Santa Anita Stable Notes

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN —-

SADLER: EAGLES FLIGHT RETURNS, RAW ABILITY MAKES STAKES BOW
$68K PICK 6 CARRYOVER ADDS INTRIGUE TO FRIDAY CARD
WORKS: GOLD PHOENIX, IRON MAN CAL DRILL FOR D’AMATO

SADLER: EAGLES FLIGHT RETURNS, RAW ABILITY MAKES STAKES BOW

Led by the stakes debut of Raw Ability in the GIII Royal Heroine, and the return of Eagles Flight in a second-level allowance, trainer John Sadler has prominent entrants in four of the 11 races on Saturday’s program at Santa Anita.

Eagles Flight, half brother to 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline, is entered in the fourth race going 1 1/16 miles on dirt. He is installed as the 6-5 morning line favorite in what will be his third straight allowance effort. Most recently, Flightline earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure when airing by 4 ½ lengths in a first-level allowance at a mile on March 8.

Sadler said he considered shipping Eagles Flight to Churchill Downs to run in a restricted stakes next week but instead opted “to run one more at home.”

“If he runs well here, we’ll jump into the stakes program at Del Mar,” Sadler added.

Eagles Flight has worked five times at Santa Anita since his allowance win. Two weeks ago, he fired a bullet when drilling five furlongs in 59.0 seconds. He came back last Saturday with another five-furlong work in 58.80 seconds.

“He’s ready to go,” Sadler said.

Eagles Flight will be joined in the lineup by stablemate For All Mankind (4-1). He will have regular rider Umberto Rispoli aboard. The other key principle in the field is Mirahmadi (9-5), who handed Eagles Flight his only loss in three starts on Jan. 4 at Santa Anita in a one-mile allowance. Mirahmadi, trained by Bob Baffert, returned to finish last in the GI Santa Anita Handicap after setting the pace on March 1.

Post time for the fourth race is set for 2:36 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: For All Mankind, Hector Berrios (4-1); Mirahmadi, Juan Hernandez (9-5), Eagles Flight, Umberto Rispoli (6-5); Midnight Mammoth, Armando Ayuso (8-1); Arrowthegreat, Reylu Guiterrez (6-1).

Raw Ability is a European import for Hronis Racing who enters the Royal Heroine a perfect 3-for-3. She is listed as the 9-2 third choice on the morning line in a 13-horse field set for the Royal Heroine, which is for fillies and mares at a mile on turf.

“Really nice filly,” Sadler said. “She has been impressive in both of her U.S. starts.”

Bred in Ireland, Raw Ability is a 4-year-old filly by Belardo. She was a debut winner in Ireland last June prior to being purchased by Hronis Racing and sent stateside to the Sadler barn. Raw Ability made her U.S. debut in September at Del Mar in a first-level allowance at a mile on turf. Off slowly that day, she found herself dead-last at the top of the stretch in a 10-horse field. It would not matter. Raw Ability uncorked a furious rally under Hector Berrios and scored by a half-length.

She then showed a new dimension when returning on March 17 at Santa Anita in a second-level allowance at a mile on turf. That day she raced up close to the pace and was still able to finish strongly to win by three-quarters of a length.

“This will be a step up Saturday, but we are very excited about her,” Sadler said.

The Royal Heroine serves as a prep for the GI Gamely going 1 1/8 miles on May 26. The 2-1 morning line favorite is Tirupati, trained by Jonathan Thomas, who exits a gate-to-wire win in the GIII Wilshire at a mile on turf March 29 at Santa Anita.

The Royal Heroine goes as the seventh race Saturday. Post time is set for 4:09 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Public Assembly, Antonio Fresu (5-1); Raw Ability, Hector Berrios (9-2); Sneaker, Drayden Van Dyke (15-1); Uncorked, Mike Smith (7-2); Venganza, Kazushi Kimura (15-1); Tirupati, Umberto Rispoli (2-1); Sun Of Hill, Tiago Pereira (20-1); Mucho Macho Girl, Diego Herrera (20-1); Eternal Reign, Reylu Gutierrez (12-1); Valence, Assael Espinoza (15-1); Hamwood Flier, Juan Hernandez (10-1); Baltic Fire, Serafin Carmona (30-1); Lunar Impact, Armando Ayuso (20-1).

$68K PICK 6 CARRYOVER ADDS INTRIGUE TO FRIDAY’S CARD

A $68,635 carryover in the $2 Pick Six awaits horseplayers Friday on a nine-race at Santa Anita. Track officials estimate the entire pool will exceed $500,000.

With first post set for 1 p.m. PT, the Pick Six begins with the fourth race at approximately 2:30 p.m. The highly competitive sequence averages 9.3 starters per race before scratches. To help in making informed selections, Santa Anita and Daily Racing Form have joined forces to provide free past performances for the entirety of Friday’s card. They can be accessed at promos.drf.com/santaanita25.

Full entries for Friday’s card are also available at santaanita.com.

Friday’s carryover comes after there were no tickets with all six winners in Sunday’s Pick Six. It was clinched in the 10th and final race Sunday when Recycleyourheart scored under Ricky Gonzalez and paid $23.60. Recycleyourheart, trained by Andy Mathis, was one of four winners in the Pick Six sequence that paid double digits for a $2 wager.

The consolation payout Sunday for tickets with 5-of-6 winners was $891.20.

The winning horses in Sunday’s Pick Six beginning with the fifth race were #10 Whatmakessammyrun ($5.60), #1 Clements Ride ($16.80), #3 Cabo Spirit ($15.20), #7 Thirsty Trickster ($4.80), #10 Cat The Confidante ($13.60), and #3 Recycleyourheart ($23.60).

WORKS: GOLD PHOENIX, IRON MAN CAL DRILL FOR D’AMATO

Grade I winner Gold Phoenix and Iron Man Cal, off since finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Nov. 1 at Del Mar, were among several workers for trainer Phil D’Amato Friday at Santa Anita.

Gold Phoenix worked five furlongs on the training track in a sharp 58.60 seconds. A 7-year-old gelding by Belardo, Gold Phoenix most recently returned from a nearly five-month layoff and finished third in the GIII San Luis Rey on March 22 at Santa Anita.

Iron Man Cal worked five furlongs on the main track in 1:00.80. The Collected colt has been working steadily since late February. In the Breeders’ Cup, Iron Man Cal rallied from mid-pack and was beaten just a neck by winner Henri Matisse.

Working for trainer Jonathan Thomas was multiple graded stakes winner Will Then. The 3-year-old War of Will filly drilled four furlongs on the main track in 47.80 seconds, which was the second-fastest of 28 moves at the distance. Will Then most recently won the one-mile China Doll Stakes at Santa Anita when making her sophomore bow March 23.

FINISH LINES: Friday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:15 p.m. PT with the seventh race from Gulfstream Park…Sunday’s feature is the GIII Senorita for 3-year-old fillies at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course. Leading a field of seven is eastern invader Cloe, the 2-1 morning line favorite for trainer Jose D’Angelo…The post position draw for the 151st Kentucky Derby is Saturday at 4:25 p.m. PT. It can be viewed on FanDuel TV…Santa Anita’s Jeff Siegel is set to resume his daily full card Santa Anita analysis next week. It will be available each race day on 1ST.TV…Horseplayer Gino Buccola will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Saturday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks, training centers and premier events including: Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); Laurel Park, The Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and 1/ST TV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information, visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.