November, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Nine Lots Catalogued For Arqana Online December Sale

Arqana Online will hold its final sale of the year Thursday, Dec. 15 from 3 to 5pm. The nine-strong catalogue is now available at www.arqanaonline.com.

The 3-year-old colt Mathletic (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) will be offered as lot 1. Trained by Andre Fabre, the gray colt was perfect in a pair of starts last term and has finished runner-up in his last three outings, the first of which came when going down by a neck in the G3 Prix de Fountainebleau at ParisLongchamp this past April and the latest a narrow defeat at the hands of the classy Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}). A son of Manherbe, Mathletic is a half-brother to MSW & MGSP 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Canadian Grade III winner Marbre Rose (Ire) (Smart Strike). Manherbe is a half-sister to Grade I winner Zoftig (Cozzene), dam of fellow top-level scorers Zo Impressive (Hard Spun) and Zaftig (Gone West).

Ondulee (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) is catalogued as lot 2 from Wertheimer et Frere. Trained by Christophe Ferland, the 95-rated 3-year-old filly won on seasonal debut back in February and was placed in the Listed Prix Rose de Mai and Prix de Liancourt. This is the family of Akeed Mofeed (GB), Hernando (Fr) and Johann Quatz (Fr).

A 2 per cent stake in Zarak (Fr) will be on offer as lot 3. The leading second-crop sire by winners in 2022, Zarak is the sire of 15 black-type winners, including the Group 1-placed filly Times Square (Fr). The share entitles you to one nomination per year, plus an additional bonus nomination any odd-numbered year (2 nominations in 2023). Zarak will stand for €60,000 in 2023.

The sale will be completed according to the inscriptions which remain open with Marine Moussa (mmoussa@arqana.com +33 (0)6 58 52 73 42).

The post Nine Lots Catalogued For Arqana Online December Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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‘Sky Is The Limit’: Tuskegee Airmen Ready For Takeoff In Remsen

Cash is King and LC Racing's undefeated Tuskegee Airmen will make his graded stakes debut for trainer John Servis in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen, a nine-furlong main track test for juveniles, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Remsen, which offers 10-4-3-2-1 qualifying points for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby to the top-five finishers, is part of a stacked card highlighted by the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile Handicap presented by NYRA Bets, along with the Grade 3, $200,000 Go for Wand and the Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle, offering 10-4-3-2-1 qualifying points towards the Kentucky Oaks to the top-five finishers.

Tuskegee Airmen, a bay son of Street Sense, enters from an impressive 3 1/4-length score in the one-mile Rocky Run on October 15 at Delaware Park where he showed a strong turn of foot under Paco Lopez to secure his first stakes win. Tuskegee Airmen broke outwardly from post 5-of-6 and tracked in fourth behind the pace set by fellow Remsen aspirant Midnight Trouble through the first three-quarters. He appeared well-beaten as the field rounded the final turn, but the bay colt had something left under urging from Lopez and ducked down to the rail for the drive to the wire and persevered in a final time of 1:37.74.

“Mentally, the light hasn't gone on yet, but he has flashed some talent,” said Servis. “We are excited about him. His last race at the three-eighths pole, I didn't think he was going to beat a horse. He dropped back under a drive and it looked like he was finished and all of a sudden, he went back to running again. We're letting him bring himself along at his pace. He's doing it all on raw talent and the sky is the limit.”

The victory came three weeks after a dominant debut score sprinting seven furlongs in stalking fashion at Parx. He closed from eighth-of-14 under Luis Saez to post the 5 1/2-length victory over next-out winner Didinger.

Tuskegee Airmen is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Lucky Cover, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-placed Team Colors and stakes-winner Team of Teams. His second dam, Teammate, was a dual Grade 2-winner and is a half-sister to graded stakes-winner and leading sire War Front. Tuskegee Airmen was purchased for $290,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.

“He'll run all day. He's a big, strong horse,” said Servis. “Ironically enough, I was actually the underbidder on him for another client, and then ended up getting him in my barn and I was really happy about that.”

Saez has the call from post 2.

Chester and Mary Broman's New York homebred Arctic Arrogance, a grey son of Frosted, enters from a dominant victory over returning rival Quick to Accuse in the state-bred Sleepy Hollow on October 30 at Belmont at the Big A for trainer Linda Rice.

Ridden to victory by Jose Lezcano, Arctic Arrogance made the early lead and was briefly headed by Starquist at the three-quarters call, but kicked clear at the top of the stretch and drew away to a 4 1/2-length score, stopping the clock in 1:37.90. The effort was awarded an 80 Beyer Speed Figure.

Rice said Arctic Arrogance has come a long way to earn a stakes victory.

“We had a hard time getting him to leave the gate and he was a difficult gate horse,” said Rice, who won the 1996 Remsen with The Silver Move. “After that, he's been a horse who wants to be heavy, and between races I was able to get more works into him. He's in very good shape in regards to that right now.”

The Sleepy Hollow came on the heels of Arctic Arrogance's lone loss in three career outings when runner-up to longshot winner Jackson Heights in the state-bred Bertram F. Bongard sprinting seven furlongs in September at Belmont at the Big A. There, he set the tempo to the top of the stretch under Lezcano, but was collared at the sixteenth pole by Jackson Heights and settled for second two lengths back.

Arctic Arrogance, whose other start was a debut pacesetting victory on September 5 at Saratoga, has been assigned post 4 with Lezcano aboard.

Rupp Racing's New York-bred Quick to Accuse will also make his first start outside state-bred company after finishing second to Arctic Arrogance in the Sleepy Hollow for conditioner Horacio De Paz. There, he rallied from fifth-of-10 to make up considerable ground under regular pilot Manny Franco, but could not catch the runaway winner.

De Paz said he is hopeful Quick to Accuse, who is a half-brother to multiple stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed New York-bred Mr. Buff, will relish two turns.

“I think the two-turns will be easier for him, but we won't know for sure until we try him,” said De Paz.

The bay colt was a dominant winner at second asking, posting a visually impressive 9 3/4-length victory in a one-mile state-bred maiden special weight on October 7 at Belmont at the Big A in gate-to-wire fashion. That effort came on the heels of a debut fourth-place finish sprinting seven furlongs over a sloppy and sealed main track in August at Saratoga Race Course.

“He's not as stout as Mr. Buff, but he's a good-sized horse. He needed his first race and came back and won nice second time out,” De Paz said. “We tried him in the stake and that was a good field of horses to test him against and I was happy with his efforts. He got a little antsy in the gate. This looks like a logical spot.”

Franco will ride again from post 6.

Graded stakes-placed Prove Right enters as the most seasoned horse in the field for trainer James Chapman, who co-owns the Justify colt with Stuart Tsujimoto. Prove Right was last seen finishing a close third 2 1/4 lengths behind the victorious Champions Dream in the Grade 3 Nashua on November 6 at the Big A. He set the pace in the one-mile test but was collared by the winner and runner-up Full Moon Madness in the stretch, finishing eight lengths ahead of fourth-place American Speed.

Prove Right graduated at second asking in June at Churchill Downs and is still in search of his first victory against winners after he crossed the finish line first in a half-mile optional claimer in August at Timonium, but was disqualified and placed third. The Remsen will be his ninth lifetime start and second outing beyond sprint distances.

Jose Gomez has been tasked with the ride from post 3.

Completing the field are David L. Neilson's Midnight Trouble [post 5, Paco Lopez], who finished second to Tuskegee Airmen in the Rocky Run for trainer Peter Walder; and last-out maiden winners in Alexandres LLC's Il Miracolo [post 1, Javier Castellano] for trainer Antonio Sano and West Paces Racing and Stonestreet Stables' Dubyuhnell [post 7, Jose Ortiz] for trainer Danny Gargan.

The Remsen is slated as Race 7 on Saturday's 10-race program. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the best way to bet every race of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Cigar Mile: Veteran Mind Control Makes Final Start Against Younger Rivals Zandon, White Abarrio

Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables' dual Grade 1-winner Mind Control will attempt to go out on top when he takes on a field consisting of three other Grade 1 winners in Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile Handicap for 3-year-olds and upward at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Mind Control, conditioned by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, has garnered seven graded stakes victories, reaching that pinnacle every year since 2018 while boasting a record of 28-11-3-6 and field best earnings of $1,773,334. Never out of the money in seven starts at the Big A, he captured the Jerome and Grade 3 Bay Shore in 2019 before conquering the Grade 3 Toboggan and Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap the following year for trainer Gregg Sacco.

A winner of Saratoga Race Course's Grade 1 Hopeful as a juvenile and Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial as a sophomore, Mind Control was transferred to Pletcher's barn last summer and made his first start a winning one, capturing the Grade 2 John A. Nerud at Belmont Park over Grade 1-winner and Big Sandy specialist Firenze Fire.

Two starts later, he defeated another Grade 1-winner in Met Mile hero Silver State in the Parx Dirt Mile last September, where he ran a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure. He matched this figure with a hard-fought win over Grade 1-winning multimillionaire Hot Rod Charlie in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile on June 18 at Monmouth Park. He enters off a repeat triumph in the Parx Dirt Mile, which he won this year via disqualification over Far Mo Power.

Mind Control is by 2012 Cigar Mile winner and Pletcher alumnus Stay Thirsty. A victory would make them the first father-son pair to capture the final Grade 1 on the NYRA circuit since inaugural 1988 winner Forty Niner produced 1996 winner Gold Fever.

“He's been a great horse for us and accomplished a lot before he even came to us, but he's been a real neat horse to be around,” said Pletcher, who seeks a record-extending sixth Cigar Mile victory. “He enjoys his job and has always liked Aqueduct. We were looking at possible options and thought coming into the Cigar Mile fresh was the right way to approach it. Physically, there are some similarities between him and his sire. They both ran well at two, three, four and in Mind Control's case beyond that. He just keeps going.”

Rick Sacco, racing manager for Red Oak Stable, confirmed that the Cigar Mile will be Mind Control's final career start before heading off to a stallion career.

“I think the horse has proven everything that a horse can do. At two, three, four, five and six, he's won a graded stake every year he's run. He's won from six furlongs to a mile,” Sacco said. “It would be a great sendoff for the horse. We're looking forward to it. He's been such a fun horse to be around. He loves NYRA, he obviously loves Aqueduct. He loves Saratoga, too, and some other tracks. All the feedback from Todd the past few weeks has been awesome. He loves the way he's been doing. He's happy and energetic and Todd's team is very pleased.”

Sacco said giving Mind Control time in between races was by design, citing the quick turnaround from a third-place effort in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Charles Town Classic on August 26 into the September 24 Parx Dirt Mile.

“He broke badly that day, but he ran a really credible third. The distance was a little out of his realm, but it was credible,” Sacco said. “We wheeled back to the Parx Mile because of the success he had the previous year and those were two quick races less than a month back. So, the idea was to give him all the time for a Grade 1 over a track that he loves and a distance that he's awesome at. It all made sense. The timing more than anything was key. He runs really well fresh, and he loves the surface at Aqueduct.”

A stud deal will likely be finalized in the days following the Cigar Mile according to Sacco, who noted the popularity of Mind Control's close relative King for a Day – a fairly new addition to the stallion roster at Irish Hill and DutchessViews Farm.

“We'll probably make an announcement a couple days after his last start,” Sacco said. “King for a Day is in his immediate family and he has bred 150 mares over the past two years. He's been really popular in New York.”

Breaking from the outermost post 7, Mind Control will carry 122 pounds under Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who has piloted the bay horse to six of his graded stakes triumphs.

A dozen 3-year-olds have bested elders in the Cigar Mile throughout its 34-year-history. This year will see a pair of Grade 1-winning Triple Crown alumni seek to add to those numbers with Jeff Drown's Zandon and C Two Racing Stable and Antonio Pagnano's White Abarrio.

Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winner and dual Cigar Mile winner Chad Brown, Zandon has never finished out of the money in eight lifetime starts and enters Saturday's test off a late-closing runner-up effort in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on September 24 at Parx Racing.

A triumph in the Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 9 at Keeneland made the son of third-crop sire Upstart one of the favorites heading into the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 7 at Churchill Downs. He battled down the stretch to the outside of lukewarm favorite Epicenter and was passed up by the inside rally of 80-1 upset winner Rich Strike to finish third.

Zandon followed up at Saratoga Race Course with a respective second and third behind Epicenter in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy on July 30 and Grade 1 Runhappy Travers on August 27. The Cigar Mile will be his first start going one turn since a debut victory going six furlongs last October at Belmont Park.

Breaking from post 2, Joel Rosario will be in pursuit of his first Cigar Mile coup when piloting Zandon, who carries 120 pounds.

Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. will send out White Abarrio, winner of the Grade 1 Florida Derby on April 2 at Gulfstream Park.

Prior to his Florida Derby victory, the gray or roan son of Race Day captured the Grade 3 Holy Bull on February 5 at the South Florida oval, defeating graded stakes winner Simplification and eventual Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets winner Mo Donegal. He finished 16th in the Kentucky Derby, seven weeks before running second in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown where he was beaten one length by Kentucky Derby seventh-place finisher Tawny Port.

The Cigar Mile will be White Abarrio's first start going a one-turn mile since last October, when he defeated winners in an optional claimer at Gulfstream Park.

“He's training well. We're cutting him back to a one-turn mile in here, which will suit him great,” Joseph, Jr. said. “He has tactical speed and he's going to stay the distance strong, so I don't think there's any question or concern. He ran it once already and won in an allowance race. Obviously, he's going to face deeper quality, but I'm excited about the distance.”

Joseph, Jr. said a strong effort from White Abarrio could warrant a start in the Grade 1, $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on January 28 at Gulfstream Park.

“It would make us consider it, but we aren't thinking that far ahead,” Joseph, Jr. said. “If he were to win very impressively, we may consider sticking to one turn, but the Pegasus is right around the corner and a lot of the good horses have retired. That has us rise up a bit by default, almost.”

Irad Ortiz, Jr., who is currently tied with the late Garrett Gomez for most stakes wins in a single North American season with 76, will attempt to secure the landmark outright when he guides White Abarrio for the first time from post 3. He will carry 118 pounds.

Trainer Greg Foley will send multiple graded-stakes placed O Besos following a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint on November 5 at Keeneland.

The 4-year-old son of Orb was victorious two starts back going six furlongs on October 1 at Churchill Downs, which was his first start since a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Commonwealth in April, contested over a sloppy and sealed Keeneland main track. The October victory prompted Foley to try the Breeders' Cup, where he was last-of-11 early on before making a late run to finish a willing fifth.

“He ended up having a little hiccup after the Commonwealth so we gave him some time off,” Foley said. “I thought he ran a great race in his comeback at Churchill in October. After that race we knew the Breeders' Cup was just down the road at Keeneland and thought the Sprint would fit him best. We came with our run and only got beat 3 1/2 lengths for all of it. I think the distance in the Cigar Mile should suit him a little better.”

O Besos, who will carry 119 pounds, is owned by Tagg Team Racing, Bernard Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds and Terry L. Stephens.

Jose Ortiz will pick up the mount from post 5.

Gary Barber's Get Her Number will ship from Southern California in pursuit of his first Grade 1 victory since capturing the 2020 American Pharoah at Santa Anita for trainer Peter Miller.

The 4-year-old son of Dialed In will be making a quick turnaround from a November 20 victory going six furlongs at Del Mar. Get Her Number, a five-time winner, was second in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby on July 30 at Del Mar, where he registered a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

Two-time Cigar Mile winning rider Luis Saez picks up the mount aboard Get Her Number, who will carry 120 pounds while breaking from post 4.

Completing the field are the Norman L. Cash trained pair of Double Crown [post 1, J.D. Acosta, 119 pounds] and Outlier [post 6, Luis Batista, 115 pounds].

Owned by Cash and Lola Cash, Double Crown, by Bourbon Courage, was an upset winner of the Grade 2 Kelso last out on October 29 at Belmont at the Big A, running down seven-time winner Baby Yoda in the final strides to the wire. The victory was his first at stakes level since winning Gulfstream Park's Carry Back in July 2020 for former trainer Kathy Ritvo.

Built Wright Stable's Outlier will seek his fourth victory this year and first since June 2, when winning a one-mile optional claimer at Penn National in wire-to-wire fashion.

The Cigar Mile honors Allen Paulson's all-time great, who from 1994-96 equaled 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation's modern-day North American record of 16 consecutive victories, a record which has since been broken by Peppers Pride, Hall of Famer Zenyatta and Rapid Redux. Cigar's win streak included victories in the Breeder's Cup Classic, Donn Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup, Woodward, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Oaklawn Handicap, and Pimlico Special. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and ridden primarily by Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, Cigar retired with nearly $10 million in lifetime earnings and resided at the Kentucky Horse Park upon his retirement until passing in 2014. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2002.

The Cigar Mile is carded as Race 9 and headlines a lucrative program which also features the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen, which offers 10-4-3-2-1 in Kentucky Derby qualifying points, the Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle, which offers 10-4-3-2-1 in Kentucky Oaks qualifying points, and the Grade 3, $200,000 Go for Wand. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

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Roses On His Bucket List: Frankie Dettori At Santa Anita Hoping To ‘Stumble Into A Very Good 3-Year-Old’

Long considered the greatest European-based jockey since Lester Piggot, Italian-born Lanfranco (Frankie) Dettori is returning to Santa Anita to ride full-time for the first time in more than 30 years on the track's Classic Meet opening day, Monday, Dec. 26.

Recently paired with top agent Ron Anderson, Dettori, who lives near Newmarket, England, first announced his plans to ride at Santa Anita a month ago and in an expansive interview via telephone, detailed his intentions and career goals as he approaches his 52nd birthday on Dec. 15.

Married with five grown children, Dettori, a native of Milan, Italy and the son of retired Italian Champion Jockey Gianfranco Dettori, recalls the relationships he forged as a teenager with American racing icons such as Bill Shoemaker, Charlie Whittingham, Neil Drysdale and others.

Along with 500 Group Stakes wins, Dettori, who is a member of the prestigious British Champions Series Hall of Fame, is also a winner of 14 Breeders' Cup races in North America, including the 2008 Classic at Santa Anita with the John Gosden-trained Raven's Pass.

Dettori, whose dynamic personality and signature flying dismounts have enabled his European celebrity to transcend the bounds of racing, has ridden in more than 18 countries and has endorsed products such as “Jockey” yogurt in Europe and has had prominent television roles in shows such as British-based “Celebrity Big Brother” and the BBC's quiz show “A Question of Sport.”

At home in Stetchworth, England, Dettori agreed to a question and answer session Tuesday morning.

Q. Frankie, first of all, sincere thanks for making the decision to ride full-time at Santa Anita this winter. This is truly great news and your presence alone will generate significant additional interest in our Classic Meet here at The Great Race Place. What factors led to your decision to begin riding here on Dec. 26?

A. I was actually thinking of coming over in the middle of January because I had some commitments in South America and I was thinking of going on a bit of a tour there. But, Ron approached me. He's a good friend of mine. He's probably one of the best agents in the world, I've known him since I was a kid. He said 'Listen, if you'll come along for (opening day) at Santa Anita and start when everybody else starts, there's a better chance that we can get the ball rolling and have a good winter.' And so I changed my plans and I spoke to my children. They're grown up now. I said 'I'm not going to be here for Christmas.'

They're adults now, they're attending university and so on and they don't believe in Santa Claus anymore, all they do is (jokingly) want money…So it was a mutual decision, so that's why I'm coming over and I'm going to start on Boxing Day (traditional British holiday the day after Christmas). It's very important to start on opening day with everyone else and have an equal chance to do well.

Q. You've ridden all over the world and have had a superstar career in every respect. Although it's been a long time, this will not be your first time riding here in Southern California. You were here in 1987 at age 17 and you were around people like Bill Shoemaker. You actually lived here in Sierra Madre one winter. What are your recollections of that time so long ago when your career was just beginning to take flight?

A. I remember riding at Santa Anita on Shoe's last day as a jockey (Feb. 3, 1990). I didn't ride in any races with him, but I rode that same day that he retired. I saw all the celebration and just being in the Jockeys' Room when he was there is something I'll never forget. Back at that time, I got to meet so many people. I got to meet Charlie Whittingham and I galloped some horses for him.

It was an amazing time to be there. I saw great horses, champions…Ferdinand, Alysheba and then soon after, Sunday Silence. I saw some amazing horses and some amazing jockeys as well. So basically, my career has come full circle. Thirty five years later, I'm going to be back to where I started.

Q. In addition to your incredible international resume, you've won a total of 14 Breeders' Cup races here in North America, including the 2008 Classic here at Santa Anita with John Gosden's Raven's Pass. That said, with Ron Anderson now managing your business, is the 2023 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita on your radar?

A. To be honest, the Breeders' Cup is a million miles away. The only important thing for me at this time, is coming to California, to start doing well, ride some winners and fingers, crossed, I might stumble into a very good 3-year-old that would take me to Churchill Downs the first Saturday in May.

I'm shooting at the stars at the moment, but you never know…I'm not speculating about anything, but I'm going to give it my all and I'm going to enjoy it. To me, I'm going to be around some people I've known most of my life, guys like Mike Smith, Johnny Velazquez, Neil Drysdale and other people in California. As far as my business now goes, obviously winning the Dubai World Cup this year (with Country Grammer) for Bob Baffert helps a bit.

Q. I get the impression that winning the Kentucky Derby is very much on Frankie Dettori's Bucket List?

A. Oh, of course, and not just me, every jockey…But unfortunately, the Kentucky Derby falls on the same day as our 2000 Guineas (Group 1, for 3-year-olds going one mile at Newmarket) which is the first leg in our Triple Crown. As a Walmac (Farm) guy, I've actually got a very live mount in it, but we'll see what the spring will bring…I'm not going to speculate, but everything at the moment is open and I'll just see what happens.

Q. Back to your agent, Ron Anderson. He's come here in recent years with Johnny Velazquez and Joel Rosario. They've done very well over the winter and then they've shifted their tack to Kentucky and New York following the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. Is this a path you're likely to follow?

A. To be honest, I haven't figured out anything yet. My first focus is opening day at Santa Anita. My second focus is to get a live mount for the Pegasus World Cup (Invitational, Grade 1 at Gulfstream Park Jan. 28). My third focus is to hopefully try to get back on Country Grammer for the Saudi Cup (Group 1 in February). And in between, we spend the time at Santa Anita and hopefully find a nice 3-year-old. And then we go into March and the better races are starting for those horses and there's the Dubai World Cup, the Santa Anita Handicap…I just want to take one step at a time. Yes, I'm going to be on airplanes. I love it!

Q. Looking at where you're at, in addition to having tremendous God-given ability, your enthusiasm and out-going personality have also been huge factors in your long-term success. You'll be 52 on Dec. 15. Are those internal fires to succeed still burning as hot as ever and if so, beyond money-won, what motivates you to continue?

A. That's one of the reasons I'm coming to California. I need a new challenge, a new target. I'll definitely ride next year, after that, I don't know. So I'm taking one year at a time. I like to travel. I like to challenge myself in different places and that's what keeps me going. It'll be good to get back to memory lane in Southern California. That's where I started…So I'm going to try to enjoy my time there as much as I can.

Q. Frankie, you've got a great life, a great family with your wife Catherine and five kids. As you mentioned, your kids are grown, but how does everyone feel about you coming to Santa Anita this winter?

A. To be honest, they're kind of used to it. The last few years, I've been in Dubai by myself. They're pleased for me because they see that I'm very excited about it. I've got their support, which is very important. It's easier now for me to spend time away because they've got university, they've got things to do and they understand. It's much harder when you have young kids. It doesn't make my job any easier, but I have their full support.

Q. Speaking of family, your father, Gianfranco, was a 13-time Champion rider in Italy. Is he still involved in racing?

A. My dad is 81 and he's fully retired. He spends all his life watching me ride on TV. You know, he and my mom actually came with me one winter when I rode at Santa Anita and stayed with me for three months in Sierra Madre. He understands what I'm doing and he's actually more excited than me that I'm coming over this winter. It'll give him something to watch in the evening.

Q. Lastly, everybody knows that good horses help to make good jockeys and good trainers. Aside from getting the right horses in the right races, in your opinion, what separates great jockeys from average or good jockeys?

A. Well, I think first of all, you've got to use your natural instincts. Obviously in my case, I've got a lot of experience. But then, you've got to have the love of the horse. I love the horse. The horse has a sixth sense. He's feels like you feel. We use horses for disabled people, blind people, deaf people…The horse knows, they're intuitive. I think a good jockey transmits good vibes to the horse to give him his best chance to succeed.

Entries for Santa Anita's Classic Meet opening day will be taken Dec. 21. The 47-day Classic Meet will run through April 9 and be followed by Santa Anita's 27-day Spring Meet, which begins on April 22 and concludes on June 18. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com.

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