This Side Up: Back to Arcadia

So we get another day of sun, after all, out in La La Land. It was not so long ago that a night without end appeared to have descended on Santa Anita. Like Ryan Gosling's character in the film, fighting his quixotic rearguard action on behalf of jazz, we were clinging to the wreckage of a culture renounced by 21st Century society. “I'm letting life hit me till it gets tired,” he protests to his sister. “Then I'm going to hit back. It's a classic rope-a-dope.”

If we're honest, that's pretty much the way a lot of us reacted to what felt uncomfortably like an existential crisis in 2019. If the storm clouds could blot out the sun even over a racetrack most of us would have chosen as our proudest showcase, then nowhere was safe. Steeled by the nobility of the animal with whom we share our daily lives, we professed indignation over our alienation by an ever more urban society. Nobody could love these animals more than we did, nor tend their needs more lavishly. Yet all these people, having apparently failed to give much thought to the viability of horses as house pets, were presuming to question our idea of acceptable risk.

Luckily, there were some in our community who could see where that stubborn approach was going to take us. And that was to the sporting equivalent of a dive bar at the bottom of dingy staircase, with a few diehards leaning against the bar, listening to some unappreciated genius improvising mournfully at an old piano.

Those diehards are not always immune to a certain complacency. They elevate themselves from the herd not just by superior discernment, but also by sheer fidelity to a lost cause.     But those who have rescued our sport from the brink did not want to reduce it some arrogant cult. They knew that we still had something very special to offer a mass audience. We just had to clean out the house before inviting anybody in.

The collective job they've done in California can't be praised enough, but that shouldn't stop us trying. Just cast your mind back to where we were after that harrowing spate of breakdowns at Santa Anita. Perhaps the most dismal moment came when the field turned for home in the final race of a Breeders' Cup staged with all those painstaking protocols. Just as the veterinary team must have been turning to each other to exchange high fives, the Mongolian Groom tragedy brought the vultures back overhead.

The transformation then already underway, however, has since proved quite incredible. The marathon winter-spring meet just concluded at Santa Anita did not feature a single musculoskeletal racing fatality on the main track, with just three in all from 4,800 starters. Right now this is operating as the safest high-volume racetrack in the land. I've no idea how the credit should be distributed, between Belinda Stronach, track superintendent Dennis Moore, and many others in between. But I do know that our community owes them a debt of gratitude; and also that there are a couple of ways of discharging it.

One, as we approach the deadline for HISA registration, is for everyone to acknowledge the bigger picture. Purposeful regulation should not be resented as draconian intrusion, but embraced as essential to the sustainability of our way of life.    Remember it's not just horsemen who are making short-term sacrifices for longer-term gain. The stringent policing of medication, now so conspicuous in California, incidentally exacerbates what has come to feel like a chronic local deficiency, in field sizes. But where some racetracks in other states are prepared to turn a blind eye, in order to fill stalls and fields, here they appear willing to grasp a few nettles.

And that brings me to the other way we can repay California. Yes, the big investors now have lucrative opportunity virtually year-round in and around Kentucky, while for many Saratoga is just up the road from their Wall Street lairs. But somebody out there, surely, won't be averse to spreading a few good horses back west. California has a beautiful climate, after all; quite a few beautiful people, and not always just skin deep; perhaps the most beautiful racetrack in the world; and, importantly, Hall of Fame-eligible trainers like John Shirreffs who are only going to thrive on a level playing field.

When it was all going wrong, there seemed to be something apt about the fact that Santa Anita should be sited in the suburb of Arcadia, named for the pastoral idyll of the ancient Greeks. In many traditions, notably that of Eden, these places are poignantly unattainable owing to the culpability of humankind. Marvelously, however, our community has proved to contain men and women to lead us back along the stony path of redemption.

Or perhaps that should be the Ethereal Road of redemption? I always had a hunch that this son of Quality Road might take an unexpected role in the Triple Crown, but not in the way he did–stepping aside from the Derby at the 11th hour, creating a vacancy for a winner who has since remained curiously resistant to the assistance of hindsight. In the event, Ethereal Road was confined to an appearance on the Preakness undercard, where he suggested that he might yet join barnmate Secret Oath (Arrogate) in the top tier of the crop. Having again been scratched from the third leg of the series, with a quarter crack, he instead resurfaces in the GIII Ohio Derby on Saturday. If he can confirm that he is now really beginning to blossom, we may yet extend our reach to a wider public through a trainer who, just like California, has persevered through dark times with an undiminished faith that we have a story worth telling.

Don't forget the way Gosling's character calls after to his sister, as she leaves his apartment in despair over his “rope-a-dope” line. “I'm a phoenix rising from the ashes!”

Wayne Lukas has done it; Santa Anita is doing it. See you at the jazz club.

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Malibu Moon’s Set Sail Goes Coast to Coast for Maiden Breaking Score

6th-Santa Anita, $67,500, Msw, 3-27, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:37.99, ft, 7 1/2 lengths.

SET SAIL (c, 3, Malibu Moon–Fleet of Gold {SP, $109,892}, by Medaglia d'Oro) was third on debut Feb. 26 in a seven panel maiden over Santa Anita's main track after altering course early and losing second by 1 1/4 lengths. Trying a mile here, the bay Mandella trainee broke on top and never looked back, coasting home much the best by 7 1/2 lengths as the 2-1 second choice over One More Bid (California Chrome). Q B One (Uncle Mo) finished third while 6-5 favorite Bletchley Park (Nyquist) finished a distant fifth.

The winner is the second surviving foal out of the stakes-placed half-sister to Indyan Giving (A.P. Indy), the dam of Champion 2-year-old colt Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) and GI Churchill Downs S. winner Flagstaff (Speightstown). Set Sail has a 2-year-old half-brother by Tapit as well as a 2022 half-sister by Speightstown. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $48,240.

Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

O/B-LNJ Foxwoods; T-Richard E. Mandella.

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Weekly Rulings: Mar. 15 – 21

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.

Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

CALIFORNIA

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 03/17/2022
Licensee: Flavien Prat, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Jockey Flavien Prat is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop–more than six times) during the sixth race at Santa Anita Park on Mar. 13, 2022.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: Two steward hearings on 03/18/2022 and 03/19/2022
Licensee: Richard Baltas, trainer
Penalty: $1,000 fine and assessed 1/2 point.
Also, disqualification and purse redistribution
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: Trainer Richard Baltas, who worked the horse Lookin at Sweetie for removal from the Veterinarian's List on Jan. 3, 2022, at Santa Anita Park, is fined $1,000 and assessed one half (1/2) point in accordance with California Horse Racing Board Rule #1843.4 (Multiple Medication Violations, expires Mar. 18, 2023) pursuant to California Horse Racing Board Rules #1887 (Trainer or Owner to Insure Condition of Horse) for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1866(h) (Veterinarian's List), #1843(a)(b)(d) (Medication, Drugs and Other Substances) and Rule #1843.1 (Prohibited Drug Substances–Methocarbamol [Class 4] – second offense in the last 365 days).
Pursuant to a formal hearing held Mar. 18, 2022, it is hereby ordered that Lookin at Sweetie, who finished first in the third race at Santa Anita on Jan. 21, 2022, be disqualified and deemed unplaced in accordance with CHRB rule #1592 (Ineligible Horse to be Disqualified). It is further ordered that the purse money awarded to owners George and Martha Schwary and earned by trainer Richard Baltas ($1,440.00) and Apprentice Jockey Diego Herrera ($1,280.00) be distributed in accordance with the revised order of finish, by the Paymaster of Purses at Santa Anita Park.

Revised order of finish is as follows:
1st–Cayton Kid
2nd–Elana My Princess
3rd–Life in Paradise
4th–Mongolian Dream
5th–Cat Lady Blues

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 03/20/2022
Licensee: Juan Hernandez, jockey
Penalty: $500
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Jockey Juan Hernandez is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop–more than six times) during the first race at Santa Anita Park on Mar. 19, 2022.

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Urban Appears Filly To Beat In Down-The-Hill Sweet Life Stakes

In a race in which all 10 entrants will be trying Santa Anita's unique hillside turf course for the first time, the Simon Callaghan-conditioned Urban, fresh off an impressive maiden score, appears to be the filly to beat in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Trainer Graham Motion's French-bred Ouraika, who comes off a solid second in an allowance race at Aqueduct, ships in from Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland and helps to make the Sweet Life a very deep and competitive affair.

Add in Phil D'Amato's Kitty Kitana, who was a solid second to the top choice in her U.S. debut and punters will have plenty of pari-mutuel options on Saturday.

Off as the 2-1 favorite going 6 ½ furlongs out of Santa Anita's turf chute on Jan. 8, Urban was attentive to the early pace without being asked, swung off the rail two-wide turning for home and prevailed the three quarters of a length while appearing to win with deceptive ease under Flavien Prat, who rides her back in the Sweet Life.

Owned by Gainesway Stable, LNJ Foxwoods and NK Racing, Urban, who has now sprinted four times on grass, will be making her initial stakes appearance. A $375,000 2-year-old in training sale purchase in May of last year, Urban, who is by Quality Road and is out of the Sky Mesa mare Moonlight Sky, has a win, a second and two thirds and has earnings of $75,920.

A winner of one of her three starts in her native France at age two, Ouraika made her U.S. debut going a mile and one sixteenth on grass in an ungraded stakes at Belmont Park on Nov. 6. Off at 8-1 in a field of nine juvenile fillies, she finished an even fourth, beaten seven lengths. Wheeled back in a six furlong turf allowance at Aqueduct Dec. 3, Ouraika pressed the pace and finished a much improved second, beaten a half length.

With Juan Hernandez appearing to have taken off recent one mile maiden turf winner I Got a Gal to ride Ouraika, look for her to be well supported in her Southern California debut. Owned by Michael Dubb and Madaket Stables, LLC, Ouraika was favored in two out of her three French starts, including a 3 ½ maiden win four starts back versus 12 rivals going seven furlongs on grass July 11.

Second in a field of 14 juvenile fillies in her debut going seven furlongs on synthetic Sept. 24 in Ireland, English-bred Kitty Kitana rallied from off the pace to finish second, beaten three quarters of a length by Urban in her U.S. debut going 6 ½ furlongs out of the turf chute Jan. 8.

Although Urban appeared to win in better than looked fashion, Kitty Kitana was certainly not asked for her absolute best and would appear to have considerable upside with John Velazquez taking over on Saturday. Owned by Little Red Feather Racing and Sterling Stables, LLC, Kitty Kitana will try to put a win alongside her two seconds in what will be her third career start.

THE GRADE 3 SWEET LIFE STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 9 of 9 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT

  1. Ellamira—Tyler Baze–124
  2. Ouraika—Juan Hernandez—120
  3. I Got a Gal—Umberto Rispoli—120
  4. Half Past Twelve—Kyle Frey
  5. Dolly May—Ryan Curatolo—120
  6. Baby Steps—Mike Smith—120
  7. Kitty Kitana—John Velazquez—120
  8. Impeached Alexander—Ricardo Gonzalez–120
  9. Urban—Flavien Prat—120
  10. She's So Shiny – Drayden Van Dyke – 120

First post time for a nine-race card on Saturday is at 12:30 p.m. with admission gates opening at 10:30 a.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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