Santa Anita Stable Notes Friday, April 15, 2022

By Ed Golden —-

STABLE NOTES BY ED GOLDEN

CALIFORNIAN IN MIND FOR EXPRESS TRAIN

Express Train, a leading candidate for Horse of the Meet with three straight stakes wins including the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap presented by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino last out on March 5, likely will seek to make it four in the Californian, a Grade II event at 1 1/8 miles on April 30.

“He worked very nicely for Victor (regular rider Victor Espinoza),” said trainer John Shirreffs, alluding to a five-furlong move in 1:01.20 last Sunday.

“The horse looks good so tentatively we have the Californian in mind.”

Express Train, a five-year-old full horse by Union Rags owned by C R K Stable LLC, prior to the Grade I Big ‘Cap on March 5, won the Grade II San Antonio Stakes on Dec. 26 and the Grade II San Pasqual Stakes Feb. 5.

Bred in Kentucky by Dixiana Farm LLC, the bay has a 7-4-3 record from 17 starts with $1,325,800 in earnings, of which $630,000 was added at Santa Anita this meet, most of all runners.

The Californian is but one of four graded stakes to be presented April 30, the others being the Charles Whittingham and the Santa Margarita, both Grade II’s, and the Grade III Kona Gold.

TAIBA, MESSIER ON TRACK AND ‘LOOK GREAT’

Taiba and Messier, the one-two finishers for Tim Yakteen in the Grade I Runhappy Santa Anita Derby last Saturday, are moving forward as they prepare for the Kentucky Derby on May 7.

“Both horses are back to the track and look great,” the trainer said Friday morning.

“I’ll probably work them next Friday (April 22) and plan on shipping to Churchill (Downs) the weekend before (the race, which would be either April 30 or May 1).”

Taiba, a $1.7 million son of Gun Runner, was making only his second career start in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby, coming off a 7 ½-length debut win at six furlongs on March 5.

Messier, the odds-on favorite in the Santa Anita Derby who lost to his stablemate by 2 ¼ lengths, had been favored in each of his five previous races, four times at odds-on, and won the Grade III Robert B. Lewis Stakes by 15 lengths on Feb. 6.

Yakteen lauded owner Amr Zedan for running Taiba in the Santa Anita Derby, saying in a post-race interview: “All the credit obviously has to go to him, because in my professional opinion, I advised him to take a different route in Taiba’s next start.

“But Amr made an educated decision, based on the information given him, and it resulted in a big pay day ($450,000 to the winner plus 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points).

“All the credit goes to him on this.”

FLIGHTLINE ‘MOVING FORWARD’ FOR MET MILE

Undefeated Grade I Runhappy Malibu Stakes winner Flightline, who missed a scheduled start in the Grade II San Carlos Stakes March 5 due to a strained right hock, will have his second workout on the comeback trail Sunday in preparation for the Grade I Metropolitan Mile at Belmont Park on June 11.

The $1.2 million Metropolitan Handicap, or Met Mile, is a one-turn event first run in 1891 at Morris Park Race Track and moved to Belmont Park in 1904. This will mark the 129th running of one of America’s most historic and prestigious races.

Flightline, a $1 million son of Tapit, worked three furlongs last Sunday in 37 seconds flat.

“He’ll breeze a half-mile this Sunday,” said trainer John Sadler, who will have assistant trainer Juan Leyva aboard.

“The horse is doing well, but it’ s a process to get him back to where he was. Step one was last Sunday, step two is this Sunday, so we’re moving forward.”

FESTIVE SPRING CARNIVAL RUNS THROUGH SUNDAY

Families are welcome at Santa Anita during the track’s Infield Spring Carnival which is in full swing through Sunday.

A myriad of activities are available, including Pony Rides, a Ferris Wheel, Roller Coaster, Train Rides, Face Painting and much more, including the San Gabriel Valley’s largest Easter Egg Hunt this Sunday, April 17.

Fans are encouraged to visit santaanita.com/events for ticketing and to take advantage of big savings on Infield admission and unlimited ride wristbands.

For additional Spring Carnival information, please visit santaanita.com or call 626 574-RACE.

FINISH LINES: This Sunday’s first race at 6 ½ furlongs on turf for California-bred or sired maidens drew a field of 10, and in a racing rarity, the first six in post positions one through six all are making their debuts . . . Apprentice Diego Herrera, currently tied for fifth with Umberto Rispoli at 27 wins each, loses his five-pound weight allowance after April 24 and will ride as a journeyman when racing resumes at Santa Anita on April 30 . . . Multiple graded stakes-winning turf marathoner Acclimate breezed four furlongs Friday in 49.20 for leading trainer Phil D’Amato. The eight-year-old gelding captured the Grade III San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 ½ miles on March 12 in typical front-running fashion. In all there were 86 recorded workouts this morning . . . Tom Quigley’s handicapping seminar guests 11:50 a.m. from the XBTV Studios will be Thoroughbred owner/breeder Amanda Navarro today; on Saturday, Leon Vukmanovich, runner-up winner of $500 last Sunday in Santa Anita’s Live Money Tournament; and Sunday, Todd Cady, $1,500 winner of the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby handicapping tournament last Saturday.

LATEST CONTENT FROM XBTV:

FEATURES:

Stronach Pick 5 All-Star Ticket

Preview of Race 1

Preview of Race 3

WORKOUTS:

As Luck Happens (Outside) and Queen’s Code (Gaines) 4-14-22

Bold Endeavor (Outside) and Dance to the Music (Glatt) 4-14-22

Chaos Theory (Hess, Jr.) 4-14-22

Defunded (Outside) and Spielberg (S. McCarthy) 4-14-22

Eight Rings (S. McCarthy) 4-14-22

Fashionably Fast (Pederson) 4-11-22

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

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