Santa Anita Stable Notes Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN
SUNDAY, FEB. 23, 2025

Barnes (rail) & Mellencamp)

GII SAN FELIPE: BARNES, RODRIGUEZ EACH WORK IN COMPANY
GI BIG CAP: MIRAHMADI AMONG 5 NOMINEES WITH SUNDAY WORKS
GI KILROE MILE: EL POTENTE LEADS NOMINEES WITH SUNDAY WORKS
PICK 6 CARRYOVER OF $51K FOR 10-RACE PROGRAM SUNDAY
BIG ‘CAP, GII SAN FELIPE PART OF BLOCKBUSTER SATURDAY CARD
SUNDAY’S $1 COAST-TO-COAST PICK 5 STARTS AT 1:50 P.M. PT

WORKS: BARNES, RODRIGUEZ EACH WORK IN COMPANY

Barnes and Rodriguez, candidates to run in this Saturday’s GII DK Horse San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds, each worked in company Sunday for trainer Bob Baffert. Joining that pair on the tab was stablemate Citizen Bull, winner of the GII Robert B. Lewis Feb. 1 at Santa Anita.

Barnes worked in company with fellow 3-year-old Mellencamp, who is also nominated to the DK Horse San Felipe. Barnes was clocked going six furlongs in 1:12.20. By Into Mischief, Barnes is a perfect 2-for-2 including a win in the GII San Vicente going seven furlongs Jan. 4 at Santa Anita. The San Felipe would be Barnes’ first time racing around two turns.

Mellencamp worked five furlongs in 1:00.20. A $775,000 colt by Constitution, Mellencamp is winless in four starts. He most recently finished second to Baeza, who is now pointed to the GI Santa Anita Derby, in a one-mile maiden heat Feb. 14 at Santa Anita.

Rodriguez, who was second to Citizen Bull in the Lewis, worked in company with GIII La Canada winner Cavalieri. Rodriguez and Cavalieri were each clocked going five furlongs in 59.60 seconds, which tied as the third-fastest works at the distance. Cavalieri is a candidate for the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile on March 8.

Citizen Bull, last year’s champion 2-year-old, worked six furlongs in 1:13.0. He is nominated to the San Felipe but is expected to wait for the GI Santa Anita Derby on April 5.

San Felipe nominee Berlin Wall worked five furlongs in 1:00.80. Trained and co-owned by Steve Knapp, the Practical Joke colt most recently graduated via disqualification versus statebreds going six furlongs Feb. 12 at Santa Anita.

MIRAHMADI

BENOIT

GI BIG ‘CAP: MIRAHMADI AMONG 5 NOMINEES WITH SUNDAY WORKS

Five horses nominated to Saturday’s GI Santa Anita Handicap—Mirahmadi, American Admiral, Katonah, Express Train and Tarantino—all had workouts Sunday at Santa Anita.

Mirahmadi fired a bullet for trainer Bob Baffert when drilling six furlongs in 1:12.0. A 4-year-old Into Mischief colt, Mirahmadi exits a sharp front-running win by 4 ½ lengths in a one-mile allowance Jan. 4 at Santa Anita.

American Admiral, trained by Tim Yakteen, also had a bullet work. The 7-year-old gelding by American Pharoah drilled five furlongs in a swift 58.80 seconds. In his two most recent starts, American Admiral was fifth in the GII San Pasqual Jan. 25 and third in the GII Laffit Pincay Jr. on Jan. 25.

Katonah worked five furlongs in 1:00.0 for trainer Doug O’Neill. Katonah won the 1 1/8-mile San Pasqual from off the pace for his second stakes victory.

Express Train, who won the 2022 Big ‘Cap, worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds for trainer John Shirreffs. The 8-year-old horse by Union Rags was beaten two lengths by Katonah when second in the San Pasqual.

Tarantino, who was third in the San Pasqual, worked four furlongs in 49.80 seconds for trainer Peter Eurton.

My Way Racing’s El Potente and jockey Hector I. Berrios win the Grade III $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes Saturday, February 1, 2025 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA.
Benoit Photo

EL POTENTE

BENOIT PHOTO

GI KILROE MILE: EL POTENTE LEADS NOMINEES WITH SUNDAY WORKS

El Potente, a sharp winner of the GIII Thunder Road Feb. 1, was among five horses nominated for Saturday’s GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile to record timed workouts Sunday.

Trained by Dan Blacker, El Potente worked four furlongs on the training track in 49.0 seconds. In the one-mile Thunder Road, the 6-year-old horse by Temple City pressed the pace and kicked clear in the stretch to earn his first stakes win. The effort earned a lofty 104 Beyer Speed Figure.

Almendares, trained by Phil D’Amato, worked five furlongs on the training track in 59.0 seconds. A 5-year-old gelding by Havana Grey, Almendares hasn’t started since finishing off the board in last November’s GII Seabiscuit at Del Mar.

Air Force Red, who was third behind winner El Potente in the Thunder Road, worked four furlongs on the training track in 48.20 seconds for trainer Leonard Powell. Zio Jo, fourth in the Thunder Road, drilled five furlongs on the training track in 1:00.60 for trainer Doug O’Neill. Cabo Spirit, fifth in the Thunder Road, worked five furlongs on the main track in 1:01.0 for trainer George Papaprodromou.

GI BIG ‘CAP, GII SAN FELIPE PART OF BLOCKBUSTER SATURDAY CARD

Santa Anita Handicap Day presented by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino is this Saturday featuring four graded stakes, a Big ‘Cap hat giveaway and an array of other on-track entertainment.

In addition to the historic Grade I Santa Anita Handicap for older horses, the racing action will include the GII San Felipe for 3-year-olds, Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile on turf and GII Buena Vista for fillies and mares at a mile on turf. The entire Big ‘Cap Day card will be set Monday after entries close.

As part of the 1/ST Racing Tour, Big ‘Cap Day and the Coolmore Fountain of Youth program at Gulfstream Park will be shown nationally on CNBC and streamed on Peacock from 1 to 4 p.m. PT. Coverage of the entire cards from Santa Anita and Gulfstream will also be shown on FanDuel TV.

For horseplayers, Big ‘Cap Day will include a handicapping tournament in the Player’s Lounge. The $6,000 Ultimate Betting Challenge is a live money tournament with $5,000 going to your bankroll and $1,000 going towards the prize pool. Four seats for next year’s National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas will also be on the line.

For more information on Big ‘Cap Day and to purchase tickets, please visit Santaanita.com.

LADY OF SKY GIVES SOFIA BARNANDELA HER FIRST SANTA ANITA VICTORY

BENOIT PHOTO

FINISH LINES: Sunday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:50 p.m. PT with the ninth race from Gulfstream Park…Jockey Sofia Barnandela won for the first time at Santa Anita in Saturday’s second race aboard Lady Of Sky ($7) for trainer Jorge Periban. Barandela, a native of Mexico, launched her riding career in 2021 at the age of 35. She has won 67 races overall and banked more than $1.59 million in earnings…Santa Anita is hosting a donation drive for fire relief Sunday in the parking lot from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. All those who donate can enjoy a complimentary day at the races with free admission, free parking and free program.