SANTA ANITA SATURDAY STAKES PREVIEWS

By Mike Willman —-

PRACTICAL MOVE HEADS SATURDAY’S GRADE I, $750,000 RUNHAPPY SANTA ANITA DERBY AS HE SEEKS HIS 3RD CONSECUTIVE GRADED VICTORY

ARCADIA, CA (April 5, 2023)—Trainer Tim Yakteen’s Practical Move, fresh off impressive scores in a pair of graded stakes, heads a field of nine sophomores going a mile and one eighth in this Saturday’s Grade I, $750,000 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby—a race that has produced 20 Kentucky Derby winners.

With a total of 200 Kentucky Derby qualifying points at stake, 100 will be awarded to the winner, with 40, 30, 20 and 10 points going to the remaining top five finishers.

Yakteen, a former assistant to both Bob Baffert and Charlie Whittingham, eyes his first victory in what will be the 86th renewal of the Santa Anita Derby. Owned by Leslie Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy, Jr. and Roger Beasley, Practical Move was attentive to the pace in the Grade II San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 4 while full of run at the rail in the run to the far turn.

With pacesetter Hejazi in front of him and Geaux Rocket Ride just to his outside, Practical Move unleashed a tremendous turn of foot, leaving his rivals in his wake en route to an emphatic 2 ½ length score and in a performance that certainly suggests he’ll relish added distance, he daylighted the field galloping out into the Club House turn.

Practical Move’s San Felipe score followed an impressive followed 3 ¼ length romp at the same distance in the Grade II Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 17. A Kentucky-bred colt by the Into Mischief stallion Practical Joke out of the Afleet Alex mare Ack Naughty, Practical Move raced as a maiden at Los Alamitos, earning an 88 Beyer Speed Figure, and followed that with a 100 Beyer in the San Felipe.

With Ramon Vazquez back aboard for the third consecutive time on Saturday, Practical Move, who is already assured of a starting position in the Run for the Roses with 60 qualifying points, will again face Geaux Rocket Ride as well the San Felipe third place finisher Skinner, with all three horses rating solid chances.

Second or third in all four of his maiden starts prior to the Los Alamitos Futurity, Practical Move is now 6-3-1-2 with earnings of $434,200.

Although he’s late to the Triple Crown party, Richard Mandella’s Geaux Rocket Ride, in just his second career start and first time around two turns, ran lights-out in the San Felipe, sitting a measured second to Hejazi to the far turn and battling gamely at the rail through the lane to finish second, 1 ¼ lengths in front of an on-coming Skinner.

A galloping first-out maiden six furlong winner here Jan. 29, Geaux Rocket Ride was the 5-2 favorite in the San Felipe, a race in which he earned a 96 Beyer. Owned by Pin Oak Stud, LLC, Geaux Rocket Ride, who picked up 20 KY Derby qualifying points in the San Felipe, is by Candy Ride out of the Uncle Mo mare Beyond Grace.

Like Geaux Rocket Ride, C R K Stable’s Skinner would appear to have considerable upside. Far back at the half mile pole in the San Felipe, Skinner made an eye-catching move while wide-out around the far turn but with Practical Move powering home, he wasn’t able to make up the necessary ground, finishing third by 3 ¾ lengths but looking like a horse who could excel at longer distances.

Trained by John Shirreffs, Skinner, a Kentucky-bred colt by Curlin out of the Malibu Moon mare Winding Way, has improved dramatically here this winter and appears set for his best in what will be sixth career start and fifth pairing with Victor Espinoza.

Unraced since a disappointing third, beaten one length as the 3-5 favorite going one mile in the Grade III Sham Stakes Jan. 8, National Treasure has been transferred from Baffert to Yakteen in an effort to receive qualifying points to the Kentucky Derby.

Third, beaten 3 ¾ lengths by Eclipse Award Juvenile Colt champ Forte I in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Nov. 4 at Keeneland, National Treasure was second to highly regarded stablemate Cave Rock two starts back in the Grade I American Pharoah here Oct. 8 and is obviously a colt with immense class, but with a lack of recency, he no doubt faces a tall order on Saturday.

Owned by SF Racing, LLC, Starlight Racing, LLC, et al, National Treasure is 4-1-1-2 with earnings of $300,000.

Although he’ll likely be a double digit longshot at post time, Japan’s Mandarin Hero is nonetheless a compelling story given the fact Japanese-based horses have done extremely well competing around the globe the past three years—winning a pair of Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar in 2021 and most recently, the Dubai World Cup and UAE Derby on March 25 with Usheba Tesoro and Derma Sotogake.

Raced exclusively at Japan’s Ooi Racecourse, Mandarin Hero was unbeaten in four starts at age two and in his lone start this year, finished second, beaten a neck going a mile and one eighth on Feb. 23. The first Japanese-based horse to ever run in the Santa Anita Derby, Mandarin Hero, a colt by Shanhai Bobby, is owned by Hiroaki Arai and trained by Terunobu Fujita.

Mandarin Hero will be ridden by Kazushi Kimura, a 23-year-old Japanese native who has been Canada’s leading rider for the past two years at Woodbine Racecourse and who was North America’s Eclipse Champion Apprentice in 2019. Kimura, who will be leaving to return to ride full time in Toronto following this weekend, has three stakes wins at the current Classic Meet.

THE GRADE I RUNHAPPY SANTA ANITA DERBY WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 6 of 12 Approximate post time 2:45 p.m. PT

ML

I Don’t Get It—Mario Gutierrez—124 20-1
Dazzlemesilver—Kent Desormeaux—124 50-1
Geaux Rocket Ride—Flavien Prat—124 3-1
One in Vermillion—Hector Berrios—124 50-1
Practical Move—Ramon Vazquez—124 8-5
National Treasure—John Velazquez—124 3-1
Skinner—Victor Espinoza—124 4-1
Mandarin Hero—Kazushi Kimura—124 8-1
Low Expectations—Umberto Rispoli—124 30-1

IRISH-BRED GOLD PHOENIX PROMINENT IN SATURDAY’S GRADE II, $200,000 CHARLES WHITTINGHAM STAKES FOR OLDER HORSES AT 1 ¼ MILES ON TURF

ARCADIA, CA (April 5, 2023)—Santa Anita’s leading trainer with 30 wins at entry time Wednesday, Phil D’Amato would dearly love to notch his 11th stakes win in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes as his Irish-bred Gold Phoenix seeks his second consecutive graded stakes win of the current Classic Meet. With Japanese native Kazushi Kimura set to ride him back, Gold Phoenix heads a field of seven older horses at a mile and one quarter on turf.

The Whittingham is named for the legendary late HOF trainer, affectionately known as “The Bald Eagle,” who ranks second among all trainers with 203 Santa Anita stakes wins, which included a record 14 tallies in what was Santa Anita’s signature turf stakes—the San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap at a mile and three quarters with a hillside start.

In what appeared to be his best race to date, 5-year-old gelding Gold Phoenix burst through at the rail late under Kimura to win the Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile by a neck on March 4, earning a 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

Three for 10 with D’Amato stateside, Gold Phoenix, although winless in two tries at a mile and one quarter on turf, was a close third on both occasions, beaten 1 ¾ lengths seven starts back in last year’s Whittingham and more recently, when beaten a neck three races back in the Grade II John Henry Turf Championship here on Oct. 1.’

Owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, LLC and Marsha Naify, Gold Phoenix stalked the early pace in last year’s Whittingham and will likely do the same on Saturday. Off at 10-1 in the Kilroe Mile, he’ll be a considerably shorter price in the Whittingham as he seeks to improve upon an overall race record of 11-4-3-3 and earnings of $675,257.

Idle since a troubled sixth, beaten 1 ¾ lengths in going a mile and one quarter on turf in the Grade III San Marcos Feb. 5, English-bred Dicey Mo Chara would benefit from a lively pace with Juan Hernandez riding back. A half length winner of the Grade II San Gabriel at a mile one eighth on turf Dec. 26, Dicey Mo Chara lacked room late in the 10-horse San Marcos and rates a huge look for owners Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal.

A classy 5-year-old gelding trained by Leonard Powell, Dicey Mo Chara, who has been graded stakes placed on three occasions, seeks his second graded stakes win on Saturday. With an overall mark of 18-4-4-3, he has earnings of $430,777.

In a very evenly matched lineup, D’Amato’s Masteroffoxhounds, sixth, beaten 4 ¼ lengths by his stablemate Gold Phoenix in the Kilroe Mile, was second, beaten a neck two starts back in the San Marcos appears better suited going a mile and one quarter.

Owned by Gary Hartunian’s Rockingham Ranch, Masteroffoxhounds, a 6-year-old full horse by War Front, has two wins and three seconds from six tries at the Whittingham distance. A close second in last year’s renewal, Masteroffoxhounds also seeks his second graded stakes victory.

With an overall mark of 23-4-4-5, Masteroffoxhounds has earnings of $590,542 and will be reunited with Umberto Rispoli, who last rode him two starts back in the San Marcos.

Claimed for $25,000 three starts back on Nov. 24 at Del Mar, trainer George Papaprodromou’s Opry comes off a fast closing third in the San Marcos, a race in which he was beaten three quarters of a length when ridden for the first time by Frankie Dettori, who rides him back on Saturday.

Owned by David Bernsen, LLC, Mark Gorman and Andrew Schwindt, Opry, a 7-year-old gelding by Declaration of War, was a Grade III winner on grass in New York at age two and will be seeking his second graded stakes victory nearly five years later on Saturday in his third start for Papaprodromou.

THE GRADE II CHARLES WHITTINGHAM WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 5 of 12 Approximate post time 2 p.m. PT

Opry—Lanfranco Dettori–120
Dicey Mo Chara—Juan Hernandez—124
Midnight Jostar—Kent Desormeaux—120
Oflee Naughty—John Velazquez—120
Oncoming—Hector Berrios–120
Masteroffoxhounds—Umberto Rispoli—122
Gold Phoenix—Kazushi Kimura–124

BAFFERT’S FAIZA HEADS GRADE II, $400,000 SANTA ANITA OAKS AS FIELD OF NINE SOPHOMORE FILLIES GO A MILE AND ONE SIXTEENTH ON SATURDAY

RACE IS ONE OF SIX STAKES ON 12-RACE RUNHAPPY SANTA ANITA DERBY DAY CARD, 1ST POST IS AT 12 NOON; WINNER TO GET 100 KY OAKS QUALIFYING POINTS

ARCADIA, CA (April 5, 2023)—Heavily favored and unbeaten in all four of her starts, Bob Baffert’s Faiza heads a field of nine sophomore fillies going a mile and one sixteenth in Saturday’s Grade II, $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks on Saturday. One of six stakes on a 12-race Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Day program, the Oaks will be contested for the 84th time on Saturday.

With 200 qualifying points at stake to the Grade I Kentucky Oaks May 5 at Churchill Downs, the winner will receive 100 points with 40, 30, 20 and 10 points awarded to the remaining top five finishers, with Faiza the lone exception as Baffert trainees are not currently eligible to run at Churchill.

A gutty half length winner of the Grade III Las Virgenes Stakes going one mile here on Jan. 28, Faiza made short work of four rivals going a mile and one sixteenth in the Grade III Santa Ysabel March 5, pressing the early pace and drawing off to win the 2 ¼ lengths while earning an 81 Beyer Speed Figure.

Owned by Michael Lund Petersen, Faiza, who is by Girvin out of the Smart Strike mare Sweet Pistol, was sold for $725,000 at a 2-year-old in training sale one year ago and has amassed earnings of $402,000. She’ll be ridden back by Flavien Prat.

Second to Faiza in the Santa Ysabel, Peter Miller’s And Tell Me Nolies finished eighth, beaten seven lengths two starts back in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keenland Nov. 4 and figures to be the second choice in the Oaks wagering Saturday.

Prior to shipping to Kentucky, And Tell Me Nolies had won Santa Anita’s Grade II Chandelier by three quarters of a length on Oct. 8, and in her third career start, she rallied to win the Grade I Del Mar Debutante Sept. 10.

Owned by Peter Redekop, B.C Ltd, And Tell Me Nolies is by Arrogate out of the Exchange Rate mare Be Fair. Off at 8-1 in the Chandelier and 9-1 in the Del Mar Debutante, And Tell Me Nolies has never been favored in any of her six previous starts. With three wins and a second, she has earnings of $392,800.

Although she has but a first-out maiden win sprinting, trainer Michael McCarthy’s Clearly Unhinged earned an Oaks-best last out Beyer Speed Figure of 89 while taking her six furlong maiden assignment in gate to wire fashion on Feb. 5 by 3 ¼ lengths.

With Juan Hernandez riding for the first time, Clearly Unhinged could have the talent to spring an upset on Saturday. Owned and bred in Kentucky by Rock Brothers Racing and Breeding, LLC, Clearly Unhinged is by Into Mischief and is out of the Smart Strike mare Smart Win.

An even sixth in her one mile turf debut Nov. 13 at Del Mar, Richard Mandella’s Window Shopping took control of a one mile dirt maiden special affair heading to the far turn here on March 17 and smoked home to score by 16 ½ lengths while earning a solid 75 Beyer.

With Flavien Prat opting to stick with Faiza, Hector Berrios will try his hand for the first time aboard the daughter of American Pharoah. Owned by Perry R. Bass and Ramona Bass, Window Shopping, who is out of the Tapit mare Delightful Joy, sold as $700,000 Keeneland September Yearling.

Mandella will also saddle the Bass’s homebred first-out winner Venganza, who aired going six furlongs here on March 11 by 4 ¼ lengths at odds of 1-20. A daughter of Curlin from the War Front mare Avenge, Venganza was also ridden by Prat and will be handled on Saturday by Mike Smith.

THE GRADE II SANTA ANITA OAKS WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 11 of 12 Approximate post time 5:45 p.m. PT

Venganza—Mike Smith—124
Gila—Armando Aguilar—124
Clearly Unhinged—Juan Hernandez—124
Cliquish—Umberto Rispoli—124
Faiza—Flavien Prat–124
Window Shopping—Hector Berrios—124
Princess Bettina—Lanfranco Dettori—124
And Tell Me Nolies—Ramon Vazquez—124
Don’t Get Pickled—Geovanni Franco–124