Tuesday, May 08 2012
DERBY WINNER I’LL HAVE ANOTHER SPELLS $16,300 IN CASH TO SANTA ANITA ‘DERBY OWNER FOR THE DAY’
ARCADIA, Calif. (May 7, 2012)—I’ll Have Another, who parlayed victory in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby on April 7 to victory in America’s most famous race, the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, not only brought home a winning purse of $1.2 million, he made 32-year-old Pasadena resident Greg Politano $16,300 as a result of a $1,000 win wager made by Santa Anita on his behalf.
Polatano, who works in supply team management for a medical company in nearby Irwindale, entered Santa Anita’s free “Derby Owner for the Day” contest on April 7 and as a result, he participated in the “owner experience”--without the bills. Accordingly, on Santa Anita Derby Day, he went to the paddock and watched up-close as jockey Mario Gutierrez, trainer Doug O’Neill and owners Paul and Zilla Reddam discussed pre-race strategy.
Monday, April 23 2012
AFTER SIX-MINUTE PHOTO EXAM, FAVORED BOURBON BAY DECLARED NOSE WINNER
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 22, 2011) – Bourbon Bay strengthened his lucrative attachment to Santa Anita’s Camino Real turf course Sunday by winning the historic San Juan Capistrano Handicap, but it took longer for the stewards to separate the even-money favorite and Eastern invader Eagle Poise than it did to run the nation’s longest graded turf stakes at 1 ¾ miles which is traditionally contested on the winter/spring meet’s closing day.
After the pair crossed the finish line in perfect sync, another six minutes was required to determine that Bourbon Bay, a one-half length winner of the event in 2010, had indeed triumphed in the 73rd running of the Grade II, $150,000 marathon run in 2:45.70. It was that close before a rapt crowd of 16,034.
Saturday, April 21 2012
BACK ON GRASS, BLINGO GAINS HARD-FOUGHT WIN IN LA PUENTE STAKES (Friday April 20, 2012)
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 20, 2012) – After finishing sixth in Grade I and Grade II stakes races, Blingo returned to turf, the surface of his maiden debut victory, and remained unbeaten over grass footing on Friday with a hard-fought triumph in Santa Anita’s $76,500 La Puente Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles.
Under a busy ride by Mike Smith, Blingo made good on his 3-5 favoritism by rallying to defeat Vibrato Jazz by one-half length with Buffalo Billy gaining third, another length back, after veering in at the start. The final time was 1:47.58.
SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES (Friday April 20,2012)
LEADING RIDER ROSARIO SEEKS SECOND STRAIGHT WIN ON BOURBON BAY
Bourbon Bay closed from fifth in a field of five to win the Grade II San Luis Rey Stakes by a thrust of his head on March 25 under Joel Rosario, who was riding the multiple graded stakes winner for the first time.
Even though it looked like a line drive in the box score, to use a time-worn baseball adage, Neil Drysdale’s immediate post-race wonderment centered on why Rosario had the gelding so far back in the mile and a half San Luis Rey. The Hall of Fame trainer hopes for fewer coronary palpitations from Rosario’s tactics on Sunday, when Bourbon Bay tries for his second win in Santa Anita’s traditional closing-day feature, the Grade II, $150,000 San Juan Capistrano Handicap at about 1 ¾ miles on turf.
Friday, April 20 2012
GREAT WARRIOR, BERRIO PULL OFF 25-1 STUNNER IN $60,700 LOST HILLS PURSE
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 19, 2012) – Sidelined for six months and never having sprinted in his 10 previous U.S. starts, Brazilian-bred Great Warrior turned Santa Anita’s $60,700 Lost Hills Purse upside down on Thursday with a shocker at odds of 25-1 while running the six furlongs in a rapid 1:08.50.
With jockey Omar Berrio guiding the 4-year-old son of Leroidesanimaux through an opening along the rail, Great Warrior rallied to defeat a well-fancied pair of Bob Baffert-trained runners, Saddleranch by one-half length with stablemate and 8-5 favorite Hoorayforhollywood another length back in third.
HISTORIC SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO MARATHON CLOSES OUT SANTA ANITA MEET ON SUNDAY
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 19, 2012) – The storied San Juan Capistrano Handicap closes out Santa Anita’s 75th racing season on Sunday with course specialist Bourbon Bay an overwhelming favorite to dominate the 73rd running of the Grade II, $150,000 marathon distinguished as the United States’ lengthiest graded turf stakes event at 1 ¾ miles.
The San Juan Capistrano, whose rich history includes the names of such racing giants as Seabiscuit, Cougar II and John Henry, will be presented as the ninth race on a 10-race program that commences at 12:30 p.m. Santa Anita will offer two post-race attractions: (a) “On Track to Beat Cancer,” a charity walk down the track’s homestretch for a $10 donation that includes receipt of a commemorative t-shirt and wristband, and (b) a free “Party in the Paddock” featuring half-priced food and cocktails and the classic rock cover band “The Answer.”
SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES (Thursday April 19, 2012)
CAMELIA ROSE ‘BETTER FILLY’ ON FIRM GROUND, TRAINER SAYSARA
Camelia Rose looked like a winner in deep stretch in the Grade II Santa Ana Stakes on March 25, but Vamo a Galupiar rallied five-wide to win by a half-length on a turf course listed as “good.”
“The ground was very soft that day and she’s definitely a better filly on faster ground,” said Simon Callaghan, who trains the 4-year-old French-bred filly for owner J. Paul Reddam. “We were only beaten a length and three-quarters and I think the ground makes a big difference with her.”
Monday, April 16 2012
HEAVILY FAVORED CONTESTED ISN’T. . .WINS SUNDAY’S $66,040 TITANIC PURSE BY 5 ¾ LENGTHS
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 15, 2012) – As expected, 3-10 favorite Contested sank her opposition Sunday with a 5 ¾-length triumph in Santa Anita’s $66,040 Titanic Purse for 3-year-old fillies while cruising through 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.58.
The daughter of Ghostzapper, ridden by Martin Garcia, shook off early tormentor Hidden Passion heading into the far turn with the rider virtually motionless following early fractions of 22.02 and 44.52. Contested hastily drew clear under a hand ride.
BLINGO HEADS LINEUP IN FRIDAY’S LA PUENTE STAKES FOR 3-YEAR-OLDS
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 15, 2012) – Returning to grass footing and dropping in class, Jerry and Ann Moss’s Blingo likely will be a prohibitive favorite among five 3-year-olds in Friday’s $75,000 La Puente Stakes at 1 1/8 miles over Santa Anita’s Camino Real Turf Course.
The gelded son of Artie Schiller won his racing debut by 2 ¼ lengths while going one mile on turf at Hollywood Park last November before finishing sixth in a pair of non-turf stakes, the Grade I CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita’s Grade II San Felipe Stakes on March 10.
SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES (Sunday April 15, 2012)
RIDER WAS ‘LEAST OF MY PROBLEMS’ FOR KENTUCKY DERBY, BAFFERT SAYS
Two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Garrett Gomez will ride Daddy Nose Best for trainer Steve Asmussen in the Kentucky Derby on May 5, agent Tony Matos said Sunday morning via phone from Kentucky.
“We wouldn’t trade places with anybody,” said Matos, who has represented riders who accounted for six Derby triumphs under his tutelage. “There will be a lot of speed in the Derby and Daddy Nose Best can get the mile and a quarter. We’re very excited to be riding for Steve Asmussen.”
Sunday, April 15 2012
SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES (Saturday April 14, 2012)
WINTER STORM IN MID-APRIL BRINGS INCH AND A QUARTER OF RAIN, SNOW IN MOUNTAINS
Blustery, winter-like conditions were in evidence Saturday morning as Santa Anita basked in the glow of a dusting of snow in the nearby San Gabriel Mountains.
Friday’s storm, direct from the Gulf of Alaska, resulted in an inch and a quarter of rain at Santa Anita, by far the most precipitation during a race day at the current winter/spring meet.
JIM ROME AND PARTNERS’ MIZDIRECTION GAINS FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 14, 2012) – Her showdown with Unzip Me having succumbed to track conditions, Mizdirection, the soaring 4-year-old filly co-owned by noted sports commentator Jim Rome, expanded her accomplishments Saturday by gaining her fourth straight victory in Santa Anita’s $100,000 Las Cienegas Handicap.
With the 6 1/2-furlong, Grade III stakes race switched from turf to Santa Anita’s main track following a pounding rainstorm on Friday, only four starters went to the post, and Mizdirection made good on her 3-10 favoritism with a one-half length win over 5-2 second choice Teroda.
