Santa Anita Stable Notes Friday, Feb. 13, 2026

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

SOMBER MOOD AT SANTA ANITA AFTER DEATH OF JOHN SHIRREFFS

The mood was heavy at Santa Anita Park Friday following the death one day earlier of esteemed Santa Anita-based trainer John Shirreffs.

At Shirreffs’ Barn 47 on the Santa Anita backstretch Friday morning, stable staff was diligently going about its business of training a string of 30-plus horses. Among those at the barn was Shirreffs’ top client, owner Lee Searing of C R K Stable.

“He was a great man. It was an honor to have him in our lives,” Searing said.

Shirreffs died in his sleep in the overnight hours of Wednesday into Thursday morning at the age of 80. According to Searing, he was found passed away on the couch by his wife, Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs.

“John was in good shape. He got hit hard with something that took him down,” Searing said

In a training career that began in the 1970s, Shirreffs won 596 races and more than $58.5 million in purse money. Born in Kansas, Shirreffs was a U.S. Marine and served in Vietnam before embarking on his training career. Most notably as a trainer, Shirreffs won the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic with the Hall of Fame mare Zenyatta, and the 2005 Kentucky Derby with Giacomo.

Searing said he and Shirreffs had spent last weekend in Florida looking at 2-year-olds. All was well in Florida, but upon their return, Shirreffs began to get sick.

“He was so excited when we were in Florida,” Searing said. “We were looking at our 2-year-olds that are ready to come to the track in April and May. He was excited because this is probably the best group I’ve ever had—and there are 28 of them. He had a great time. He was healthy, had a great dinner.

“Then on Monday, he didn’t sound really good. Tuesday was worse. I told him ‘John, get to the doctor, go now.’

“On Wednesday he was back here at Santa Anita. That’s when he told me he couldn’t work. I told him again to get to the doctor. He did. I don’t know anything after that, but it was that night he fell asleep on the couch and Dottie found him. John was a healthy guy. It seems to me he may have caught some kind of a virus, like a flu or something.”

Searing had 12 horses with Shirreffs at the time of his death, which include Grade I winner Baeza and Westwood. On Jan. 31 at Santa Anita, Westwood won the GII San Pasqual Stakes as Shirreffs’ final starter.

Searing said Baeza, Westwood and the rest of his horses are, at least for now, being moved to the Santa Antia barn of Peter Eurton, who has also been another longtime trainer for C R K Stable. Further moves could be forthcoming. Most notably with Baeza, who Searing said will likely be moved out of state for his 4-year-old campaign.

As for the rest of Shirreffs barn, the plan is for operations to shut down immediately, Searing said.

“I’m with his family now and they have some decisions make on what to do to close down the stable, but they want it done immediately,” he said. “I think everyone’s going to cooperate.”

Shirreffs had one horse entered this week, the 4-year-old maiden colt Silent Way, who is scheduled to go in Sunday’s second race.

“The stewards are deciding if we can transfer him to Peter Eurton. I’m hoping he gets to run,” Searing said.

As for Shirreffs’ legacy, Searing said he and his partner in Baeza, co-owner Robert Clay of Grandview Equine, have a singular goal for this year.

“Robert Clay’s comment to me was, ‘Lee we’re on a mission. The year 2026 is not going by without John Shirreffs being in the Hall of Fame.’ Wouldn’t that be great.”

Santa Anita will host a moment of silence for Shirreffs after Friday’s first race.

SANTA ANITA HORSEMEN HONOR THEIR ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE

Top of mind among trainers and jockeys Friday morning at Santa Anita was the loss of John Shirreffs, the esteemed horsemen who died in his sleep Thursday at the age of 80. Below is some of their reactions:

Victor Espinoza, Hall of Fame jockey: “A lot of memories with John. John and I go way back to when I first moved here. It was Hollywood Park. He helped me a lot. He put me on some nice horses. From that point on until his final day, he was always good to me. Great trainer. There was a time when I rode pretty much all of his horses. It was so fun to be around him. You could learn so much. He had a different technique. He was just a unique guy.”

Jonathan Thomas, trainer: “I’m a newbie, this is our second winter here. But when I first came, there were a handful of people that were extra hospitable to me coming out here. One of them was John. The first time I met him, he stopped me. He had an idea who I was but wanted to know my story and where I was from. It was very welcoming.

“Then after that, anytime I saw him I needed to make sure I had a free 20 minutes because it would be a nice opportunity to further get to know him, hear stories and pick his brain a little bit about horses and training. He was an extremely welcoming guy. Almost like I knew him for 20 years. He went out of his way to do that. As somewhat of a younger guy, there are a few here like (Neil) Drysdale, (Richard) Mandella, John, and Bob (Baffert) of course, that are on the Mt. Rushmore of training.”

Phil D’Amato, trainer: “I thought of him as a gentleman trainer. Always with a smile on his face. I had the utmost respect for him. Just an all-around good guy and an excellent horsemen.”
Craig Lewis, trainer: “I talked to him for a half hour the day before. He walked by my barn almost every day. A really nice guy who was great for the game. It’s a shame. Sad to see him die.”

Jack Carava, former trainer and jockey agent: “He was just a good all-around guy and a good horsemen. I didn’t know him really well, but I remember the times when we were training together at Hollywood Park. He was always a gentleman.”

GIII SAN MARCOS: GOLD PHOENIX COMING IN ‘GUNS A BLAZING’

Grade I winner and multi-millionaire Gold Phoenix kicks off his 8-year-old campaign Saturday in the Grade III San Marcos Stakes at 1 ¼ miles on turf. Off since the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 1, Gold Phoenix has worked six times since Dec. 31 for his comeback. The tab includes a pair of bullet drills, which includes a five-furlong work in 59.0 seconds last Saturday.

“All indications are he’s ready to go,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “His last couple of drills have been very impressive. I think he’s coming in with guns a blazing.”

Gold Phoenix is installed as the 9-5 program favorite in a field of nine now set for the San Marcos following the early scratch of Amplitude. He’ll have a new rider on Saturday as Kazushi Kimura steps in to replace an injured Umberto Rispoli.

“Kazushi’s breezed him the last two weeks and is very happy with how he’s doing. Many moons ago they won a Grade I together,” D’Amato noted.

In 2023, Kimura guided Gold Phoenix to victory in the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile.

First post Saturday for a nine-race card is 12:30 p.m. PT. The San Marcos goes as the seventh race at 3:37 p.m. The field in post position order: Endlessly, Ricky Gonzalez (12-1); Smooth Salute, Victor Espinoza (50-1); Grogu, Diego Herrera (20-1); Truly Quality, Mike Smith (3-1); Mondego, Emisael Jaramillo (8-1); Twirling Point, Antonio Fresu (15-1); Stay Hot, Juan Hernandez (7-2); Flashiest, Armando Ayuso (15-1); Gold Phoenix, Kazushi Kimura (9-5); Amplitude, Hector Berrios (SCR).

FINISH LINES: Trainer Michael McCarthy won three consecutive races Sunday including both stakes on the program, the Clockers’ Corner and Las Virgenes. The Las Virgenes, for 3-year-old fillies, was won by Meaning ($7.80) with Flavien Prat aboard. Yellow Card ($8.40) scored in the Clockers’ Corner going six furlongs on turf with Emisael Jaramillo in the irons. McCarthy also won the sixth race, a $20,000 maiden-claimer with Thatsalrightmama ($11.40), who was ridden by Ricky Gonzalez…Friday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:20 p.m. PT with the ninth race from Gulfstream Park. The $1 Sunset Pick Six starts at 12:50 p.m. with the eighth race from Gulfstream…Owner and horseplayer Ciaran Thornton will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Saturday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:20 a.m.

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