Santa Anita Stable Notes Thursday, May 9, 2024

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN
THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2024

STRONGHOLD, ENDLESSLY BACK AT SANTA ANITA AFTER KY. DERBY RUNS
Stronghold and Endlessly have settled back in at Santa Anita following their efforts in the 150th Kentucky Derby last Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Stronghold, who was seventh in the Derby, and ninth-place finisher Endlessly each returned to Santa Anita on Tuesday. GI Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold went to the track for the first time Thursday for a light jog.
“He came out of the race in good shape,” D’Amato said Thursday morning.
In the Derby, Stronghold and jockey Antonio Fresu ranged up to be fourth at the quarter pole only about a length back of the leader, Mystik Dan, who would ultimately prevail. Stronghold was unable to sustain his move through the lane and weakened to finish some 13 lengths back of the winner.
“I thought he got a good stalking trip behind the speed. He made a nice little move at the top of the lane and then kind of faded the final eighth,” D’Amato said.
Stronghold, who races as a homebred for Eric and Sharon Waller, is now likely to target some of the Midwest derbies that are held in the summer, D’Amato added. Potential targets for the Ghostzapper colt include the GIII, $500,000 Ohio Derby June 22 at Thistledown, GIII, $300,000 Indiana Derby July 6 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and $250,000 Iowa Derby July 6 at Prairie Meadows.
“We’re going to recharge the batteries and aim for some big stakes down the road,” D’Amato said. “We’ll focus on mile and mile-and-eighth races this year.”
For both D’Amato and Fresu, this was their first time participating in the Kentucky Derby.
“It was an amazing experience,” D’Amato said. “To be able to enjoy it with your family and with great owners like the Wallers, it was fabulous. Hopefully we can do it every year.”
Endlessly, who was trying dirt for the first time, was last after the opening quarter mile under Umberto Rispoli. The Oscar Performance colt remained near the rear of the field before making up ground the final quarter mile.
“I thought he ran very well all things considered,” trainer Michael McCarthy said Thursday morning. “First time dirt, first time getting kickback. He was a little farther back than I would have liked, but he put in a mild run around the first turn and finished up nicely.”
Owned by Amerman Racing, Endlessly is now 7: 5-0-0 with $707,200 in earnings. Prior to the Derby, he won the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate and GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park, both on synthetic.
McCarthy said Endlessly will return to turf with his next start likely coming out of state.
“We’re going to go ahead and get him back to his routine and look for something in July,” he added.

PICK 6 CARRYOVER OF 104K ADDS SPICE TO FRIDAY’S 8-RACE CARD
There is a Pick Six carryover of $104,580.83 for Friday’s eight-race card at Santa Anita. The total pool is estimated to approach $500,000.
First post is 1 p.m. PT with the Pick Six set to begin with the third race at approximately 2 p.m.
The third is a $10,000 claimer at a mile on dirt. The 6-5 morning line favorite is Tembo, who will be ridden by Abdul Alsagoor for trainer Steve Knapp. Tembo won under similar conditions in January and was beaten just a nose at this level last out on March 1. Also in with a big chance is 7-5 second choice Granada Flavor, who will be ridden by Kyle Frey for trainer Sean McCarthy.
The fourth is a starter allowance at six furlongs on turf. Pink Ace, who has never raced on grass, is the 9-5 favorite for trainer Phil D’Amato. Antonio Fresu rides. The fifth is a $32,000 claimer for 3-year-olds at six furlongs on dirt. Midnight Love with Fresu up is the 9-5 favorite for trainer Hector Palma.
The sixth is a starter allowance with a $50,000 claiming option at six furlongs on turf. The 5-2 favorite is Perfect in Gray, who beat $50,000 maiden-claimers in her debut on dirt by 7 ¾ lengths here March 15. Trained by John Sadler, she will have Tiago Periera in the irons for her second start and first against winners.
The seventh is a $20,000 maiden-claimer at 6 ½ furlongs on dirt. The 2-1 favorite is Sabres for trainer Doug O’Neill, who drops in class and switches surfaces. Sabres, who will be ridden by Edwin Maldonado, most recently was fourth in a $50,000 maiden-claimer on turf.
The anchor leg is first-level allowance/optional claimer for California-breds at six furlongs on turf. Grazen in the Sun, the 9-5 favorite for trainer Mark Glatt, and 2-1 second choice Hotitude for trainer Kristin Mulhall look like potential standouts.
Friday’s carryover came after multiple longshots won in Sunday’s Pick Six sequence. The carryover was clinched with one race remaining when Vitalera won the ninth under Tyler Baze and paid $61.80 for trainer Marcelo Polanco.
The winning horses in Sunday’s Pick Six starting with the fifth race were #3 Man Among Men ($6.60), #5 Show Card ($5.20), #6 Visually ($36), #7 Squalotoro ($30.20), #11 Vitalera ($61.80) and #9 Old Pal ($9.20).

GI WINNER ARABIAN KNIGHT CONTINUES TO GEAR UP FOR BAFFERT
Grade I winner Arabian Knight continued to ramp up for his 4-year-old debut with a five-furlong work Thursday for trainer Bob Baffert.
Arabian Knight completed the drill in 1:01.0. It was his fifth work since April 11 and the second consecutive at five furlongs.
By Uncle Mo, Arabian Knight has been off since a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. In three starts prior to the Breeders’ Cup, he won both the GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar and GIII Southwest at Oaklawn Park and was third in the GI Haskell at Monmouth Park.
Returning to the work tab for Baffert was multiple graded stakes winner Kinza. In her first drill since finishing second at 1-2 in the GII Santa Anita Oaks April 6, the Carpe Diem filly went four furlongs in 48.40 seconds.
The Santa Anita Oaks was the first loss in four starts for Kinza. She won her bow Dec. 29 at Santa Anita and came back to score in both the GIII Las Virgenes Feb. 10 and the GIII Santa Ysabel March 9.
A notable 2-year-old was also on the tab. Working for trainer Richard Mandella was an unnamed filly by Into Mischief out of Grade I winner Perfect Alibi. Bred by Spendthrift Farm, the bay filly worked three furlongs in 37.80 seconds. It was her fourth work since April 15 and first beyond a quarter mile.
There were 88 timed workouts combined between the main track and training track.

FINISH LINES: Friday’s card includes the first open maiden race for 2-year-old fillies at 4 ½ furlongs on the main track. It goes as the second race at approximately 1:30 p.m. PT. Night Beacon, by first-crop sire Spun to Run, is the 8-5 morning line favorite for trainer Ryan Hanson. Emily Ellingwood rides…Sunday’s 50-cent late Pick 5 paid $100,542 for five winning tickets…With just one winning ticket, Sunday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 returned $110,643.40…Sunday’s $3 All-Turf Pick 3 at Santa Anita paid $58,585.20 for a single winning ticket…Saturday’s feature is the $100,000 Santa Barbara Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 ½ miles on turf. It goes as the ninth and final race at approximately 5 p.m. PT. The 8-5 morning line favorite is Musical Rhapsody, who will be ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith for trainer Phil D’Amato…Jockey Kyle Frey continues to lead the jockey’s standings through the first nine days of the Hollywood Meet. He won his 10th race of the stand Sunday aboard favorite Slew’s Joy ($4.40) for trainer Mark Glatt. Frey holds a two-win advantage over both Umberto Rispoli and Hector Berrios…Sunday’s feature is the $100,000 Lazaro Barrera for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on dirt. The field will be set Thursday afternoon when post positions are drawn.