SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2019

By Ed Golden —-

• SANTA ANITA A WINNING PATH TO KENTUCKY DERBY
• OWNERS WELCOME OVERNIGHT PURSE INCREASES
• CALLAGHAN FILLIES SHORTEN UP FOR THE SENORITA
• FANS CAN MEET TRAINER RICHARD BALTAS ON XBTV

SANTA ANITA HAS EDGE FOR DERBY, WEATHER OR NOT

Horses based at Santa Anita have won four of the last seven runnings of the Kentucky Derby: I’ll Have Another in 2012, American Pharoah in 2015, Nyquist in 2016 and Justify in 2018, but there is no magical elixir propelling them to success, according to Doug O’Neill, who saddled both I’ll Have Another and Nyquist to surprising victories.

Throw in California Chrome in 2014, and five out of the last seven Kentucky Derby winners have been Southern California-based colts.

“I would attribute it to the weather and consistent training,” said the four-time Santa Anita training leader, who turns 51 on May 24. “We bring horses that are maybe a little more fit than some of the horses back east that have to deal with Mother Nature more often.

“That would be my evaluation, because you’ve got great horses and great horsemen from coast to coast, but we’re blessed–for the most part–with really good weather and able to train daily, barring unforeseen circumstances, of course.”

Fans can participate in the biggest Derby party west of Kentucky Saturday at Santa Anita. Live racing, music, food trucks and hat contests will be the order of the day.

For tickets and reservations, visit santaanita.com. Admission gates open early at 7:15 a.m. on Kentucky Derby Day.

SANTA ANITA PURSE INCREASE PAYS QUICK DIVIDEND

When Rocky Policy bounded home nearly two lengths in front in Saturday’s third race, her connections felt like they just hit the lottery, thanks to a purse increase of $10,000 in the five furlong turf dash that had a gross value of $68,104 with $40,200 going to the winner.

Santa Anita and the Thoroughbred Owners of California recently increased purses significantly on all non-stakes races through the next six weeks.

“I think it’s fantastic,” said Andrew Lerner, who trains the seven-year-old Maryland-bred mare for a partnership comprised of Del Mar Summer Racing Club LLC, Barry Arnason, John Cavalli, Eric Homme and Maureen Richardson.

“More owners are coming out because they want to claim horses,” the 30-year-old trainer continued. “A few months ago, they stopped when things kind of dried up, but now they’re more into it, so the purse increase seems to have helped in that respect.

“Yesterday it was $68,104, plus there was a 10 percent bonus because the horse came in from out of state (having previously raced in Maryland last year before making her first start for Lerner at Golden Gate Fields on April 6).

“It was a big deal. It was like winning a $150,000 stakes race”

HOSTESS, MAXIM RATE RETURN IN SENORITA, SIMON SAYS

Hostess and Maxim Rate, who finished a nose apart in the Grade III Providencia Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf April 6, will shorten up to a mile in Saturday’s Grade III Senorita Stakes for three-year-old fillies on turf.

An English-bred bay, Hostess got up in a blanket finish to win the Providencia at 25-1. Maxim Rate, who bobbled at the start, just missed despite also going three wide turning into the stretch run.

Hostess worked five furlongs Saturday in 1:00.60 under Brice Blanc, who rides her in the Senorita. “I was happy with it,” said trainer Simon Callaghan. “She’s doing well and I think dropping back in distance won’t be a problem.”

Kent Desormeaux has the mount on Maxim Rate in the Senorita, while Joe Talamo will do honors for Richard Baltas aboard Lady Prancealot, who was third in the Providencia, beaten only a head for all the money after a four-wide move into the stretch.

FANS CAN MEET RICHARD BALTAS ON XBTV

Richard Baltas, off to a flying start at the spring portion of Santa Anita’s current meet that concludes June 23, recently took time from his busy schedule for an in-depth interview. Viewers can read the full feature on Richard Baltas here.

Part I of XBTV’s Candid Conversation

Part II of XBTV’s Candid Conversation

Saturday, he sent out The Hunt to capture the $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes, giving Baltas his fourth win early on. Proud to be known as “a racing stable,” the 57-year-old trainer is a boon to the racing department, usually among the leaders in starters, with the majority of them placed in the most propitious spots to win.

LATEST CONTENT FROM XBTV:

The Aurelia Factor works 5 furlongs (Baffert) 4-28-19

Foster Boi (Outside) and Ya Gotta Wanna work 5 furlongs (D’Amato) 4-28-19

Kanthaka works 4 furlongs (Hollendorfer) 4-28-19
Simon Callaghan talks Bellafina following her final work before the Kentucky Oaks

Bellafina works 5 furlongs (Callaghan) 4-26-19
Game Winner works 7 furlongs (Baffert) 4-26-19

Secret Spice (Outside) in company with Madman work 5 furlongs (Baltas) 4-26-19

RoadsterGift Box works 5 furlongs (Sadler) 4-27-19

Ohio works 4 furlongs (McCarthy) 4-27-19

Hostess works 5 furlongs (Callaghan) 4-27-19

FINISH LINES: Monster mare Vasilika, prepping for the Grade I Gamely Stakes on May 27, worked five furlongs on the training track this morning in 1:03.20 for Jerry Hollendorfer. Overall, there were 171 recorded workouts, 44 on the training track. The Gamely is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Race providing the winner with a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Nov. 1 . . . Agent Matt Nakatani reports that Mario Gutierrez is batting 1.000 with Bob Baffert. In his only two rides for the two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer, the 32-year-old native of Mexico has won each time, yesterday aboard favored Kingly in the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields and last Sept. 3 on Game Winner in the Grade I Del Mar Futurity . . . Santa Anita will be dark for live racing Monday through Thursday, with live action resuming at 1 p.m. Friday, May 3. Fans can watch and wager on Santa Anita Oaks winner and Santa Anita-based Bellafina, who is favored to win the prestigious Grade I Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs that day for trainer Simon Callaghan and owner Kaleem Shah . . . Simulcast racing is offered Wednesday and Thursday with free general admission and free parking. Admission gates open at 10 a.m. . . . Reminder: admission gates open early at 7:15 a.m. this Saturday, Kentucky Derby Day.

SANTA ANITA STATISTICS
(Current from April 12 through Saturday, April 27)
Jockey Mts 1st 2nd 3rd Win% ITM% Money Won

Flavien Prat 20 9 4 1 45% 70% $339,440
Rafael Bejarano 31 7 7 7 23% 68% $302,211
Tiago Pereira 30 6 3 6 20% 50% $228,939
Drayden Van Dyke 24 5 5 3 21% 54% $292,377
Ruben Fuentes 30 4 6 5 13% 50% $144,487
Joseph Talamo 26 4 4 6 15% 54% $246,326
Edwin Maldonado 16 4 2 5 25% 69% $105,642
Victor Espinoza 11 4 1 1 36% 55% $249,702
Aaron Gryder 23 3 4 1 13% 35% $125,208
Kent Desormeaux 11 3 1 1 27% 45% $94,896
Heriberto Figueroa 18 3 0 0 17% 17% $85,279
Mario Gutierrez 18 2 4 2 11% 44% $110,395
Martin Garcia 12 2 3 3 17% 67% $114,533
Geovanni Franco 13 2 1 1 15% 31% $64,269
Brice Blanc 8 2 1 0 25% 38% $88,904

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

Doug O’Neill 19 6 1 5 32% 63% $193,864
Richard Baltas 14 4 5 0 29% 64% $213,851
John Sadler 17 4 3 4 24% 65% $324,242
Mark Glatt 16 3 3 2 19% 50% $161,097
Jerry Hollendorfer 13 3 3 1 23% 54% $127,547
Philip D’Amato 8 3 1 0 38% 50% $120,662
George Papaprodromou 8 3 0 2 38% 63% $63,540
Andrew Lerner 5 3 0 0 60% 60% $68,780
Vladimir Cerin 10 2 3 1 20% 60% $77,173
Carla Gaines 5 2 1 1 40% 80% $70,751
Peter Eurton 8 2 1 1 25% 50% $73,742
Robert Hess, Jr. 9 2 1 1 22% 44% $56,640
Alfredo Marquez 5 2 1 0 40% 60% $45,840
Michael Pender 6 2 1 0 33% 50% $40,582
John Shirreffs 8 2 1 0 25% 38% $177,271
William Spawr 6 2 0 2 33% 67% $58,911
Michael McCarthy 5 2 0 0 40% 40% $67,362
Peter Miller 8 2 0 0 25% 25% $64,504

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.

ABOUT THE STRONACH GROUP
The Stronach Group (TSG) is a world-class entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horse racing at the core. The company’s mission is executed through the distinct but interconnected pillars of Racing and Gaming, Entertainment, Technology and Real Estate Development. TSG is dedicated to delivering the best in class Thoroughbred horse racing content and operations. The company holds some of the greatest brands in the industry including, Southern California’s Santa Anita Park, “The Great Race Place”; South Florida’s Gulfstream Park, home to the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series and retail destination, The Village at Gulfstream Park; Pimlico Race Course, home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Laurel Park and Rosecroft Raceway in Maryland; Oregon’s Portland Meadows; and the San Francisco Bay Area’s, Golden Gate Fields. TSG is a leader in digital and mobile wagering technology through its subsidiaries AmTote and Xpressbet and is a major distributor of horse racing content to a global audience through Monarch Content Management. The award winning Adena Springs is the breeding and training facility of The Stronach Group with stables in Kentucky, Florida and Ontario.