Peter Miller | Horse Racing Free Tips

Dr. Schivel Chasing Fifth Straight Victory In Santa Anita Sprint Championship

Unbeaten in three tries at six furlongs and in search of his fifth consecutive win, trainer Mark Glatt's Dr. Schivel heads a solid field of six 3-year-olds and up in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs. A Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifier, the winner will earn a fees-paid berth into the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint at on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

With defending champ C Z Rocket and sharp horses such as Flagstaff, Eight Rings, Vertical Threat and Colt Fiction all rating big chances, the Santa Anita Sprint Championship figures to provide players with ample value.

A game neck winner of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes going six furlongs at Del Mar July 31, Dr. Schivel, a 3-year-old colt by Violence, has defeated older horses in his last two starts, including a second condition allowance two starts back on June 18 at Santa Anita. A winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity in his final start at age two, Dr. Schivel, who is owned by Red Baron's Barn, LLC and Rancho Temescal, seeks his third career Grade 1 victory and rates top billing.

In what will be his third start of the year, Dr. Schivel, who has won four out of six career starts, was trained through his 2-year-old campaign by Luis Mendez.

Glatt will also send out top sprinter Collusion Illusion, a Grade 1 winner at age three who was in need of his most recent start in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf Aug. 22. Idle since a close third to top colt Charlatan in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes here Dec. 26, Collusion Illusion was never a factor in the Green Flash but he figures to run much better on Saturday. Owned by Dan Agnew, Jerry Schneider, Rodney Orr and MyRacehorse, this 4-year-old Twirling Candy colt gets a nice outside draw and he'll be ridden for the first time by Juan Hernandez.

The leading money earner in the field with more than $1.4 million, Peter Miller's C Z Rocket, who finished second in the Grade 2 Pat O'Brien Stakes Aug. 28 and a close third in the Grade 1 Crosby July 31, was favored in both races and is without a doubt regarded as one of the nation's top sprinters.

Following his win in last year's Sprint Championship, C Z Rocket went on to finish second in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 7. With a 5-2-2-1 mark this year, it would appear this 7-year-old City Zip gelding is still at the top of his game as he points to another Breeders' Cup appearance on Nov. 6.

Owned by Tom Kagele, Altimira Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, LLC and Gary Barber, C Z Rocket, who was claimed for $40,000 at Oaklawn Park 12 starts back on April 30, 2020, has an overall mark of 28-11-4-3 as he seeks his first Grade 1 win.

A close third in Del Mar's Pat O'Brien Stakes, John Sadler's reliable Flagstaff, who was second, beaten a head by C Z Rocket in last year's Santa Anita Sprint Championship, has run extremely well in six starts this year, including a win three starts back going seven furlongs in the Grade I Churchill Downs on May 1. Owned by Lane's End Racing and Hronis Racing, LLC, Flagstaff, a 7-year-old gelding by Eclipse Champion Sprinter Speightstown, is 21-7-6-4 overall with earnings of $1,035,585.

Winless in six starts since taking the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes here in September, 2019, Bob Baffert's Eight Rings will be making his fourth start of the year on Saturday. Second, beaten a neck by Dr. Schivel two starts back in the Grade 1 Crosby, he finished a decent fourth, beaten 3 ¼ lengths, in the Grade 2 Pat O'Brien on Aug. 28. Owned by Coolmore Stud, Madaket Stables, LLC, Starlight Racing, et al, this 4-year-old Empire Maker colt will hope to step forward on Saturday.

THE GRADE 2 SANTA ANITA SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST ORDER

Race 8 of 11 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

Dr. Schivel—Flavien Prat—122
Vertical Threat—Abel Cedillo—122
Colt Fiction—Geovanni Franco—122
C Z Rocket—Florent Geroux–124
Flagstaff—Joe Bravo—126
Collusion Illusion—Juan Hernandez–122

The Santa Anita Sprint Championship is one of five stakes on an 11-race program Saturday, with special early first post time at 12:30 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Cedillo, Miller Earn Los Al Titles

Jockey Abel Cedillo earned his second Los Alamitos riding title while trainer Peter Miller topped the trainer standings as the Los Angeles County Fair meet concluded Sunday. Cedillo also led the standings during the 2020 LACF Winter season.

Miller finished the LACF season with seven wins, one more than Steve Miyadi. Hall of Famer Bob Baffert was third with five. The title was the sixth Miller has either shared or won outright at Los Alamitos since daytime Thoroughbred racing returned in 2014.

All-sources handle for the LACF season showed a gain of 18% over comparable days in 2019. There was no September meet at Los Alamitos in 2020.

“While participation as the entry box could have been better, we very much appreciate those owners and trainers who did participate,” said F. Jack Liebau, vice president of the Los Alamitos Racing Association. “The [handle] increase was more than 10% of what we had aggressively estimated and was attributable to an incredible 65% increase in advance deposit wagering in Southern California. We're looking forward to our upcoming Winter meet where purses will be substantially higher.”

Daytime Thoroughbred racing will return to Los Alamitos for the seven-day Winter season Dec. 3.

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Cedillo, Miller Win Jockey, Trainer Titles For LA County Fair Meet At Los Alamitos

Jockey Abel Cedillo earned his second Los Alamitos riding title while trainer Peter Miller topped the trainer standings as the Los Angeles County Fair meet concluded Sunday.

The nine-day season was highlighted by stakes victories by talented 2-year-old Enbarr, a first off the claim score by Manhattan Up, and a gate-to-wire victory by Livingmybestlife, a $50,000 claim earlier in the year at Oaklawn Park.

The 32-year-old Cedillo finished the LACF meet with 18 victories, eight more than closest pursuer Kyle Frey. Cedillo also led the standings during the 2020 LACF Winter season.

Cedillo became the first jockey to win four races in a day twice at Los Alamitos. He first accomplished the feat Sept. 15, 2019, then matched it with a quadruple Sept. 25.

The other riders who have won four races in a day since daytime thoroughbred racing returned to Los Alamitos in 2014 are Drayden Van Dyke (July 6, 2014), Edwin Maldonado (Dec. 13, 2015), Kent Desormeaux (April 23, 2016), Assael Espinoza (Sept. 15, 2018), and Jorge I. Velez (Sept. 22, 2019).

A son of Brody's Cause owned by Baoma Corporation, Enbarr rallied past stablemate Montebello in the final sixteenth of a mile to win the $75,000 Capote Sept. 18 under Van Dyke, giving Baffert a 1-2 finish.

Taken for $80,000 by trainer Jonathan Wong for Brent Malmstrom's KAM Racing Stable, Manhattan Up, a 5-year-old Street Boss gelding, responded to the addition of blinkers in capturing the $100,000 Los Alamitos Special Sept. 19. He was ridden by Tiago Pereira.

Livingmybestlife, a 3-year-old daughter of The Big Beast, has now won three of five since being claimed by John Sadler for Hronis Racing out of her April 8 debut, when she finished second. She was never seriously challenged in her local debut, defeating Stella Noir and three others in the $75,000 Lucky Spell Sept. 24.

The meet's other stakes winners were Loud Mouth – via disqualification – in the E.B. Johnston, and Samurai Charm, who earned her fifth consecutive victory leading throughout in the Dark Mirage.

In terms of business, all-sources handle for the LACF season showed a gain of 18% over comparable days in 2019. There was no September meet at Los Alamitos in 2020.

“While participation as the entry box could have been better, we very much appreciate those owners and trainers who did participate,'' said F. Jack Liebau, vice president of the Los Alamitos Racing Association. “The (handle) increase was more than 10% of what we had aggressively estimated and was attributable to an incredible 65% increase in advance deposit wagering in Southern California.

“We're looking forward to our upcoming Winter meet where purses will be substantially higher.''

Daytime thoroughbred racing will return to Los Alamitos for the seven-day Winter season Friday, Dec. 3.

Racing will be conducted through Sunday, Dec. 12. The Winter meet will be highlighted by a pair of graded races for 2-year-olds – the $300,000 Grade 1 Starlet for fillies Saturday, Dec. 4, and the $200,000 Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity Saturday, Dec. 11. Both will be run at 1 1/16 miles.

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Manhattan Up Takes Los Alamitos Special, Samurai Charm Best In Dark Mirage

Manhattan Up, an $80,000 claim Aug. 22 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., paid immediate dividends for KAM Racing Stable and trainer Jonathan Wong Sunday at Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, Calif.

Adding blinkers for his new connections, the 5-year-old Street Boss gelding responded with a 1 ½ length victory over 14-1 shot Sash and four others in the $100,000 Los Alamitos Special.

Well placed throughout by jockey Tiago Pereira, Manhattan Up, who is out of the Service Stripe mare In the Frame, ranged up alongside Sash, who showed the way under Kyle Frey, and went on to prevail in 1:42.87 for the 1 1/16 miles.

The $60,000 payday increased Manhattan Up's earnings to $246,467 and it was his fourth win in 22 starts. He paid $10.80, $6.40, and $3.60 as the 4-1 fourth choice.

Sash, who was seeking his first win of 2021 for trainer Mark Glatt, returned $13.60 and $5 while finishing 2 ½ lengths clear of stablemate and 5-2 second choice Bold Endeavor. The show price on Bold Endeavor was $2.60.

Magic On Tap, the 17-10 favorite, Leading Score, and Border Town completed the order of finish.

“The owner (Brent Malmstrom's KAM Racing Stables) picked (Manhattan Up) with this race in mind,'' said Wong. “They wanted to run him here. They thought he would fit well and would stretch out.

“We put some blinkers on him and sent him up north and he trained very well over the (Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields). He came into the race really good and Tiago gave him a perfect ride.''

This wasn't Pereira's first victory aboard the Kentucky bred. He won an optional claimer going seven furlongs Feb. 8, 2020, at Santa Anita for former trainer Phil Oviedo.

“He's a very nice horse,'' said Pereira. “He raced between horses and relaxed nicely. When I asked him in the stretch he gave me a really strong finish.''

Later in the afternoon, Samurai Charm, the 2-1 second choice, led throughout, holding off 3-1 third choice Velvet Slippers by a head to win the $75,000 Dark Mirage Stakes.

A 4-year-old First Samurai filly out of the Silver Charm mare Back Seat Charm owned by Downstream Racing LLC and trained by Peter Miller, Samurai Charm is now 5-for-6 lifetime with four of those wins coming in succession in 2021. She hasn't lost since finishing third in her career debut Aug. 17, 2019. Her bankroll is $146,760.

She's also 3-for-3 at Los Alamitos after her third consecutive victory at one mile, prevailing despite doing some zig-zagging in the stretch under jockey Kyle Frey.

“She relaxed perfectly up front, and then I angled her out a bit coming into the stretch because she had a habit of lugging in,'' said Frey, who tripled Sunday, also taking the second – for Miller – aboard Finglas Lad and the seventh with Cowboys Daughter.

“She's never done anything like that in and out, though, and I just kept trying to straighten her. When she saw (Velvet Slippers) come to her inside the sixteenth pole, she dug back in and was real game.''

Samurai Charm, who completed the distance in 1:36.67, paid $6.40, $3.60, and $2.40. Velvet Slippers, who trailed early, rallied strongly along the inside to just miss while finishing two lengths in front of 7-5 favorite Paige Anne. Velvet Slippers returned $4.40 and $2.40 while the show price on Paige Anne was $2.20. Harper's Gallop and Candura completed the order of finish. Big Sweep was scratched earlier in the day.

The Dark Mirage win capped a triple for Miller. In addition to the victory with Finglas Lad, he also won the first with Miss Reno.

Racing resumes Friday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 1 p.m.

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