It's going on half a century since John Shirreffs served his country in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War before being honorably discharged and heading to Hawaii to become a surfer.
But first he stopped in California, eventually walking hots for trainer Gene Cleveland and later breaking yearlings for Ed Nahem at Lakeview Thoroughbred Farm.
Shirreffs got his trainer's license in 1978, and the rest is history.
His lengthy legacy includes winning the 2005 Kentucky Derby with 50-1 outsider Giacomo, and masterfully crowning it with the once-in-a-lifetime mare Zenyatta, winner of 19 straight races in dramatic come-from-behind fashion that had to be seen to be believed, before losing for the first time in her 20th start and career finale by a head to Blame in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic.
Her career is a movie waiting to happen.
Fast forward to Saturday, when Shirreffs, now 76, will saddle favored Express Train in a bid to win the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap presented by Yaamava' Resort & Casino.
It is Santa Anita's marquee race for older horses, emblazoned with a rich history since first run in 1935 when captured by Azucar, ridden by George (The Iceman) Woolf.
Other luminous winners are a Who's Who of racing, among them Seabiscuit (1940), Noor (1950), Round Table (1958), Ack Ack (1971), Cougar II (1973), Affirmed (1979), Spectacular Bid 1980), John Henry (1981 & 82), Alysheba (1988), Best Pal (1992), Tiznow (2001), Lava Man (2006 & 07) and Game On Dude (2011, 2014 & 14).
Shirreffs, long and lean with an ever-present baseball cap, hopes Express Train joins that elite group Saturday, when he breaks from post six in a field of eight going a mile and a quarter.
“I think post position makes a difference, but ours is very good,” said Shirreffs, who almost won his first Big 'Cap last year when Express Train led but was caught late by Idol and finished second by a half-length.
Otherwise, the son of Union Rags, still a full horse at age five, has been ultra-consistent with a 6-4-3 record from 16 starts, earning $935,800 for owner C R K Stable LLC.
Bred in Kentucky by Dixiana Farms LLC, the bay has an advantageous style, usually in close attendance to the pace before making a winning run through the stretch.
“Around the barn, he's like a lot of really good race horses,” Shirreffs said. “He's got a lot of energy, he's sharp, he's on his toes, but you don't want to ad lib with him. You don't want to do anything he doesn't expect.
“I hope there's a little speed in the race and we can sit a bit off it if all goes well. We're really happy with Express Train, how he's doing now and what he's accomplished.”
The Big 'Cap is a race every trainer desires to have on his or her resume, and Shirreffs is no exception. Although he was born in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, he has been entrenched in California for decades, making his home in Arcadia.
He can still harken back to those thrilling days of yesteryear.
“When you think of Santa Anita, the race that comes to mind is always the Santa Anita Handicap,” Shirreffs said. “I've been here when 60,000 people were in the stands watching the race.
“You couldn't even see the horses. The only way you knew they were coming into the stretch was by hearing this wall of noise coming towards you as they approached.
“It was electric in those days.”
The field for the 85th edition of the $650,000 Big 'Cap which goes as the 11th and final race with a 12 noon first post time:
- Spielberg, Abel Cedillo
- Why Why Paul Why, Juan Hernandez
- Warrant, Flavien Prat
- Soy Tapatio, Diego Herrera
- American Theorem, Mike Smith
- Express Train, Victor Espinoza
- Kiss Today Goodbye, Kyle Frey
- Stilleto Boy, John Velazquez
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