grass and be run on dirt,” he said. “She loved that off track when she won last time (romping by 4 ½ lengths on a wet/fast surface at seven furlongs Jan. 21), so we’ll see.” . . . Congratulations to trainer and all-around good guy Art Sherman on the occasion of his 80th birthday yesterday . . . Mario Gutierrez and Israel Ocampo ride in the Grade III El Camino Real Derby today at Golden Gate Fields, the former on 2-1 morning line chance Ann Arbor Eddie for Doug O’Neill and the latter aboard 10-1 Kona Dreams for George Papaprodromou . . . Dan Ward, assistant to Jerry Hollendorfer, and XBTV.com’s Aaron Vercruysse, will be Tom Quigley’s guests Sunday and Monday, respectively, in the East Pack Gardens at 11:20 a.m. Sunday and 10:50 a.m. Monday, when first post time is 12 noon . . . The California Horse Racing Board will conduct a regular monthly meeting Thursday, Feb. 23, 9:30 a.m. at Santa Anita. An audio-only webcast of the Board meeting can be heard through a link on the CHRB website ( webcast).The Medication, Safety and Welfare Committee will meet 11 a.m. Wednesday at the same location. The public is encouraged to attend. The Board agenda and supporting package of materials are available on the CHRB website, as are those for the Medication Committee ( agenda and package) . . . Apprentice jockey Evin Roman is suspended three days (Feb. 26, March 2 and 3) for causing interference aboard Avaudrey in last Sunday’s second race resulting in a disqualification of his mount from fifth to seventh.

SANTA ANITA STATISTICS

(Current Through Thursday, Feb. 16)
Jockey Mts 1st 2nd 3rd Win% ITM% Money Won

Flavien Prat 134 33 19 23 25% 56% $2,152,593
Tyler Baze 144 27 31 14 19% 50% $1,314,706
Rafael Bejarano 99 18 15 17 18% 51% $983,493
Kent Desormeaux 86 18 11 9 21% 44% $1,165,831
Stewart Elliott 91 11 10 16 12% 41% $506,082
Mike Smith 35 11 3 9 31% 66% $1,152,445
Joseph Talamo 88 10 6 16 11% 36% $375,653
Martin Pedroza 71 9 13 13 13% 49% $395,063
Luis Contreras 81 9 10 21 11% 49% $448,347
Tiago Pereira 64 9 6 7 14% 34% $272,820
Norberto Arroyo, Jr. 64 9 5 4 14% 28% $458,830

Trainer Mts 1st 2nd 3rd Win% ITM% Money Won

Richard Baltas 79 15 14 12 19% 52% $762,154
Peter Miller 61 15 13 6 25% 56% $885,045
Jerry Hollendorfer 78 14 9 17 18% 51% $1,173,049
Philip D’Amato 50 12 5 9 24% 52% $728,970
Doug O’Neill 92 10 21 17 11% 52% $966,061
Mark Glatt 46 9 8 5 20% 48% $366,510
William Spawr 20 9 1 2 45% 60% $261,071
Bob Baffert 35 8 4 5 23% 49% $816,061
John Sadler 40 7 8 10 18% 63% $461,824
Peter Eurton 34 7 3 3 21% 38% $382,399
J. Keith Desormeaux 29 7 2 5 24% 48% $434,225

By Mike Willman

CONQUEST FARENHEIT, ELWOOD J, BAY MUZIK & ROCKIN RUDY ALL PROMINENT IN MONDAY’S $75,000 BAFFLE STAKES AT 6 ½ FURLONGS DOWN HILLSIDE TURF

SPECIAL EARLY FIRST POST TIME OF 12 NOON SET FOR 11-RACE CARD; MONDAY IS ALSO DOLLAR DAY AT SANTA ANITA WITH ONE DOLLAR BEERS, SODAS & HOT DOGS OFFERED

Scheduled to be run at 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course on Monday, the $75,000 Baffle Stakes shapes up as a wide open affair, with Conquest Farenheit, Bay Muzik and Rockin Rudy heading a field of seven sophomores.

Santa Anita has announced that it will offer fans a special 11-race card on Monday, Presidents’ Day, which is also Dollar Day at the track. One dollar beers, sodas and hot dogs will be offered throughout the afternoon.

CONQUEST FARENHEIT: A close second two starts back in a Grade II stakes going a mile on turf at Woodbine on Sept. 18, this Kentucky-bred colt by Scat Daddy disappointed in his Southern California debut for trainer Peter Miller on Feb. 2, as he tried dirt for the first time and ran third at odds of 2-5. A runaway maiden special weight winner in his debut going seven furlongs over a yielding turf at Woodbine Aug. 26, he’ll cut back in distance from a flat mile as he tries to make amends in his second start for Miller. Favored in all three of his lifetime starts, he’ll be ridden for the second time in a row by Norberto Arroyo, Jr. Conquest Farenheit is owned by Chad Littlefield and Rockingham Ranch.

ELWOOD J: The leading money earner in the field with $83,940, this California-bred gelding by Vronsky may hold a seasoning edge, as the Baffle will be his sixth career start. Dispatched at odds of 3-5, he comes off a gate to wire allowance win going six furlongs on a wet fast track here on Jan. 20. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, he has two wins from five starts and will be trying open company for the first time. Owned by Joe L. Turner, he’ll retain the services of leading man Flavien Prat.

BAY MUZIK: Idle since breaking his maiden at first asking on Aug. 20 at Golden Gate Fields, this Blaine Wright trainee won by 1 ½ lengths in virtual gate to wire fashion going 5 ½ furlongs on synthetic Tapeta, defeating 10 rivals in a front-running manner that has proven very difficult for many horses. A West Virginia-bred by the Distorted Humor stallion Maclean’s Music, Bay Muzik will be ridden for the first time by Stewart Elliott and he is owned by Chappell Alpine Farms, LLC.

ROCKIN RUDY: Sold privately following a rollicking 11 ½ length maiden $80,000 claiming score going 5 ½ furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 5, this Iowa-bred colt by Midshipman will get tested for class in his first start for Doug O’Neill on Monday. With several bullet works on his tab, including a five furlong drill in 58.40 on Jan. 27 (best of 101 at the distance), it would appear “Rudy” is set to fire a big shot in what will be his second career start. Owned by Reddam Racing, LLC, he’ll be ridden for the first time by Mario Gutierrez.

THE $75,000 BAFFLE STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 10 of 11 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT

1. Tipo Duro—Corey Nakatani—120
2. Rockin Rudy—Mario Gutierrez—120
3. Elwood J—Flavien Prat—122
4. Souter—Kent Desormeaux—120
5. Conquest Farenheit—Norberto Arroyo, Jr.—120
6. Bay Muzik—Stewart Elliott—120
7. Anyportinastorm—Tyler Baze–120

With an 11-race card on tap, Santa Anita will have a special early first post time on Monday of 12 noon. For scratches, changes, track condition updates and complete morning line information, please visit santaanita.com

About Us
Santa Anita Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is North America’s premier supplier of virtual online horseracing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.