Although he remains sidelined with a persistent throat infection, Hall of Fame trainer and Santa Anita mainstay Ron McAnally and his wife, Debbie, were no doubt all smiles following Friday's first race after their 5-year-old homebred mare Red Diamond easily won the day's first race under Jose Valdivia Jr.
The Kentucky-bred daughter of Afleet Alex finished the six-furlong maiden claiming event for fillies and mares in 1:09.80 on firm turf while winning by three lengths as the 6-5 favorite .
“This was our first start of the meet, so we wanted to make it count,” joked longtime McAnally assistant Dan Landers. “Ronnie's watching from home, but he's getting better and he should be back to the track in another week.”
A native of Covington, Ky., McAnally, who will turn 90 on July 11 and will forever be remembered as the trainer of seven-time Eclipse Award winner and two-time Horse of the Year John Henry, ranks fifth on Santa Anita's all-time list of stakes winning trainers with 113, behind fellow Hall of Famers Charlie Whittingham (204), Bob Baffert (211), Bobby Frankel (146), and Richard Mandella (128).
A three-time winner of the Santa Anita Handicap (G1), with John Henry in 1981-1982 and with Mr. Purple in 1996, McAnally won the 1976 Santa Anita Derby (G1) with An Act.
A three-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner whose uncle Reggie Cornell trained the legendary come-from-behind winner of the 1958 Santa Anita Derby, Silky Sullivan, McAnally has also trained such stalwarts as Bayakoa, Candy Ride, Cassaleria, Hawkster, Northern Spur, Olympio, Paseana, Tight Spot, and many others.
By races won at Santa Anita's Winter/Spring meetings, McAnally ranks sixth, with 784.
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