Tag: Mandarin Hero

Santa Anita Derby Contenders Have Final Works

Multiple contenders pointed to Saturday's GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby had their final works Sunday including the top three finishers from last month's GII San Felipe S.

Practical Move (Practical Joke), winner of the San Felipe March 4, drilled five furlongs in 1:01.20 for trainer Tim Yakteen. Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}), who was second the San Felipe, worked five furlongs in company in :59.4 for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella.

“We're all set,” Mandella said following the work.

Skinner (Curlin), who was third in the San Felipe, worked five furlongs in :59.2 seconds under Hall of Famer Victor Espinoza for John Shirreffs.

“He was just cruising,” Espinoza said. “He's ready now.”

Also working Sunday was National Treasure (Quality Road), scratched as the morning-line favorite for the San Felipe, who went six furlongs in 1:12.6.

Japanese import Mandarin Hero (Shanghai Bobby) will work for the first time Monday with Kazushi Kimura in the irons. Mandarin Hero arrived at Santa Anita on Friday and his traveling party indicated he has taken well to his new surroundings.

Saturday's GII Santa Anita Oaks could have up to a field of eight including Faiza (Girvin) and And Tell Me Nolies (Arrogate), the top-two finishers in the GIII Santa Ysabel March 5.

Faiza completed her final preparations on Saturday with a six-furlong work in 1:12.60 for trainer Bob Baffert while And Tell Me Nolies also had her final tune-up on Saturday with a five-furlong work in 1:01.80.

Clearly Unhinged (Bernardini), a front-running 3 1/4-length maiden winner Feb. 5, worked a bullet on Saturday when going five furlongs in :59.60 seconds for the Oaks. It was the fastest of 53 moves at the distance.

Princess Bettina (Will Take Charge) is also targeting the Oaks with an easy half mile move in :49.20 seconds.

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Japanese Horse To Come For Santa Anita Derby

Mandarin Hero (Jpn) (Shanghai Bobby), a winner of four of five career starts in Japan, will make his next start in the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 8 at Santa Anita.

Mandarin Hero races on the National Association of Racing (NAR) circuit, comprised of regional tracks predominantly offering dirt racing and widely considered to be a cut below the Japan Racing Association circuit. Mandarin Hero will be the first NAR horse to compete in the U.S., though Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) was a four-time black-type winner at NAR tracks before upsetting the 2021 GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar.

Mandarin Hero, one of 24 winners from the first Japanese crop of 2012 Eclipse Award-winning juvenile male Shanghai Bobby, was undefeated in four starts as a 2-year-old and won the Haiseiko Kinen (allowance) going a two-turn mile last November (see below, SC 9). He made his 3-year-old debut in an valuable 1800-meter [nine-furlong] test Feb. 23, finishing a close second. All of his races have come on the dirt at Ohi Racecourse outside of Tokyo, where he has earned the equivalent of $236,854.

 

 

 

“My goal of running in the Santa Anita Derby has come true, and I am determined to achieve good results,” said trainer Terunobu Fujita. “After a good run in the Santa Anita Derby, I hope to run in the Kentucky Derby. I have the experience of an overseas tour [in Korea] and I will do my best to do everything in my power.”

There are four races on the Japanese calendar win which points for the GI Kentucky Derby are awarded. Mandarin Hero has not run in any of them. Five Japanese horses are expected to take part in the G2 UAE Derby at Meydan Mar. 25, a race that offers Kentucky Derby points on a scale of 100-40-30-20-10 as does the Santa Anita Derby.

 

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