Monday, February 06 2012
GAME ON DUDE RETURNS AS MAJOR PLAYER WITH 5 ¼-LENGTH ROMP IN SAN ANTONIO STAKES
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 5, 2012) – In his first start since a gritty second in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic last Nov. 5, defending Santa Anita Handicap champion Game On Dude gave every indication Sunday that he again would be a major player among the nation’s older horses at the age of 5.
With regular rider Chantal Sutherland at the controls for trainer Bob Baffert, Game On Dude ran off with Santa Anita’s 74th running of the Grade II, $200,000 Santa Antonio Handicap while defeating Uh Oh Bango by 5 ¼ lengths and covering 1 1/8 miles in a brisk 1:46.88.
STABLE NOTES BY ED GOLDEN Sunday February 5, 2012
THE USUAL Q.T. IN STRONG SAN MARCOS LINEUP ON SATURDAY
The Usual Q.T., one of Unusual Heat’s wealthiest and most successful progeny and one of a rash of California-bred Thoroughbreds to gain national prominence recently, hopes to add to his millionaire status Saturday when he runs in the Grade II, $150,000 San Marcos Stakes for older horses at 1 ¼ miles on turf.
Second to then-stablemate Evening Jewel in last year’s California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Horse of the Year voting for horses bred in the Golden State, The Usual Q.T. was third in the Grade II San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Jan. 16. It was the first race in nearly eight months for the 6-year-old gelding, and trainer Jim Cassidy had to employ a less-than-ideal training schedule to make the race.
Sunday, February 05 2012
I’LL HAVE ANOTHER SENDS PUNTERS PACKING WITH 43-1 LEWIS UPSET
ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) _ With trouble unfolding behind him, 43-1 shot I'll Have Another went on to stunning upset in the Grade II, $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, surprising his trainer and owner as much as the bettors.
The longest shot in the field of eight 3-year-olds won by 2 3/4 lengths Saturday at Santa Anita, with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's two colts finishing out of the money.
TWO-DAY PICK SIX CARRYOVER OF $353,248 ON SUPER SUNDAY
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 4, 2012) – After two days of no winning tickets in the Pick Six, Santa Anita will offer a super two-day carryover of $353,248 into Sunday’s Pick Six when there will be an early post of 11 a.m. in deference to the late afternoon Super Bowl.
It is estimated that the pool will approach $1.5 million by the time wagering closes on the popular exotic.
Friday, February 03 2012
PICK SIX CARRYOVER OF $65,372 INTO SATURDAY
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 3, 2012)—No one tabbed all six winners in Santa Anita’s popular Pick Six on Friday, creating a carryover to Saturday of $65,372 and the prospect of a total Pick Six pool of $500,000.
Saturday’s Pick Six will cover races five through 10, with two of those, the Robert B. Lewis (sixth) and the Strub (eighth) Grade II stakes.
LA SOMBRE MAKES GOOD ON CHANGE WITH SCORE IN SANTA ANITA’S ARISTOTLE ALLOWANCE PURSE
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 3, 2012) – Scratched from last Sunday’s one mile, $100,000 Valentine Dancer Stakes to run in Friday’s $70,150 Aristotle Purse, La Sombre enhanced her reputation for consistency with a clear-cut victory as the odds-on favorite in the competition for fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs over Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.
Under a vigorous hand ride by Martin Garcia, the 5-year-old California-bred daughter of Unusual Heat defeated 7-2 second-choice Lofty Ambition by 1 ½ lengths while running the distance in 1:12.66. Longshot There Is No Limit finished third, another 2 ¼ lengths back in the field of 10.
STABLE NOTES BY ED GOLDEN Friday February 3, 2012
ROUSING SERMON HOPES TO TURN THE TABLES ON LIAISON IN GRADE II LEWIS
Rousing Sermon, a California-bred colt by Lucky Pulpit, was beaten a diminishing neck by Liaison in the Grade I CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park on Dec. 17. Each carried 121 pounds in the mile and one-sixteenth race that drew a field of 13 on Cushion Track.
Tomorrow, the two Triple Crown prospects renew their rivalry in the Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes with one difference: Rousing Sermon gets a break in the weights.
Wednesday, February 01 2012
BAFFERT UNLEASHES PRIME DERBY PROSPECT LIAISON IN LEWIS STAKES
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 1, 2012) – Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert amps up his assault on the April 7 Santa Anita Derby (Grade I) and Triple Crown events beyond on Saturday when sending out his most accomplished Kentucky Derby prospect, Liaison, in Santa Anita’s Grade II, $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.
The Lewis is one of three Grade II stakes to be contested on Saturday’s Strub Stakes Day, a reference to the track’s historic $200,000 Strub Stakes at 1 1/8 miles for 4-year-olds which is headed by trainer Steve Asmussen’s Tapizar, already deemed a leading candidate for the March 3 Santa Anita Handicap. The $150,000 Arcadia, at one mile on turf, completes the afternoon’s graded stakes tripleheader.
Monday, January 30 2012
UNZIP ME BACK ON TOP OF HER GAME WITH WISHING WELL TRIUMPH
ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 29, 2012) – After disappointing as the prohibitive favorite in 4 of her 6 previous starts, 6-year-old Unzip Me reaffirmed her status as the West Coast’s premier female turf sprinter Sunday with a half-length victory over Teroda in Santa Anita’s $86,600 Wishing Well Stakes.
With longtime companion Rafael Bejarano in the saddle, Unzip Me gained control entering the stretch and safely rebuffed the runner-up’s last charge while running the 6 ½-furlong distance of Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in a swift 1:11.94.
STABLE NOTES BY ED GOLDEN Sunday January 29, 2012
GAME ON DUDE WORKING WELL FOR RETURN IN SUNDAY’S SAN ANTONIO
Game On Dude, gritty nose winner of last year’s Santa Anita Handicap and game runner-up to Drosselmeyer in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last Nov. 5, is scheduled to make his 2012 debut in next Sunday’s Grade II, $200,000 San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.
The San Antonio is a major steppingstone to this year’s Grade I, $750,000 Big ‘Cap on March 3.
Sunday, January 29 2012
HOME SWEET ASPEN NARROWLY WINS GRADE I SANTA MONICA STAKES
ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 28, 2012) – Following a stirring stretch-long duel with Sugarinthemorning, Craig Stables’ Home Sweet Aspen emerged victorious by a neck Saturday in Santa Anita’s 55th running of the Grade I, $300,000 Santa Monica Stakes for older fillies and mares at seven furlongs before an on-track crowd of 30,514 on Sunshine Millions Day.
Timed in 1:21.42 under a vigorous ride by Joel Rosario, the homebred daughter of Candy Ride rebounded from a faltering fourth in the Grade I La Brea Stakes on Dec. 31 to gain her first graded stakes victory in her ninth start.
STABLE NOTES BY ED GOLDEN Saturday January 28, 2012
CASSIDY EXPECTS IMPROVEMENT FROM FIFTH COMMANDMENT IN WISHING WELL
Adhering to the adage, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again,” Jim Cassidy will saddle Fifth Commandment in a bid to win Sunday’s $70,000 Wishing Well Stakes at about 6 ½ furlongs on turf.
Fifth Commandment was 10th and last, beaten 14 lengths in the Grade III Monrovia Stakes at about 6 ½ furlongs on the turf on Jan. 2. The Irish-bred daughter of Holy Roman Emperor prompted the pace while second for a half-mile before weakening.
