Santa Anita Stable Notes Friday, April 29, 2022

By Ed Golden —-

STABLE NOTES BY ED GOLDEN

TAIBA, MESSIER BREEZE FOR KENTUCKY DERBY

Taiba, who in only his second career start upset stablemate Messier by 2 ¼ lengths in the Grade I Runhappy Santa Anita Derby April 9, worked six furlongs in company Thursday in what was likely his final major drill for the Kentucky Derby on May 7.

Under jockey Drayden Van Dyke, the $1.7 million son of Gun Runner was timed in a bullet 1:12.80, while stablemate American Admiral was clocked in 1:13 flat.

Taiba’s time was the fastest of only four breezes at the distance, the average time of which was 1:13.05.

Messier, meanwhile, worked Friday at Santa Anita for the 148th Run for the Roses, going six furlongs in 1:11.60, also with Louisville native Van Dyke in the saddle.

“We’ll leave for Kentucky Sunday morning and be in Kentucky Sunday afternoon,” said Tim Yakteen, who trains both Taiba and Messier.

The works could be Taiba and Messier’s final breezes prior to the mile and one-quarter Derby at Churchill Downs. In addition to his six furlong drill this morning, Messier stepped five furlongs for Yakteen on April 23 in 59.40.

“I’ll play it by ear and see what I want to do,” Yakteen said. “It was a perfectly scripted drill for Taiba Thursday and for Messier today. We’re all set; we’re good. I’ll go into Churchill, read the horses and see if I want to do anything there.

“But since Taiba’s work was a day before Messier’s, I might breeze him in Kentucky or let him stretch his legs a little bit there.

“If I want to just gallop into the race, I’ll gallop into the race.”

As to Doppelganger, fourth in the Arkansas Derby on April 2, Yakteen said he could run the son Into Mischief in the Grade II Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs May 7 and “possibly use that as a springboard for the Preakness (May 22 at Pimlico).”

EXPRESS TRAIN ‘IN GOOD CYCLE’ FOR CALIFORNIAN

Express Train is a remarkable Thoroughbred in more ways than one.

Barring the unforeseen, he always runs his race, and with three straight stakes wins including the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap presented by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino last out on March 5, is a leading candidate for Horse of the Meet.

He will seek to add to his growing resume Saturday with a victory in the Grade II Californian Stakes for four-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles, achieving it while still a full horse at the age of five, an exception in today’s sport.

“We’re just fortunate he’s that type of horse,” said John Shirreffs, who trains the son of Union Rags for C R K Stable LLC. “He’s hearty, very courageous and strong and seems to be in a really good cycle right now.”

His owners have been in a good cycle for a long time.

C R K Stable is the nom de course of Lee and Susan Searing of Claremont, California, who were high school sweethearts in Pomona and have been married 43 years.

Lee is president of Searing Industries, the family business specializing in steel-tubing products, and it was family that got him into racing, when his father took him to the track as a youngster.

The Searings named their stable after their three children’s initials—Christina, Richard and Katherine.

“They really support our racing here,” Shirreffs said.

Express Train will be ridden once again by Victor Espinoza, who has been aboard for his last three victories, still exhibiting his Hall of Fame form despite approaching 50 on May 23 and courageously overcoming a severe neck injury in a 2018 workout spill at Del Mar that threatened his riding career, sidelining him for seven months.

“Victor is such a great rider,” Shirreffs enthused. “He brings a lot to the horse when he gets on him, all that experience and knowledge, so it’s a real benefit for us.”

The 69th Californian, race six of 12 with a 1 p.m. first post time: Spielberg, Abel Cedillo, 6-1; Holden the Lute, Ramon Vazquez, 12-1; Express Train, Victor Espinoza, 4-5; Shaaz, Mike Smith, 7-2; and Stilleto Boy, Juan Hernandez, 5-2.

BRICKYARD RIDE ONE TO CATCH IN KONA GOLD

No secret on the tactics Brickyard Ride will employ against open company in Saturday’s Grade III Kona Gold Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs: barring the unexpected, the lightning-quick chestnut will be in front and attempt to carry his vaunted speed to victory, as he has done 11 times in 21 starts.

“Everybody knows his game,” said Craig Lewis, who trains the five-year-old California-bred son of Clubhouse Ride for owner/breeder Alfred Pais. “It’s speed.”

On paper, aside from Florida invader Miles Ahead, there appears to be no other rival capable of an early challenge in the Kona Gold, in which Brickyard Ride finished second by 9 ¾ lengths as the 3-5 favorite when pressed through suicidal early splits last year.

The Kona Gold, race four: Tigre Di Sligo, Kyle Frey, 7-2; Strike That, Ramon Vazquez, 4-1; Brickyard Ride, Juan Hernandez, 6-5; and Miles Ahead, Victor Espinoza, 8-5.

SHIRREFFS OPTIMISTIC ON WHITTINGHAM STRETCHOUT

Beyond Brilliant’s forte is speed and he has never won beyond a mile and an eighth, but John Shirreffs sees the glass as half full for the four-year-old son of Twirling Candy colt in Saturday’s Grade II Charles Whittingham Stakes for three-year-olds and up at a mile and a quarter on the hillside turf course.

“Because he’s a horse that likes to be on or near the lead, we think the added distance will benefit him and he can use the pace to his advantage,” said Shirreffs, who had the four-year-old colt trained to the minute winning the Grade I Hollywood Derby by a neck going a mile and an eighth last Nov. 27, leading throughout at odds a dime short of 11-1.

Beyond Brilliant almost stole his second Grade I win in the Kilroe Mile on March 5, leading before yielding late to finish fourth, beaten only a length at 9-1.

“We thought the mile race (Kilroe) would be a little short for him, but he surprised us because he ran so well, so we’ll see how he does at a mile and a quarter,” said Shirreffs, who conditions Beyond Brilliant for C R K Stable LLC.

The field for the 55th Whittingham, race 11: Gregdar, Ryan Curatolo, 15-1; Dean Martini; Abel Cedillo, 15-1; Majestic Eagle, Mike Smith, 6-1; Dicey Mo Chara, Drayden Van Dyke, 4-1; Gold Phoenix, Kyle Frey, 6-1; Masteroffoxhounds, Juan Hernandez, 2-1; and Beyond Brilliant, Victor Espinoza, 9-5.

POPULAR HORSEMAN ‘SPEEDY’ SMITHWICK PASSES AT 62

A popular figure on the Southern California racing scene in the 1980s and into the mid 1990s, Daniel “Speedy” Smithwick has passed away at age 62 in Middleburg, VA, according to a press release posted at The Paulick Report.

The son of Hall of Fame Steeplechase trainers Dot and Mikey Smithwick, Speedy was considered one of America’s top Steeplechase jockeys prior to training in California and Kentucky for the late Jack Kent Cooke’s Elmendorf Stable. Speedy, who was assisted by his wife Eva, trained several graded stakes horses for a variety of owners, including Ziggy’s Act, Zignew (winner of the Grade II San Fernando Stakes at Santa Anita in 1994), Glacial and Suave Voir Faire.

An outstanding horseman, Speedy was known for his sense of humor, kindness and optimism.

Services are to be held on May 16 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Upperville, VA, beginning at 11 a.m. The Smithwick family has requested that donations please be made to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs.

Mike Willman

CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED FOUNDATION DONATES LIBRARY

The California Thoroughbred Foundation is donating the contents of the Carleton F. Burke Library in Arcadia— one of the most extensive collections of equine literature found anywhere—to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

“This is such a rare and specialized collection that it is a great match with an academic library,” said Foundation President Ada Gates Patton. “Officials from Cal Poly Pomona approached us about acquiring the library, with proposed expert management of books and increased public access.

“The Foundation does not have resources like those at Cal Poly. In addition, with more and more material available on the Internet, in-person use of the library decreased in recent years, followed by a two-year closure because of the pandemic. So after studying the proposal carefully, our board voted for the donation. This will benefit anyone interested in publications about horses, whether for serious study or just pleasure reading.”

The university intends to digitize research books for worldwide access, exposing the Burke Library to a far wider audience than the Foundation could offer.

“We have been privileged to own this unique collection and open it to the public, and we look forward to its professional preservation and even wider availability at Cal Poly Pomona,” said Gates Patton.

The Burke Library has been housed in the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association building in Arcadia, across the street from Santa Anita Park. One positive factor influencing the decision was that the collection will remain nearby, as Pomona is just 20 miles from Arcadia.

“The Burke Library has long been an important resource for many in the horse world,” said CTBA President Doug Burge. “The CTBA has been proud to have the library on our premises, but we understand that its care and accessibility will be greatly enhanced at Cal Poly Pomona.”

Carleton F. Burke was the first chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, director of racing at Santa Anita, and a secretary-treasurer of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. He died in 1962, and the following year the library was named for him in recognition of his contributions to racing.

Jane Goldstein

FINISH LINES: Guaranteed pools in the Late Pick 4 and Late Pick 5 bets will be in play at Golden Gate Fields today through Sunday, the Late Pick 4 in the final four races. Today’s guaranteed Late Pick 5 pool is $50,000, while the Late Pick 4 is guaranteed at $100,000. Saturday and Sunday, the Late Pick 5 is guaranteed at $100,000, and the Late Pick 4 guaranteed at $200,000. Saturday is Day One of Gold Rush Weekend, an annual event considered Golden Gate’s marquee race weekend. Among Saturday’s six stakes is the signature race of the Winter/Spring meet, the $250,000 Grade III San Francisco Mile for three-year-olds and up at a mile on turf, in which trainer Val Brinkerhoff hopes the third time’s the charm for Santa Anita-based Restrainedvengence, who will be ridden by Edwin Maldonado. The seven-year-old millionaire gelding was third in the race last year and fourth in 2020. “He drew the 11 post, which isn’t good, but he’s a lot fitter for this race than he was for the John Shear (when he ran an uninspired fifth in his 2022 debut April 10 at Santa Anita),” Brinkerhoff said . . . Host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guests at 11:50 a.m. in the East Paddock Gardens will be 2022 NTRA and NHC champion David Harrison Saturday and horseplayer and owner Johnny Lowe on Sunday.