Tag: John Shirreffs

Report: Express Train Out of Breeders’ Cup Classic

Express Train, winner of the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap in July, has been scratched from Saturday's G1 Breeders' Cup Classic, according to a report from Jay Privman of Daily Racing Form.

Trainer John Shirreffs noted that the 4-year-old son of Union Rags had kicked his hock during schooling for the Classic at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. Saturday, the injured area had “minor swelling,” which led to the decision to scratch.

Owned by C R K Stable LLC, Express Train has two wins in seven starts in 2021, with his other victory coming in the Grade 2 San Pasqual at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. He was third behind Medina Spirit and Stilleto Boy, both also in the field for the Classic, in the Grade 3 Awesome Again in early October.

With Express Train's scratch, the field for the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic is down to eight, with Knicks Go the morning line favorite for the 1 1/4-mile race.

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Eda Cruises To Easy Victory In Anoakia Stakes At Santa Anita

The prohibitive 1-5 favorite, Bob Baffert's Eda stalked early leader Shes Bout a Mover to the far turn and opened up turning for home en route to a facile 2 ¼ length win in Sunday's $75,000 Anoakia Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden for the first time by Flavien Prat, she got six furlongs geared down in 1:10.41.

“She was in the one hole and there was speed in the race,” said Baffert, who collected his meet-leading fourth stakes win. “She did that in her first race (a desperate nose defeat in a five-furlong maiden special weight here on June 19), but she couldn't do it in her last race at Del Mar, there was too much traffic. It was a nice win. I think one turn is her game, so we'll just keep her (sprinting) for now.”

Fifth, beaten 18 lengths as the 6-5 favorite going seven furlongs in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., Sept. 5, Eda ran to the betting today and paid $2.40, $2.10, and $2.10.

A $550,000 2-year-old in training sale purchase in Florida this past March, Eda, a bay filly by Munnings out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Show Me, was second beaten a head two starts back in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes going six furlongs on Aug. 6 and now has one win from four starts.

Owned by Baoma Corporation, Eda picked up $47,400 for the win, increasing her earnings to $130,000.

“She broke well and I was able to get myself in the clear,” said Prat, who collected his meet-leading seventh stakes win. “As soon as we hit the turn, she just on her own, grabbed the bridle and made a nice move, and that was a winning move. She's pretty quick, she has a lot of speed, so I don't know how far she wants to go, but six was a good distance today.”

In a huge effort, the John Shirreffs-trained Lady T, who appeared to be about nine lengths back while next to last three furlongs from home, shifted into high gear around the turn in an eye-catching effort and rallied for the place, finishing 7 ¼ lengths in front of Baffert's Benedict Canyon.

Off at 5-1 with Victor Espinoza up in a field of five, Lady T paid $3.20 and $2.10.

Ridden by Abel Cedillo, Benedict Canyon was off at 8-1 and paid $2.10 to show.

Fractions on the race were :21.90, :44.98, and :57.38.

Live racing resumes on Friday, with first post time for a nine-race card at 1 p.m. Friday's entries are currently available at santaanita.com.

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England’s Rose Wins Swingtime At Santa Anita

In her first stakes assignment, the John Shirreffs-conditioned England's Rose proved more than equal to the task as she displayed an impressive turn of foot to rally from off the pace and take Saturday's $70,000 Swingtime Stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by Victor Espinoza, England's Rose got one mile on turf in 1:33.99.

Taken in-hand out of the gate, England's Rose who was shortening up off of a 1 3/8 mile turf allowance win, saved ground early and under patient handling and with just two horses to beat at the three-furlong marker, rallied impressively while five-deep off the turn for home to win going away.

“Victor did a good job, taking ahold of her and dropping back to save ground early,” said Shirreffs. “She's got a great finishing kick, so he waited as long as he could, but when those fillies came up inside her around the far turn, he had to go. Now we'll try to move up (in class). You always like to see them repeat a performance.”

First or second in her last four starts, England's Rose last started on Sept. 3 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. Off as the 7-2 second choice in a field of eight fillies and mares three and up, she paid $9.40, $4.00, and $3.00.

“I was hoping we had enough pace,” said Espinoza, who has ridden England's Rose in all but one of her seven starts. “You never know before the race. My only thought was that hopefully they would go a little quick…I can't really change how she likes to run, so it's one of those things you just have to let the horse do all the work and let her run in the end.”

A 5-year-old mare by English Channel out of the Kris S. mare Gingham and Lace, England's Rose is owned by Mercedes Stables, LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, Scott Dilworth, Dorothy and David Ingordo, and Steve Mooney.

With the winner's share of $46,320, England's Rose has earnings of $159,450 from an overall mark of 7-3-2-0.

The actual favorite at 7-2, Norma Jean B. was attentive to the pace and took command inside the eighth pole but was no match for the winner late. Ridden by Abel Cedillo, she paid $3.80 and $3.40.

Chilean-bred Brooke, off at 4-1, rallied from off the pace with Kyle Frey and paid $3.60 to show while finishing 1 ¼ lengths better than Avenue de France.

Fractions on the race were :23.02, :46.80, 1:10.70, and 1:22.52.

First post time for a 10-race card on Sunday is at 1 p.m.

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Astronaut Soars To Victory In Del Mar Handicap, Gets BC Turf Spot

Astronaut (24-1) topped a trio of long shots in the money for the Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. Master Piece (23-1) and Acclimate (10-1) were second and third.

The win by the 4-year-old son of Quality Road in the 1 3/8-mile turf marathon came as a shock to many. But not to his immediate connections.

“I wasn't surprised,” said Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza. “I thought in his last race (1 ¾-mile San Juan Capistrano in June) he was a little too close and the race was a little too long for him.”

Astronaut settled in seventh place in the field of 11 and made a sustained run through the last three-eighths to prevail by a half-length.

“We wanted to run him long, but we weren't sure how long,” Shirreffs said. “And when he ran so well going a mile and three-quarters, it seemed like this was possible.”

The race being a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar on November 6, Astronaut's place in it is not only possible, but probable.

Del Mar Handicap favorite United had traffic problems from the mile mark to midstretch and finished fourth.

“It was frustrating,” said Gary Mandella. “He had bad racing luck, didn't get the kind of trip he needs to show himself off and had to settle for fourth when we thought he was the best horse.”

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