SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES – SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2019

By Ed Golden —-

• TURF SHOULD SUIT MUCHO UNUSUAL IN CAL CUP OAKS
• MONDAY IS DOLLAR DAY AT THE GREAT RACE PLACE
• WEST POINT GROUP TO SEE GALILEAN IN CAL CUP DERBY
• VICTOR ESPINOZA IS BACK AND READY FOR HIS CLOSEUP
• SINGLE TICKET JACKPOT CARRYOVER TODAY AT $190,102
• HRONIS RACING, REDDAM RACING VOTED TOC AWARDS

YAKTEEN HOPES GRASS IS GREENER FOR MUCHO UNUSUAL

Mucho Unusual has the pedigree to succeed in Monday’s $200,000 California Cup Oaks at one mile on turf.

A bay daughter of the Macho Uno sire Mucho Macho Man out of the Unusual Heat dam Not Unusual, Mucho Unusual makes her grass debut in the Oaks, which is a part of the lucrative Golden State Series for California-breds.

“She’s a half-sister to Big Score who earned more than $600,000 ($635,372) on the turf, so I would say the grass pedigree is there,” said Tim Yakteen, who trains the filly for long-time owner/breeder George Krikorian, also the owner/breeder of Big Score, winner of the Grade III Transylvania at Keeneland in 2017 and on the board in eight other graded stakes.

“The Unusual Heat gene has definitely emerged from her pedigree for turf in the past.

She seems to have a real fluid action, and we’re excited to see her stretch out on turf.”

Mucho Unusual not only will be making her turf debut in the Oaks, it will mark her first race beyond seven furlongs, which came in the Golden State Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.
She was second in that race after breaking her maiden with an 8 ¼-length romp going 6 ½ furlongs against state-breds in her previous outing at Santa Anita last Oct. 4.

MONDAY IS DOLLAR DAY AT THE GREAT RACE PLACE

In addition to an outstanding nine-race card Monday highlighted by the $200,000 California Cup Derby and the $200,000 California Cup Oaks, tomorrow, Presidents’ Day, is also Dollar Day at Santa Anita. One dollar beers (21 & over) and sodas will be available throughout the day, as will two dollar hot dogs.

First post time is 12:30 p.m. and admission gates open at 10:30 a.m.

The Cal Cup Oaks, race five: Lippy, Mario Gutierrez, 10-1; Mucho Unusual, Joel Rosario, 8-1; Tiz a Master, Heriberto Figueroa, 12-1; Kookie Gal, Flavien Prat, 4-1; Silk From Heaven, Eswan Flores, 12-1; Hot On the Trail, Drayden Van Dyke, 20-1; Creative Instinct, Geovanni Franco, 12-1; Lakerball, Rafael Bejarano, 5-2; and Apache Princess, Kent Desormeaux, 9-5.

WEST POINT ENJOYS BUSINESS/PLEASURE VISIT TO SANTA ANITA

Jeff Lifson, career race tracker and executive president of West Point Thoroughbreds, was an enthusiastic visitor Sunday morning at Santa Anita, where Galilean runs in Monday’s $200,000 California Cup Derby.

West Point is part-owner of the Uncle Mo colt, Jon White’s 2-5 morning line favorite to win the mile and an eighth race for California-breds.

“My title carries a hefty amount of letters but not a lot of responsibility, as far as that goes,” Lifson said, tongue planted firmly in cheek. “I’ve been part of West Point’s buying team for a number of years now and we have approximately 100 partners.

“Nancy Dollase (wife of trainer Craig Dollase) is out here full time for us, but I’m the guy who rotates all over the country, comes here for Del Mar and Santa Anita because a lot of my partners have horses with Jerry (Hollendorfer, trainer of Galilean).

“I’m here often during the year because it’s my territory. I’m in charge of the happiness quotient for my partners on the West Coast, and anytime I’m here, I’m happier. I love it here.”

The 54-year-old Lifson, who resides in Louisville, Ky., was with TVG for five years after it launched in the late 1990s. “I kind of tell people I was the Bob Lee of TVG,” he said. “I started there, kept rolling with all its ups and downs, but I haven’t stayed like Bob Lee stayed with ESPN. I started in ’99 and left in 2004. I commuted to the studios here in LA, which is how I ultimately hooked up with West Point.”

In addition to Galilean on Monday, West Point and its partners saw Hard Not to Love win her debut in yesterday’s first race and have Bartlett Hall running in today’s eighth race.

Meanwhile, Lifson continues to absorb with passion every moment of a game he loves, punctuating his emphasis by saying this:

“Racing is the greatest game played outdoors.”

VICTOR ESPINOZA RETURNS TO ACTION TOMORROW

Victor Espinoza was back on the beat at Clockers’ Corner Sunday morning, blending in with the throng as he prepares for his return to the races in Monday’s first race aboard 5-2 morning line favorite Gallantlystreaming for trainer John Sadler.

“It feels good to come back and start again after such a long time,” said Espinoza, 46, who was sidelined almost seven months after suffering injuries in a training mishap at Del Mar last July 22. The regular rider of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome, Espinoza has been working horses in advance of his comeback and breezed one for trainer Jim Cassidy this morning.

“I’m looking forward to winning some more races,” Espinoza said. “It’s great to see my old friends. I’ve been here so many years, and to suddenly disappear for a little while was hard, so it’s fun to be back.

“I’m really excited and looking forward to riding the next champion.”

SANTA ANITA SINGLE TICKET PICK SIX JACKPOT CARRYOVER OF $190,102

Santa Anita’s popular 20 cent Single Ticket Pick Six Jackpot went unsolved on Saturday, resulting in a Jackpot carryover into Sunday of $190,102. Although there was no Jackpot winner, there were 67 consolation tickets with six winners, each paying $1,443.05.

With $180,325 in “new” money wagered, Saturday’s total Single Ticket Jackpot pool totaled $329,144.

Sunday’s 20 cent Single Ticket Jackpot begins with race four, which has an approximate post time of 2:05 p.m. PT.

TOC HONORS HRONIS RACING, REDDAM RACING

The Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) has announced the winners of its 2018 statistical awards for leading California owners. For the second consecutive year, Hronis Racing LLC was leading owner in total purse earnings and also led all owners by number of California wins and number of stakes wins. Reddam Racing LLC took the award for most California starts.

Hronis’s campaigners earned $3,838,910 in California last year, with 40 victories from 253 starts, including 12 stakes wins. Leading was Horse of the Year runner-up Accelerate, winner of the Santa Anita Handicap, Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes, San Pasqual Stakes, Awesome Again Stakes and the $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic.

Their other top stakes runners were Catalina Cruiser (winner of the Pat O’Brien Stakes and San Diego Handicap), Gift Box, Yuvetsi, Shenandoah Queen and Edwards Going Left.

Reddam Racing made a remarkable 300 California starts in 2018 for earnings of $3,000,690. Their top stakes runners included Mopotism, winner of the La Canada Stakes, How About Zero, winner of the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint Stakes, B Squared, Blame the Rider, Lippy, and Listing.

Both winners will be recognized at TOC’s annual meetings, at Del Mar on Saturday, Aug. 10, and at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday, Oct. 19.

LATEST CONTENT FROM XBTV:

Instagrand (Inside – Blue Helmet) works 6 furlongs (Hollendorfer)

Why Not Us (Red Helmet) & Shining Through (Black Helmet) work 6 furlongs (Hollendorfer)

Roadster (Outside) works 6 furlongs & Reedley works 5 furlongs (Baffert)

Gunmetal Gray works 4 furlongs (Hollendorfer)

Doug O’Neill Shedrow Stroll: Shut It Up

San Antonio Stakes winner Gift Box working 6 Furlongs (Sadler) 2-16-19

Grade 1 placed Amandine working 5 Furlongs (Sadler) 2-16-19

Easy Shot working 4 Furlongs (Desormeaux) 2-16-19

Nolo Contesto (Outside) & Encanta working 5 Furlongs (Sadler) 2-16-19

FINISH LINES: The remarkable Vasilika worked six furlongs early Sunday morning in 1:14.40 for Saturday’s Grade II Buena Vista Stakes at a mile on turf. “She galloped out real nice,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said of the five-year-old Skipshot mare, winner of eight of nine starts on Santa Anita’s grass course with one second. “She’s doing great, looks great and is feeling good. She’s a happy horse right now.” . . . Hollendorfer also sent Triple Crown contender Instagrand six furlongs in 1:13.40 in preparation for the Grade II San Felipe Stakes on March 9. Going in company with Shining Through and Why Not Us, Instagrand broke behind that pair but overtook them while finishing on the rail. Another Hollendorfer Triple Crown candidate, Gunmetal Gray, worked four furlongs in 48.40 . . Barbara Beatrice and S Y Sky each worked today for Phil D’Amato, who plans to run them in this Sunday’s $100,000 Spring Fever Stakes for older California-bred fillies and mares at six furlongs. Also ticketed for the Spring Fever is Show It N Moe It for trainer Gary Sherlock. In all there were 246 recorded works, 48 on the training track. . .
At Tokyo Race Course today, Japanese-bred Inti won the Group 1 February Stakes under Yutaka Take to secure the first automatic berth into the$6million Breeders’ Cup Classicat Santa Anita Nov. 2 through the international Breeders’ Cup Challenge . . . Andrea Atzeni scored his second victory of the meet Saturday in the sixth race for Simon Callaghan aboard first-time starter Maxim Rate at a $59.40 win payoff. The native of Sardinia leaves for England on Feb. 25 but will return to ride Thunder Road winner True Valour for Callaghan in the Grade I Kilroe Mile on March 9, according to his agent, Matt Nakatani . . . The California Horse Racing Board has its monthly meeting 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Santa Anita. The public is encouraged to attend. An audio-only webcast can be heard through a link on the CHRB website (webcast).

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

Flavien Prat 139 33 29 19 24% 58% $2,140,292
Joel Rosario 158 33 28 29 21% 57% $1,819,333
Heriberto Figueroa 137 21 12 21 15% 39% $773,216
Tiago Pereira 106 19 16 10 18% 42% $718,484
Geovanni Franco 137 17 16 21 12% 39% $847,834
Mike Smith 55 17 10 8 31% 64% $1,133,745
Rafael Bejarano 113 16 18 21 14% 49% $907,244
Drayden Van Dyke 101 16 15 13 16% 44% $934,843
Tyler Baze 157 14 29 21 9% 41% $1,046,358
Assael Espinoza 85 11 5 12 13% 33% $371,217
Joseph Talamo 104 10 19 15 10% 42% $834,362
Kent Desormeaux 70 9 9 11 13% 41% $706,127
Ruben Fuentes 71 9 8 14 13% 44% $307,425
Mario Gutierrez 76 7 12 10 9% 38% $476,688
Agapito Delgadillo 45 7 6 5 16% 40% $191,800
Edwin Maldonado 48 7 6 1 15% 29% $240,916
Aaron Gryder 43 6 4 3 14% 30% $183,636

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

Doug O’Neill 126 21 21 18 17% 48% $1,036,395
Peter Miller 82 17 13 9 21% 48% $951,131
John Sadler 59 14 14 9 24% 63% $890,801
Richard Baltas 82 13 19 15 16% 57% $875,137
Jerry Hollendorfer 71 12 11 11 17% 48% $831,098
Bob Baffert 53 10 9 8 19% 51% $996,435
J. Keith Desormeaux 43 10 8 5 23% 53% $454,744
Philip D’Amato 67 8 9 11 12% 42% $593,582
William E. Morey 44 8 9 9 18% 59% $403,159
Richard Mandella 32 8 3 2 25% 41% $270,958
Jeff Mullins 37 7 9 6 19% 59% $498,764
Mark Glatt 48 7 9 5 15% 44% $314,794
Vladimir Cerin 36 7 4 5 19% 44% $264,155
Simon Callaghan 27 7 3 5 26% 56% $457,696
Steve Knapp 36 7 2 5 19% 39% $152,880
Peter Eurton 35 6 5 5 17% 46% $292,596
Hector O. Palma 33 6 5 3 18% 42% $178,578

ABOUT SANTA ANITA PARK
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.