Eddie Logan Stakes | Horse Racing Free Tips

Cabo Spirit, Victor Espinoza Team For Eddie Logan Victory

Handled patiently by Victor Espinoza, Kretz Racing's Cabo Spirit demonstrated a nifty turn of foot through the lane to take Sunday's $100,000 Eddie Logan by 1 ¼ lengths at Santa Anita. Trained by George Papaprodromou, who swept Sunday's Late Double at the Arcadia, Calif., track, Cabo Spirit got one mile on turf in 1:36.38.

“First of all, I can't thank enough Mr. Kretz for supporting me these past 10 years and thanks to all my help who do a great job keeping the horses happy and going like this,” said Papaprodromou. “I think the last time (when a close third going a mile on turf in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Nov. 28, he moved a little too soon, but what can you say, he ran a huge race that day, too.

“Today, what I did was put the cheaters (blinkers with a very minimal cup) on him a little bit. Last time I had to put on the semis and he couldn't see the from the outside. He kind of got a little confused I think, but today he just ran great. He settled nicely on the backside and he did run huge at the end.”

Beaten just a half length in the DeMille, Cabo Spirit, a 3-year-old colt by Pioneerof the Nile, was off at 5-2 in a field of nine sophomores and paid $7.60, $4.00 and $3.20.

“The turf is a little soft, so I figured if I go to the front, my chances wouldn't be that great, so I decided to take him back a little bit and just let him run in the end,” said Espinoza, who has ridden Cabo Spirit in his last four starts, winning two. “It seemed like he really liked that style and when I had a little room to let him run down the stretch, he opened up two lengths in no time.”

With his first stakes win, Cabo Spirit, who is out of the Shamardal mare Fancy Day, picked up $60,000 for his efforts, running his earnings to $136,220 while improving his overall mark to 7-2-1-2.

Irish-bred Maglev, who was making his U.S. debut, saved ground to the top of the lane but raced erratically late, finishing well as the 2-1 favorite under Umberto Rispoli and paid $4.40 and $3.20 while finishing a neck in front of Handy Dandy.

Handy Dandy, fresh off of an impressive one mile maiden turf win Nov. 28, was attentive to the pace but lacked the necessary kick late. Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, he was off at 5-1 and paid $3.80 to show.

Fractions on the race were 23.07, 47.26, 1:12.34 and 1:24.68.

Live racing resumes at Santa Anita on Friday, with first post time for a nine-race card at 12:30 p.m.

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Santa Anita: Friday’s Eddie Logan Stakes Honors Late Legend

Eddie Logan, whose home away from home was Santa Anita for nearly three-quarters of a century, will be honored Friday Dec. 31 with the running of the $100,000 Eddie Logan Stakes for two-year-olds at a mile on turf.

Logan, known affectionately as “The Footman,” operated his shoeshine stand outside the Santa Anita Racing Office from the track's opening on Christmas Day 1934 until shortly before his death at 98 on Jan. 31, 2009.

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, a loyal ally and ardent admirer, has fond memories of Logan who played for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro League in the 1920s and early 1930's, but whose lack of a formal education did not diminish his acuity.

“He was a good friend and I looked forward to going to the race track and not only getting a shoe shine, but talking with him and listening to what he had to say,” Mandella said.

“The stories he told just made you feel better.”

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Irish-Bred Cathkin Peak Wears Down Commander Khai To Win Eddie Logan At Santa Anita

Taken well off the early pace while next to last into the clubhouse turn, trainer Phil D'Amato's Irish-bred Cathkin Peak edged closer to the leaders heading to the far turn and with four lengths to make up turning for home, kept to his task and overhauled pacesetter Commander Khai to register a one-length victory in Sunday's $75,000 Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Cathkin Peak got a flat mile on turf in 1:33.80.

As expected, Commander Khai went to the early lead and he was tracked in second by morning line favorite Beer Can Man, who flattened out a bit late while Commander Khai kept to his task but couldn't hold off the winner, who although he lugged in some late, kept grinding to gain the advantage.

A one mile turf maiden winner in his U.S. debut Nov. 29 at Del Mar, Cathkin Peak was off at 4-1 in a field of seven juveniles and paid $10.40, $5.00 and $3.40.

“He's such a neat horse,” said D'Amato. “Every since he arrived, he hasn't done anything wrong and he keeps getting better and better. Flavien seems to fit him like a glove.”

Owned by Sterling Stables, LLC, Michael Nentwig and CYBT, Cathkin Peak, who started once in his native Ireland, is now two for three and with the winner's share of $46,680, increased his earnings to $81,672.

Trained by Richard Baltas, Commander Khai was off at 7-2 and paid $5.40 and $3.60 with John Velazquez up while prevailing by 2 ¾ lengths over Beer Can Man.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Beer Can Man was also off at 7-2 and paid $3.00 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.59, 45.74, 1:09.51 and 1:21.55.

The race was marred by an incident at the top of the stretch when Ebeko suffered a catastrophic injury and fell, throwing jockey Joel Rosario. Ebeko, winner of the Zuma Beach Stakes at Santa Anita in October, was vanned off and subsequently euthanized because of the nature of the injury. Rosario was evaluated by medical personnel and cleared to ride the remainder of the card.

Named in honor of Santa Anita's beloved “Footman,” the Eddie Logan honors the memory of the man who manned his shoeshine stand at Santa Anita from the track's opening on Dec. 25, 1934, until shortly before his passing at age 98 in January 2009.

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