SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES

By Ed Golden —-

· DORTMUND ‘OUT OF RETIREMENT’ FOR AWESOME AGAIN
· HISTORY-MAKING START FOR PRIZE EXHIBIT OPENING DAY
· GUN RUNNER MAKES HIMSELF AT HOME AT SANTA ANITA
· FREE PROMOTIONAL ITEM TO THOROUGHBREDS MEMBERS
· LOS ANGELES TIMES NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE ON FRIDAY
· JOHN MORRIS GOLF TOURNAMENT WILL BENEFIT THE PDJF

DORTMUND ‘HAPPY’ IN BREEZE FOR AWESOME AGAIN

Dortmund, “retired” from racing when finishing fourth by nearly 10 lengths after stumbling at the start in the Santana Stakes last April 1, returns to competition Saturday in the Grade I, Win and You’re In Awesome Again Stakes for three-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles.

The Awesome Again is one of five Grade I, $300,000 Win and You’re In events Saturday, giving the winner a fees-paid berth to its respective Breeders’ Cup race Nov. 3 & 4.

Dortmund, a winner of the 2015 Santa Anita Derby (Grade I), had a three-furlong blowout for the race in 37.40 Wednesday under Gary Stevens, who has ridden the chestnut horse twice before, winning the Grade III Native Diver Nov. 28, 2015, at Del Mar and finishing second behind California Chrome in the San Diego Handicap July 23, 2016.

“It was just a little something to open his lungs up and keep him happy,” Stevens said.

Trained by Art Sherman for Kaleem Shah, Dortmund won his first six races before finishing third to eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the 2015 Kentucky Derby when conditioned by Bob Baffert.

“He needed a little time off,” said Alan Sherman, Art’s son and assistant who was on hand for the drill. “He got it and he came back really good. He’s as sound as he’s been since we’ve had him.

“It’s never easy coming back in a race like this, but what are your options? I wish they had a mile race or maybe a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Mile, but they don’t and it is what it is.”

PRIZE EXHIBIT TAKES ON MALES IN GRADE III EDDIE D.

Prize Exhibit will step into uncharted waters when she runs in Friday’s opening day feature, the Grade III Eddie D. Stakes for three-year-olds and up at about 6 ½ furlongs on turf.

The durable five-year-old mare trained by Jim Cassidy for principal client Deron Pearson, who campaigns as D P Racing, will be making her first start against males in what will be her 38th career start.

“She loves the course and has trained really well,” Cassidy said of the English-bred daughter of Showcasing, who won the Grade II Monrovia over the hillside venue on Jan. 3, 2106, getting there by a nose under Santiago Gonzalez, who is back aboard Friday.

“There’s really nothing else for her right now, and this is a good spot,” Cassidy said.

Prize Exhibit has a 7-5-2 record in 37 starts, with earnings of $697,030.

Winning a $100,000 stakes named for Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye who retired in January of 2003 would carry special significance for Cassidy.

“Eddie rode a lot of horses for me and we did very well together,” Cassidy recalled. “He was my man for a long time. It was very difficult for me after he retired to find a rider who fit my way of thinking.
“He was as good as anybody ever, in my book.”

The field for the Eddie D., the ninth of nine races: Prize Exhibit, Santiago Gonzalez, 10-1; Tribalist, Victor Espinoza, 4-1; California Diamond, Kent Desormeaux, 15-1; Om, Drayden Van Dyke, 8-5; Rocket Heat, Evin Roman, 8-1; Forever Juanito, Joe Talamo, 8-1; Guns Loaded, Rafael Bejarano, 6-1; Coastline, Flavien Prat, 12-1; Krsto Skye, Brice Blanc, 20-1; Zarqa Star, Martin Pedroza, 50-1; and Mr. Roary, Tyler Conner, 12-1.

GUN RUNNER MAKES HIMSELF AT HOME AT SANTA ANITA

Gun Runner, expected to vie for favoritism with Arrogate in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4, has settled in nicely at Santa Anita after arriving Monday night from the East Coast.

“He was out early this morning and I think he’ll go out about 6:45 every day,” said Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen. “He just had kind of an easy gallop today.

“He’ll have one work here, likely Monday, and probably one at Del Mar. We got in late Monday night and he walked yesterday.

“Today was his first day to the track. His energy level is good and he’s never seen a place he didn’t like.”

PROMOTIONAL ITEM FREE TO SANTA ANITA ‘THOROUGHBREDS’ MEMBERS

In addition to a world class racing menu that will include five Grade I Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” Challenge stakes, Santa Anita will for the first time offer fans a free Santa Anita Windshield Sunshade this Saturday, day two of the track’s 2017 Autumn Meet.

This one-of-a-kind item, which features a full-color image of fillies and mares (including four-time Eclipse Champion Beholder) breaking from the gate in the 2015, Grade I Zenyatta Stakes, will be available to THOROUGHBREDS Club members, free with paid admission.

Fans are encouraged to register to become a THOROUGHBREDS Club member in person free of charge at Santa Anita at any THOROUGHBREDS Center located throughout the facility. In addition to the Windshield Sunshade giveaway, Santa Anita will also stage a two-day Trackside Oktoberfest, on Saturday, Sept. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 1. To purchase tickets, visit http://www.santaanita.com/events/oktoberfest/.

Additionally, Santa Anita will also be offering an upscale Chandelier Room Party that includes gourmet faire, cocktails, fine wines (including a wine tasting that embraces nine different red and whites), live entertainment and more on Sept. 30.

Steeped in tradition with a glamorous, modern appeal, the legendary Chandelier Room has attracted Hollywood’s elite and the stars of Thoroughbred racing dating back to the 1930s.

To purchase tickets for the Chandelier Room Party, fans are encouraged to visit http://www.santaanita.com/events/chandelier-room-party/.

Opening weekend promotions and amenities, including Santa Anita’s Infield Family Fun Zone, Forty Dollar Handicapping Contest, Bud Light Lounge, Turf Terrace, FrontRunner dining packages and more are available at santaanita.com, or by calling (626) 574-RACE.

LOS ANGELES TIMES RACING NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE STARTING FRIDAY

Good news from the Los Angeles Times for racing fans: the publication is presenting its racing newsletter starting opening day Friday at Santa Anita that will provide previews of feature races at local tracks and a roundup of happenings around the country.

At the core of its coverage will be entries and results that will include full charts, which is an expansion of what is available in its print edition. It will arrive to inboxes five times a week, meaning race days and at the end of the race week, so charts will be included.

The newsletter, written by Times deputy sports editor John Cherwa, marks a quick, free and thorough way for horse devotees to start their day. And it all begins on Friday, opening day of Santa Anita’s 19-day Autumn Meet.

JOHN MORRIS GOLF CLASSIC BENEFITS PERMANENTLY DISABLED JOCKEYS’ FUND

The sixth annual John Morris Golf Classic, originally staged in Lexington, Ky., will be held for the first time at Santa Anita Golf Course in Arcadia on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Proceeds will benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys’ Fund (PDJF), Easter Seals Cardinal Hill and Project Walk (Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Center). One hundred percent of the charity proceeds will go to benefit these three charities.

Tournament registration is at 10:30 a.m., with an 18-hole shotgun start at 12:30 p.m.Fees also include cart, lunch, refreshments, prizes and there will be a reception (that includes a silent auction) immediately following the tournament. Prices are $175 per player or $600 per team. All fees must be paid by Oct. 10 in order to participate. For more info, visit http://www.santaanita.com/events/johnmorrisgolfclassic/, or call (626) 574-RACE.

FINISH LINES: Looking fresh, fit and rarin’ to, 77-year-old Bill Spawr was back on the training beat at Santa Anita Wednesday morning after serving a 30-day suspension. “I used the time to take care of doctors’ appointments, do things around the house, attend a sale in Kentucky and visit with Amazombie (2011 Eclipse Award-winning male sprinter),” Spawr said. “It was all productive.” Spawr’s bargain claim Skye Diamonds worked three furlongs on the training track in 38 flat . . . It Tiz Well, who upset Abel Tasman in the Grade I Cotillion last Saturday, “Is doing very well (back at Santa Anita) and we’re trying to decide on her next race,” said Jerry Hollendorfer, who supervised a six furlong bullet drill Wednesday by Unique Bella in 1:11.60 . . . A star is born: Madison Stevens, eight-year-old daughter of Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, will appear, beginning a week from Sunday at 7:30 p.m., in episodes of ABC-TV’s “The Toy Box,” which is starting its second season this Sunday . . . Veteran warhorse Royal F J is scheduled to make his 101st career start in Friday’s third race, a six furlong sprint for $8,000 claimers. The 10-year-old gelded son of Royal Academy has nine wins, 18 seconds and 18 thirds, with earnings of $564,605. “We’ve had him since he was a yearling, except when he was claimed last October,” trainer Jack Carava said. “He was gone about six months but we got him back. He’s been in fairly good form and pulls his own weight. He’s a cool horse and we hope he runs well.”

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.