Santa Anita Stable Notes Friday, Oct. 17, 2025

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

FRIDAY, OCT. 17, 2025

Journalism; Zoe Metz Photo

WORKS: JOURNALISM DRILLS 5F IN COMPANY FOR BC CLASSIC
ST ANTHONY A SLIGHT FAVE IN SATURDAY’S LURE AT 1 MILE ON TURF
$1 COAST-TO-COAST PICK 5 STARTS AT 1:04 P.M. SUNSET 6 AT 1:35 P.M.
JOCKEY HERNANDEZ HAS ANOTHER 3-WIN DAY TO EXTEND LEAD

WORKS: JOURNALISM DRILLS 5F IN COMPANY FOR BC CLASSIC

With 15 days until the Breeders’ Cup, multiple Grade I winner Journalism had his penultimate workout for the $7 million Classic Friday. He was among several Breeders’ Cup hopefuls on the work tab at Santa Anita.

Journalism was clocked going five furlongs in 59.20 seconds while in company with stablemate Yellow Card. It was the second-fastest of 41 works at the distance.

“He finished strong and galloped out strong,” trainer Michael McCarthy said.

Yellow Card, a 4-year-old colt who is Grade I-placed on turf, was timed in 1:00.20.

Aboard Journalism for the drill was his regular work rider, Tony Gutierrez. While the company of Yellow Card was by design, Journalism also caught some unexpected company from another horse while turning into the stretch.

“It was good for him” Gutierrez said. “We were going to get a little serious today. I caught my workmate near the quarter pole, but then when (Journalism) saw that horse in front of us, he puffed himself up, went to the rail and chased him. It was perfect. Everything with him is perfect. His mind. His body. He wasn’t even blowing when I got him back to the barn. Amazing horse.”

The 1 ¼-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic is Nov. 1 at Del Mar. It will be Journalism’s first start in three months. A 3-year-old colt by Curlin, Journalism most recently finished second to Fierceness in the GI Pacific Classic at 1 ¼ miles when facing older horses for the first time on Aug. 30 at Del Mar. In seven starts this year, Journalism has won four graded stakes while never finishing worse than second. His wins include the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, GI Haskell at Monmouth Park, and both the GI Santa Anita Derby and GII San Felipe at Santa Anita.

Overall, Journalism is 10: 6-3-1 with $3,998,880 in earnings. He is owned by an extensive partnership that includes Bridlewood Farm, breeder Don Alberto Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

Also working towards the Breeders’ Cup for McCarthy was South American import Touch of Destiny, who is targeting the Dirt Mile for his domestic debut. A 3-year-old colt by Midshipman, Touch of Destiny was credited with a one-mile work in 1:47.00. It was his sixth work since arriving stateside from his native Uruguay in mid-summer. In Uruguay, Touch of Destiny this year was a perfect 6-for-6 which includes a Group III victory most recently on June 29.

Returning to the work tab was 2-year-old Intrepido, winner of the GI American Pharoah when making his stakes debut Oct. 4. Trained by Jeff Mullins, the Maximus Mischief colt worked four furlongs in 52.80 seconds with jockey Hector Berrios aboard. Intrepido is targeting the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 31.

Trainer Bob Baffert’s workers included Richi and Hope Road, who are both ticketed for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Richi worked seven furlongs in 1:26.20 while Hope Road went six furlongs in 1:12.00. Richi exits a second-place finish in the GII Zenyatta going 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 28 at Santa Anita. Hope Road most recently won the GI Ballerina at Saratoga on Aug. 23.

Working for trainer John Sadler was unbeaten 2-year-old Hey Nay Nay, who is targeting the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. By No Nay Never, Hey Nay Nay was timed for five furlongs in 1:00.80. Most recently, Hey Nay Nay won the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 7 to improve to 3-for-3.

ST ANTHONY A SLIGHT FAVE IN SATURDAY’S LURE AT 1 MILE ON TURF

Featured on a 10-race card Sunday is the Lure Stakes at one mile on turf, which is restricted to horses who have not won a stakes this year of at least $60,000 at one mile or farther other than statebred. In a competitive field of seven signed on, St Anthony is installed as the slight 5-2 favorite on the morning line.

St Anthony, trained by Neil Drysdale, is a 6-year-old gelding by Noble Mission. Most recently, St Anthony shipped to Kentucky Downs and finished sixth in the GIII Mint Millions at one mile on turf on Sept. 6. He’ll have Juan Hernandez aboard for the first time in the Lure.

St Anthony’s key rivals include Nesso’s Lastharrah (3-1), Endlessly (7-2), Goliad (4-1) and Watsonville (5-1).

Nesso’s Lastharrah, a 4-year-old colt by Sharp Azteca, will be stretching out in distance for trainer Peter Eurton. Most recently, Nesso’s Lastharrah tried the GII Eddie D and checked in fifth when sprinting about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course on Sept. 28. Prior to that, Nesso’s Lastharrah went gate-to-wire when winning a second-level allowance at one mile on turf at Del Mar.

Endlessly is winless in four starts this year, all at the stakes level. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Endlessly most recently finished last in the GII Del Mar Handicap when trying 1 3/8 miles on Aug. 30. The 4-year-old colt by Oscar Performance was forwardly placed early before weakening in the stretch. When going a mile on turf, Endlessly is 3-for-6 with two graded wins.

Goliad, trained by Richard Mandella, also exits the Mint Millions at Kentucky Downs. He stalked the pace that day under Flavien Prat before fading to finish eighth in a 13-horse field. Last year, the 8-year-old gelding by War Front won the Mint Millions.

Watsonville will be making his third start following a 10 ½-month layoff for trainer Mark Glatt. Most recently, on July 19 at Del Mar, the 5-year-old gelding by Jack Milton finished last in the restricted Wickerr Stakes at one mile on turf.

Post time for the Lure, which goes as the ninth race, is 5:07 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: St Anthony, Juan Hernandez (5-2); Mystic Spirit, Tyler Baze (30-1); Watsonville, Antonio Fresu (5-2); Endlessly, Umberto Rispoli (7-2); Goliad, Kazushi Kimura (4-1); Sumter, Mike Smith (8-1); Nesso’s Lastharrah, Hector Berrios (3-1).

FINISH LINES: Friday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:04 p.m. PT with the seventh race from Gulfstream Park. The $1 Sunset Pick Six starts at 1:35 p.m. with the eighth race at Gulfstream Park…Sunday’s $2 Pick Six paid $29,529.60 for a single winning ticket. The ticket was purchased for just $32 through FanDuel…Jockey Juan Hernandez had another three-win day Sunday to extend his lead in the jockey’s standings. Hernanez won the sixth race aboard Darlin Sugaree ($3.40) for trainer Jeff Mullins, the Swingtime Stakes on Vibez ($7.20) for trainer Peter Eurton and the ninth race with Helga Brandt ($13.20) for trainer Carla Gaines. With six days remaining in the Autumn Meet, Hernandez has 19 total victories to hold a six-win advantage over Umberto Rispoli in the jockey’s standings…Horseplayer Gino Buccola will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Saturday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m. PT.

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