Santa Anita Stable Notes Sunday, May 18, 2025

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

SUNDAY, MAY 18, 2025

JOURNALISM DOING WELL AFTER GUTSY PREAKNESS WIN
$45K CARRYOVER IN SUNDAY’S PICK 6; STARTS AT 3:08 P.M. PT
WORKS: RICHI, CABO SPIRIT DRILL FOR STAKES ENGAGEMENTS
2 GRADE I’s, GOLD CUP AMONG 9 STAKES MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

JOURNALISM DOING WELL AFTER GUTSY PREAKNESS WIN

Journalism was reported to be in good order the morning after his thrilling half-length victory in the 150th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on Saturday. Whether he goes on to the Belmont Stakes on June 7 at Saratoga remains to be determined.

Trainer Michael McCarthy on Sunday morning said rather than return to his home base at Santa Anita, Journalism will ship to either Churchill Downs or more likely Saratoga in the next couple days with an eye on running in the third leg of the Triple Crown, which this year is contested at 1 ¼ miles.

“It puts him in position to run,” McCarthy told the Preakness publicity team. “He could go back to Churchill Downs and hang out for a week or two and then make his way to Saratoga. But it seems a little counterproductive to go 12 hours by van back to Kentucky to head back to New York, whether it be by plane or van.”

Added co-owner Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners: “We’ll go through the same analysis as we went through between the Derby and Preakness. That horse in Stall 33 will tell us whether he’s ready to go back in three weeks. It’s something we’d like to do. It’s something we’re going to prepare for logistically in the event he does give us the green light.”

Journalism’s gutsy Preakness victory came two weeks after finishing second as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby behind Sovereignty, who is already at Saratoga and on Saturday worked a half mile for trainer Bill Mott. In the Preakness, Journalism and jockey Umberto Rispoli claimed victory after they bulled through horses at the top of the stretch and unleashed a furious rally in the final furlong to rundown 15-1 longshot Gosger.

“When he got clear and shook free and started to extend his stride, I just started saying, audibly, ‘Make a miracle happen,’ and he did,” Wellman said.

As for Rispoli, the Preakness was his first win in a Triple Crown race. On Sunday, the 36-year-old native of Italy will be back riding at Santa Anita where he has five mounts booked including on favorite Jungle Peace in the featured GIII Honeymoon, which goes as the fourth race at 2:36 p.m.

WORKS: RICHI, CABO SPIRIT DRILL FOR STAKES ENGAGEMENTS

Richi and Cabo Spirit were a among a handful of horses working Sunday towards potential graded stakes engagements over Memorial Day weekend at Santa Anita.

Richi, nominated to the GII Santa Margarita next Sunday, worked four furlongs in 49.40 seconds for trainer Bob Baffert. Richi is the likely favorite in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Margarita for older fillies and mares. Most recently, the South American import earned her second graded stakes win of the year in the GII Santa Maria on April 19.

Cabo Spirit, a nominee for the GI Shoemaker Mile on Memorial Day, worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 for trainer George Papaprodromou. The 6-year-old millionaire gelding most recently won the GIII American at a mile on turf April 20 at Santa Anita.

Also working toward a potential start in the Shoemaker Mile Zio Jo. Trained by Doug O’Neill, Zio Jo finished fourth in the American beaten 3 ¾-lengths by front-running Cabo Spirit.

Kentucky Gal and Khinjani, nominees for the GI Gamely on Memorial Day, each worked a half mile. Kentucky Gal drilled on the synthetic training track. Trained by Phil D’Amato, the 4-year-old Irish-bred filly by Churchill went in 47.60 seconds. Kentucky Gal most recently earned a dominant three-length victory in a first-level allowance on April 27 going 1 1/8 miles, which is the same distance as the Gamely.

Khinjani, trained by Mark Glatt, worked four furlongs on the main track in 49.20 seconds. A 5-year-old mare bred in Great Britain, the daughter of Sir Percy on May 9 returned from a 14 ½-month layoff in a second-level allowance going a mile on turf. Despite enduring a troubled trip, Khinjani rallied from last to be beaten just three-quarters of a length.

Working towards potential starts in the GII Hollywood Gold Cup on Memorial Day were nominees Midnight Mammoth and Arrowthegreat, who recently ran one-two in a high-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles on April 26. Midnight Mammoth, trained by Craig Dollase, worked six furlongs in 1:13.00. A 6-year-old gelding by Midnight Lute, Midnight Mammoth finished 5 ½ length clear of runner-up Arrowthegreat in their allowance matchup.

Arrowthegreat, a 5-year-old Arrogate gelding trained by Dan Blacker, worked five furlongs in 1:01.40.

There were a total of 230 horses on Sunday’s tab. Other notables included Raging Torrent (4f, 49.0), Sweet Azteca (5f, 59.80), Motorious (5f, 1:01.20) and Eagles Flight (4f, 47.80).

2 GRADE I’s, GOLD CUP AMONG 9 STAKES MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Santa Anita is set to host four consecutive days of racing and a total of nine stakes races starting this Friday and culminating on Memorial Day.

On a 10-race program Saturday, which starts at 1 p.m. PT, horses bred or sired in California will be in the spotlight. The stakes action includes the Snow Chief presented by City National Bank at 1 1/8 miles on turf, Thor’s Echo Stakes at six furlongs on dirt, Melair Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, Crystal Waters Stakes at one mile on turf and Fran’s Valentine Stakes for fillies and mares at one mile on turf.

On Sunday, the feature race is the GII Santa Margarita for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles. Sunday’s card will be drawn on Monday.

Then next Monday, Santa Anita will host the GI Shoemaker Mile on turf, GI Gamely for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf and the GII Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 ¼ miles. The full card will be drawn on Tuesday.

Memorial Day is also dollar day as on-track fans will receive $1 beers and sodas and $2 hot dogs.

Additionally, Memorial Day weekend at The Great Race Place will include a California Beer Festival, Infield Carnival and, on Sunday, the Corgi Summer Nationals.

Ticket packages for Memorial Day weekend can be purchased at Santaanita.com.

FINISH LINES: Lunar Impact was doing well the morning after her dominant five-length win in Saturday’s Mizdirection Stakes, reported Juan Landeros, assistant for trainer Dan Blacker…Sunday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:36 p.m. PT with the eighth race from Gulfstream Park…Santa Anita will host a special Thursday card on June 12, which begins closing week of the Hollywood meet.

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