December, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Santa Anita: Speed Boat Beach Could Key Bob Baffert Trifecta In Opening Day Malibu

A stakes winner on both turf and dirt, versatile Speed Boat Beach heads Santa Anita's traditional opening day main event, the Grade 1, $300,000 Malibu Stakes, for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs. A colt by 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern, Speed Boat Beach heads a powerful three-horse contingent for Baffert, who took last year's Malibu with Taiba and now seeks to join fellow Hall of Famer Richard Mandella by winning his sixth career Malibu.

Second, beaten a head two starts back by top sprinter Dr. Schivel in the G2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Sept. 30, Speed Boat Beach made all the early running in the G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint here on Nov. 4, but tired to finish fourth, beaten three lengths.

Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Speed Boat Beach will be ridden by Flavien Prat, who last rode him three starts back, winning the G3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes at one mile over the Del Mar turf on Dec. 4, 2022.

Fresh off a facile 2 ¼ length allowance score at 4-5 going 6 ½ furlongs on Nov. 17 at Del Mar, Baffert's Fort Bragg, who was third, beaten 1 ¼ lengths for second by Speed Boat Beach in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Sept. 30, will be ridden for the first time by America's leading money earning rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. With the recent allowance win and Ortiz up, Fort Bragg will get plenty of pari-mutuel attention as he bids for his first Grade I win in what will be his 12th career start.

Owned by SF Racing, LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC, et al, Fort Bragg has three wins and earnings of $414,300.

A New York-bred purchased as a yearling for $3,550,000, Baffert's Hejazi rounds out his three-card hand and rate a huge chance on Tuesday as well with top jock Juan Hernandez back aboard. Idle since second as the 7-5 favorite in a seven furlong ungraded stakes at Keeneland April 7, Hejazi was off as the 8-5 favorite in a first condition allowance at six panels here on Nov. 3 and he blew the competition away, winning by 5 ½ lengths.

Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Inc., Hejazi, who is 7-2-3-1, seeks his first stakes win in what will be his second Grade I assignment.

Always dangerous under any circumstances, eastern-based trainer Brad Cox will send out Giant Mischief, who will be ridden for the first time by Kazushi Kamura, who led all riders at Woodbine's recently concluded meet with 161 winners.

Owned by Spendthrift Farm, LLC and Steve Landers Racing, LLC, Big Easy Racing, LLC, et al, Giant Mischief, by Into Mischief, has three wins from six starts and will seeking his first stakes win in the Malibu.

THE GRADE 1 MALIBU IN POST POSITION ORDER WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS

Race 8 of 11 Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PT

Giant Mischief – Kazushi Kimura – 120
Fort Bragg – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – 122
Speed Boat Beach – Flavien Prat – 120
Sharp Aza Tack – Antonio Fresu – 120
Damon's Mound – Junior Alvarado – 122
Matanzas Creek – Mike Smith – 120
Hejazi – Juan Hernandez – 120
Raise Cain – Lanfranco Dettori – 122

With six stakes, three of them Grade 1s and a total of 11 races, early first post time on opening day is at 11 a.m., with admission gates opening at 9 a.m.

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Horse And Jockey Stay Partners, Even After The Track

On May 20, 2022, jockey Kelsi Purcell piloted New Mexico-bred McClassic to his seventh and final career victory in a $5,000 claimer at Sunray Park. But that wasn't the end of their story – in fact, it's just the beginning.

Purcell started her life with horses as a professional show jumper in her native British Columbia, Canada. After her competition horse suffered an injury, she lost her corporate sponsorships and had to seek work elsewhere. Former clients asked her to help them break young racehorses and she found some of her skills transferred. That evolved to ponying, grooming, galloping, and in 2003 she began thinking about becoming a jockey.

A move to Texas continued her racing education under the Asmussen family, and she rode her first race in 2007. She moves tack between New Mexico's racetracks and is a multiple stakes winner. Now, she juggles working Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses in the morning and afternoon with retraining and selling Thoroughbred sport horse prospects.

Purcell rides frequently for trainer Nancy Summers, who conditioned McKenna Thoroughbreds homebred McClassic in his racing days.

“I had known him his whole career, since he was two, and I didn't get to ride him until later on,” she said. “Then when I got with Nancy Summers, I got to ride him a whole bunch. I fell in love with him. I'd say, 'Oh, when he's retired, I want him, I want him.' There was just something about the way he moved, I knew he'd jump really big over fences. We say the rails are lava for him.”

The rangy son of McKenna's Justice and the Valiant Nature mare Classic Kari ran six seasons on the track, mostly in allowance and claiming company. By May of last year, he was seven years old, and Tom McKenna thought it was time for the horse to hang it up, so he gave McClassic to Purcell.

Purcell started McClassic as she does all her off-track Thoroughbreds – with something totally different from racing life.

“All of my horses, I start with the Western because I feel like it exposes them to a lot more and they can handle a lot more stuff,” she said. “When I'm riding at Ruidoso, I have a huge ranch I ride at, 250 acres with cattle, you can ride through the river. I'm really spoiled to be able to be there.”

From there, McClassic moved on to jumps, and Purcell's instincts proved correct as he demonstrated a big, correct, natural jump that always seems to be a foot or more higher than wherever the rails are set.

Purcell and McClassic capped off their first season together with a cross-country trip from their New Mexico base to the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover in Kentucky this fall, where they competed in ranch work and show jumpers. They were 12th in ranch and 38th in jumpers, and then stuck around for the Thoroughbred Incentive Program's championships later in the week, where they just missed the ribbons in the competitive trail event.

Purcell said she's thrilled with his effort.

McClassic and Purcell finished 12th in ranch work at the Thoroughbred Makeover (Retired Racehorse Project photo)

“I thought McClassic did a great job at the Makeover,” she said this week. “I was so proud of him.

“I'm keeping him legged up with light work like jogging and walking out with the cattle. I'll be headed to El Paso this week for the meet at Sunland Park. There, I'm friends with a grand prix show jumper and I'll slowly get McClassic jumping again and get us doing some weekly lessons. Hopefully we can do a horse show this spring.”

Purcell has become a trusted resource for owners and trainers in New Mexico who want to retire their runners responsibly. Just before she arrived at the Makeover, she had sold multiple stakes winner Hustle Up to a new career as a jumper in Texas.

“I'm trying to promote these New Mexico-breds, because people just don't want them,” she said. “They do take a little bit more. They're not always started that good, so they do take a little more time, but they're amazing horses. You just have to put the time in and be super patient.

“There are owners out there that are wanting to help. We just need to get it out there that there are some great horses.”

As for McClassic, Purcell said he will not be for sale. She knows a good horse when she sees one, and she's not letting this one go.

“He's still a spicy jalapeno,” she laughed. “He's still a handful. But he loves his job so much.”

@paulickreport Meet Kelsi Purcell and McClassic, who competed in this year's @Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover after competing together on the racetrack. #HorseRacing #paulickreport #foryou #thoroughbred #retiredracehorseproject #thoroughbredmakeover #thoroughbredaftercare #KelsiPurcell #McClassic #SunrayPark ♬ original sound – Paulick Report

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Santa Anita’s $7,500 Online ‘Showvivor’ Contest Returns For Opening Day

Santa Anita's popular free online “Showvivor” will again be available to players everywhere beginning Opening Day, Tuesday, Dec. 26. Fans can play for free at santaanita.com/contests.

Additionally, beginning Saturday, Dec. 30, Santa Anita's $18,000 Santa Anita Pick 'Em Contest returns. An online contest that mixes popular sports props including horse racing and football, Santa Anita Pick 'Em will be offered every Saturday and Sunday with $500 in prize money paid to the top winner each day.

To sign up and for additional details regarding Santa Anita Pick 'Em, please visit santaanita.com/pickem.

With special early first post time for an 11-race card on Opening Day at 11 a.m., fans are encouraged to register to play at showvivor.santaanita.com prior to first post time. The contest offers players a variety of cash incentives, highlighted by the $2,500 top prize, which will be awarded to the longest “Show Streak” over the course of Santa Anita's Classic and Spring Meet, which will conclude on June 18.

Players can select one horse from one race each racing day. That horse must run no worse than third in order for the player to “Showvive.” If the player's selection fails to run 1-2-3, that individual is not totally eliminated, as he or she may start up a new streak the next racing day. The player with the longest Show Streak on June 16 will be declared the top prize winner of $2,500.

Fans are advised the longest Show Streak is just one of six separate ways to win beginning Dec. 26.

SHOW STREAK The player that has the longest “show” of no-worse than third place finish streak at the end of the Classic Meet will win the Grand Prize of $2,500. If a player fails to make an online selection on a given race day, their streak is still alive, but they will not be given credit for any days missed.

WIN STREAK This carries a $1,000 prize and is intended to reward players who have selected the most consecutive first place finishers. If a player fails to make a selection on a given day, his or her streak may continue, but the player will not receive credit for any days missed.

TOTAL WINS On closing day, June 18, the player that has selected the most total wins will receive a $500 prize.

HIGHEST SINGLE WIN PAYOUT This carries a $500 prize and will be awarded to the player wit the single highest win payout (on a Two Dollar wager) over the course of the entire meet.

TOTAL WIN EARNINGS This is a Showvivor category which also carries a $500 prize and is awarded to the player that accumulates the highest total dollar amount-won based on their selections at the end of the meet. For example, each time an entrant's selection finishes in first place in the official standings (Wins), the dollar amount, based on Santa Anita's official Two Dollar Win payout, will be added to that player's total money-won to date. The winner will be determined on closing day.

MONTHLY CONTEST, NEW WAY TO WIN Separated into five different date ranges, beginning Dec. 26 through Jan. 28, and ending June 1 through June 16, the winner, by Total Monthly win Earnings, of each of these individual calendar periods earns an entry into the next $500 Live Money Handicapping Contest at Santa Anita and thus an opportunity to compete for more cash and prizes. No exchanges are offered.

Entries for Opening Day, Tuesday, Dec. 26, are available at santaanita.com. For additional information on ShowVivor, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Santa Anita’s New Synthetic Infield Training Track On Schedule For Mid-January Opening

A major change coming to Santa Anita this winter is the transformation of its infield training track.

As part of a larger $32 million improvement plan for Santa Anita announced this summer, Santa Anita's training track is changing from a sand-based surface to all-weather synthetic produced by Tapeta Footings. The surface change is designed to improve safety while also helping to limit weather-related training disruptions.

“The main thing is having synthetic will alleviate a complete stoppage of training because of weather,” said Jason Egan, Santa Anita Director of Racing and Racing Secretary.

This week has provided a perfect example of the potential impact of a synthetic training track at Santa Anita. With back-to-back rainstorms hitting the area, the main track was “sealed” on Tuesday and has since been closed entirely for training.

“We have some unique situations in California with rules as it relates to weather,” Egan said. “Like with the rain this week. It either closes our racetrack entirely or limits what our training activities can be.”

With the worst of this week's rainstorms having passed, Santa Anita's main track is expected to be unsealed Friday. Per rules of the California Racing Board, only joggers will be allowed on the track Saturday. Full training is slated to resume on Sunday given the current forecast.

“Having a synthetic training track, we can continue on with workouts, gallops, that sort of thing. I think it will be a big assist,” Egan added.

Santa Anita's training track has been closed for construction since Nov. 12. Prior to this week's rainstorms, its conversion to synthetic had been ahead of schedule, track officials said. As things stand, the training track remains on course to reopen in mid-January.

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