Sunday, October 07 2012

STABLE NOTES October 6, 2012

• UNBEATEN WINDING WAY EYES FOURTH WIN IN L.A. WOMAN STAKES
• TRAINER MISSES $112 WINNER, MENTOR PACO GONZALEZ RETIRES
• FLORES KEEN ON UPBEAT MOOD IN MONDAY’S HOLIDAY FEATURE

Saturday, October 06 2012

TWO YEAR OLD FILLIES, COLTS TAKE CENTER STAGE: SURFER GIRL, ZUMA BEACH

TWO YEAR OLD FILLIES, COLTS TAKE CENTER STAGE IN SURFER GIRL & ZUMA BEACH
ON MONDAY AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 5, 2012)—Two year old fillies and colts will take center stage on Monday, Columbus Day, as Santa Anita will offer two first-ever $100,000 stakes at one mile on turf, the Surfer Girl and the Zuma Beach.

BEHOLDER SCORCHES TRACK; MANDELLA TRAINEE EYES BREEDERS’ CUP

BEHOLDER SCORCHES TRACK IN FASTEST SIX FURLONGS OF MEET, MANDELLA TRAINEE EYES BREEDERS’ CUP NOV. 2

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 4, 2012)—Beholder, a 2-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Henny Hughes, demolished a first-condition allowance field at Santa Anita Thursday, winning by 11 lengths while completing the six furlong distance in 1:09.00, the fastest clocking of the Autumn Meet which kicked off on Friday.

STABLE NOTES BY ED GOLDEN

• SMITH, AMAZOMBIE IN SYNC FOR SANTA ANITA SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP
• BAFFERT HAS HIS GO-TO RIDERS, HEADED BY BEJARANO
• STROKE VICTIM ASCANIO HOPES TO RETURN TO RACES

Thursday, October 04 2012

ECLIPSE AWARD WINNING AMAZOMBIE TO DEFEND TITLE IN GRADE I SANTA ANITA SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 3, 2012)—California-bred Amazombie, winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint and the 2011 Eclipse Award as the nation’s top sprinter, will defend his title against six other top sprinters in Saturday’s Grade I Santa Anita Sprint Championship (formerly run as the Ancient Title). The race will serve as a final prep for the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Sprint to be run at The Great Race Place Nov. 3.

The Santa Anita Sprint Championship, to be contested at six furlongs, is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Race.

Sunday, September 30 2012

FRESH & READY, SLIM SHADEY FINDS REDEMPTION IN SANTA ANITA’S GRADE II JOHN HENRY TURF CHAMPIONSHIP

ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 30, 2012)—Slim Shadey, freshened following a disappointing run in the Grade I Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar on July 21, pulled jockey Garrett Gomez to the lead in the Grade II, $150,000 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 ¼ miles and never looked back, wiring a nine-horse field by 2 ¼ lengths while getting the distance in 1:59.17.

“Simon (trainer, Callaghan) wanted me to be laying close with him, if not, then just off the horse on the lead,” said Gomez. “Today he was fresh and he really caught me unexpectedly…I had trouble getting him to settle into a good stride. He kind of just pulled me around there and stretched me out pretty good, but he still finished well and that’s a plus.

SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES (Sunday September 30, 2012)

STATUE OF ZENYATTA UNVEILED BEFORE ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD

Captured to perfection in her signature post-race curtsy, head bowed and right hoof pawing the ground, the mighty Zenyatta was unveiled in magnificent bronze Saturday at noon before an enthusiastic coterie of fans in the south quadrant of Santa Anita’s Kingsbury Memorial Fountain area, directly across from a replica of another turf legend, John Henry.

Enduring uncharacteristically hot weather, the crowd roared its approval when the life-sized sculpture by Nina Kaiser was uncovered, a full 1200 pounds and 17.2 hands high, conforming with Zenyatta’s physical measurements.

Saturday, September 29 2012

UNBRIDLED’S NOTE TAKES GRADE III EDDIE D STAKES, SANTA ANITA AUTUMN MEET OFF TO STRONG START

ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 28, 2012)—Idle since running a close third in the Grade I King’s Bishop Stakes on Aug. 25 at Saratoga, the Steve Asmussen-trained Unbridled’s Note tried the turf for the first time in Santa Anita’s inaugural Grade III, $100,000 Eddie D Stakes and he relished the lawn, winning by 1 ¼ lengths while covering the 6 ½ furlong downhill turf layout in 1:12.45.

Formerly run as the Morvich Stakes, the Eddie D was named in honor of retired Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye, who won his 6,000 career race at Santa Anita and who was on-hand to present the trophy.

Friday, September 28 2012

SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES (Friday September 28, 2012)

RAIL TRIP GETS OUTSIDE DRAW VS. ‘DUDE’ IN AWESOME AGAIN

Jose Valdivia Jr. has little concern that Rail Trip goes from inside to outside in Saturday’s Grade I Awesome Again Stakes. The 7-year-old gelding broke from the No. 1 post when finishing fourth in the Pacific Classic, but drew nine of nine in the Awesome Again, one of five Grade I, “Win and You’re In” Challenge Races on Santa Anita’s festive 11-race program tomorrow.

“I would imagine we should be sitting in a good spot,” said Valdivia, who has been reunited with Rail Trip in his last four races, winning the Grade II San Diego Handicap on July 28. “We also drew on the outside in that race and won. He’s very kind to rate, so he should have a nice stalking trip.”

SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES (Thursday September 27, 2012)

JONES DEBUTS AT SANTA ANITA WITH JOYFUL VICTORY IN ZENYATTA

Larry Jones is back and racing is the better for it. The 56-year-old trainer, who retired at the top of his game on Nov. 7, 2009 and returned in early 2011 with the same fervor as the day he left. Anyone talking with the personable Kentuckian could recognize that in a heartbeat.

Thursday, September 27 2012

SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES (Wednesday September 26, 2012)

CHAMPION SKIIER BODE MILLER TO SEE HIS HORSE RUN IN FRONTRUNNER

Add a late bonus to the myriad of festivities that will unfold at Santa Anita this weekend:

Miller Time. Olympic and World Champion gold medalist skier Bode Miller will be on hand Saturday to watch his horse Carving run in the inaugural FrontRunner Stakes, a Grade I, $250,000 “Win and You’re In” Challenge Race for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.

Wednesday, September 26 2012

INAUGURAL EDDIE D STAKES ATTRACTS FIELD OF 13 TO DUEL 6 ½ FURLONGS DOWN HILL

ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 25, 2012)—Santa Anita’s 24-day Autumn Meet will get underway in style on Friday, as a near-capacity field of 13 have signed up to contest the inaugural Grade III, $100,000 Eddie D Stakes, for 3-year-olds and up at about 6 ½ furlongs down the Camino Real Turf Course.

“The race proved to be just as popular as Eddie D.,” said Santa Anita Racing Secretary and Vice President of Racing Rick Hammerle. “Let’s hope this is a good omen for the entire meet.”