Tag: santa anita park

Classy Indian Peak Headlines Saturday’s Unusual Heat Turf Classic

Classy and plenty versatile, Indian Peak heads a field of eight older horses going a mile and one eighth over the Santa Anita turf in Saturday's $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic, presented by City National Bank.

A winner of last year's Cal Cup Derby on the Santa Anita main track, Legacy Ranch's Big Fish gets back with statebreds on Saturday and appears a good fit as he tries the Classic distance for the first time.

Owned and bred by Alfred Pais, Margot's Boy, although winless in nine starts last year, had four seconds and a proven affinity for the local lawn as he seeks his first stakes win.

Originally scheduled for turf, the Grade 3 San Gabriel Stakes was moved to the main track due to recent rain on Dec. 26 and although he was attentive to the early pace, Indian Peak simply didn't fire, finishing a distant fourth at 5-1.

Trained by Ruben Alvarado, Indian Peak, a 5-year-old gelding by Comic Strip, out of the Roar mare Ms. Booty, was a big third, beaten three quarters of a length two starts back going 1 1/16 miles on turf in the G2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar Nov. 27.

A winner of the mile and one eighth turf Snow Chief Stakes here at age three in June, 2020, Indian Peak is 5-2-1-0 over the course and he comes off his best year in terms of money-won, banking $170,932 from an 11-2-1-1 mark in 2021.

Owned by Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber, Indian Peak, who won the California Flag Handicap three starts back going down the hillside turf at about 6 ½ furlongs on Oct. 17, will likely attend the early pace as he seeks his seventh win from 23 overall starts.

Trained by David Hofmans, Big Fish, a 4-year-old gelding by hot sire Mr. Big, comes off a fourth place run going a mile and one sixteenth on synthetic Tapeta in the G3 Berkeley Handicap Nov. 27 at Golden Gate Fields.

Although winless in three tries over the Santa Anita turf, Big Fish has two wins from six turf tries, including an ungraded stakes win going a mile on turf at Del Mar as a juvenile. With an overall mark of 12-3-2-1, Big Fish has the credentials to be a major factor in the Classic.

A sharp second, beaten a neck in a one mile allowance on the main track here Dec. 4, the Craig Lewis-trained Margot's Boy, who was ninth the Classic a year ago, has three wins from eight tries over the course and rates a fighting chance with Juan Hernandez back aboard. A 5-year-old gelding by top California-based sire Clubhouse Ride, Margot's Boy is 21-3-5-3 with earnings of $260,946.

THE UNUSUAL HEAT TURF CLASSIC WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 6 of 10 Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PT

  1. Whooping Jay—Joe Bravo–120
  2. Margot's Boy—Juan Hernandez—122
  3. Aligato—Flavien Prat—120
  4. Luvluv—Tyler Baze—120
  5. Camino Del Paraiso—Ricardo Gonzalez—124
  6. Big Fish—Umberto Rispoli—124
  7. Ferrariano—Abel Cedillo–120
  8. Indian Peak—John Velazquez—124

First post time for a 10-race card on Cal Cup Day, Saturday, is at 12 noon. Admission gates open at 10 a.m. The Unusual Heat Turf Classic presented by City National Bank, is on of five California-bred or sired stakes on Saturday.

The post Classy Indian Peak Headlines Saturday’s Unusual Heat Turf Classic appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Rome Homebred Straight Up G Towers Over California Cup Derby Foes

A lights-out winner of his last two starts, Jungle Racing LLC's homebred Straight Up G appears a standout versus five sophomores going 1 1/16 miles in Saturday's $200,000 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

One of five California Cup Day races on a 10-race program, the Cal Cup Derby will be center stage as Straight Up G and his rivals attempt to follow in the footsteps of the Art Sherman-trained California Chrome, who used the 2014 Cal Cup Derby as a springboard to glory in the Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbies as well as the 2014 Preakness Stakes.

Like California Chrome, the Richard Baltas-trained Straight Up G, a bay colt by red hot sire Straight Fire, out of the Sky Mesa mare Gidget Girl, comes off a big win versus statebreds in the one mile King Glorious Stakes run at Los Alamitos on Dec. 12.

Owned and bred by sports talk icon Jim Rome and his wife Janet's Jungle Racing, Straight Up G debuted as an even money favorite going 5 ½ furlongs here on Oct. 9, but finished a disappointing fourth. Subsequently off at 4-5 in a six furlong maiden special versus Cal-breds on Nov. 21 at Del Mar, he aired by 5 ¼ lengths, earning a lofty 80 Beyer Speed Figure.

Off at 2-1 in the King Glorious, he led throughout in a thoroughly dominant performance, winning by 3 ½ lengths over Finneus, who he will again face on Saturday while earning a 75 Beyer.

With Ricky Gonzalez back to ride for a third consecutive time, Straight Up G appears headed for the deep waters of the Kentucky Derby Trail should he replicate his performance in the King Glorious on Saturday.

A gutty half length winner of the seven furlong Golden State Juvenile at Del Mar Nov. 5, Finneus, a California-bred colt by Stay Thirsty, was off as the 9-5 favorite in the King Glorious, but he could never threaten Straight Up G, finishing second by 3 ½ lengths. Well beaten three starts back in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes here on Oct. 1, Finneus, who will be ridden for the first time by John Velazquez, will be trying two turns for the third time. Devoid of early speed, his chances would be enhanced should there be a fast pace.

Bred by Terry Lovinger, trained by Walther Solis and owned by Lovingier, Mohammed Naseer Fasihuddin and Amanda Navarro, Finneus, who is out of the Ghostzapper mare My Fiona, is the leading money earner in the field with $266,366 from an overall mark of 7-2-3-1.

A sharp two length allowance winner going 5 ½ furlongs on synthetic Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields Dec. 31, the O. J. Jauregui-trained Highland Ghost will face statebred company and go two turns for the second time in what will be his eighth career start. Quick from the blocks, this chestnut colt by 2017 Santa Anita Handicap winner Shaman Ghost could prove bothersome early to Straight Up G.

With a solid last-out Beyer of 74 to his credit, Highland Ghost is owned by his breeder, Highland Yard, LLC and is 7-2-2-1 overall with earnings of $69,506.

THE $200,000 CAL CUP DERBY WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 3 of 10 Approximate post time 1 p.m. PT

  1. Highland Ghost—Flavien Prat—124
  2. Sippin N Kissin—Abel Cedillo—124
  3. Fast Draw Munnings—Drayden Van Dyke–124
  4. Finneus—John Velazquez—124
  5. Straight Up G—Ricardo Gonzalez—124
  6. Agador Spartacus—Tyler Baze–124

First post time for a 10-race card, which will include a total of five California-bred or sired stakes on California Cup Day, Saturday is at 12 noon. Admission gates will open at 10 a.m.

The post Rome Homebred Straight Up G Towers Over California Cup Derby Foes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Under The Stars Fends Off Awake At Midnyte To Win Santa Ynez

Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Under The Stars proved best in Saturday's Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. The 3-year-old filly by Pioneerof The Nile was sharp out of the gate and fended off a stretch challenge from Awake At Midnyte (9-2) to score by three-quarters of a length as the 4-5 favorite. Ridden by Flavien Prat for trainer Bob Baffert, Under The Stars completed seven furlongs over the fast main track in 1:22.51.

Under The Stars wasn't the quickest out of the gate, but Prat allowed her to find her stride and she jumped up to take the lead through a first quarter in 22.26 seconds. Miss Mattie B took over in the middle of the track for a sixteenth of a mile, while Awake At Midnyte stalked those two on the outside of Big Shamrock.

Taking back her lead to mark a half-mile in :44.95, Under The Stars repelled the challenge of Miss Mattie B around the far turn. Awake At Midnyte moved up to take on the leader in the stretch run, and though appearing full of run was unable to pass Under The Stars.

Under The Stars pulled away in the final strides to win by three-quarters of a length. Awake At Midnyte finished second, while Miss Mattie B was third. The remaining order of finish was: Big Switch, Big Shamrock, and Mimajoon.

Bred in Kentucky by Eaton, Under The Stars is out of the G2-winning, G1-placed Storm Cat mare Untouched Talent. The sophomore filly is a half-sister to G1-winning millionaire Bodemeister, also trained by Baffert.

Under The Stars ran third in her debut at Santa Anita on Oct. 31, and returned to run third in the listed Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar two weeks later. The filly broke her maiden at Los Alamitos on Dec. 11, and the Santa Ynez was her fourth career start. With two wins and two thirds, Under The Stars has earned over $170,000.

The Santa Ynez offers Kentucky Oaks points on the 10-4-2-1 scale, but the Baffert-trained winner is not eligible for the points due to Churchill Downs' two-year ban of the Hall of Fame trainer. The updated Updated Road to the Kentucky Derby/Oaks Leaderboard is available here.

The post Under The Stars Fends Off Awake At Midnyte To Win Santa Ynez appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Vox Populi Winner Hot Rod Charlie Pleases O’Neill, Prat With Saturday Breeze

One of America's top three-year-olds from 2021, trainer Doug O'Neill's Hot Rod Charlie, winner of the 2021 Secretariat Vox Populi (Voice of the People) Award, worked a half mile just prior to 12 noon at Santa Anita on Saturday in :48.52 and galloped out five furlongs under regular rider Flavien Prat in 1:02.15.

Accompanied by O'Neill's $5.2 million earner and current stable pony Lava Man, Hot Rod Charlie came on the main track via the quarter mile chute at 11:48 a.m., galloped through the stretch, broke free from Lava Man heading to the 4 ½ furlong pole and was set down at the half mile by Prat.

Hugging the rail entering the stretch, Hot Rod Charlie got the first quarter mile in :24.48 and came to the wire with his ears up.

“Charlie went really nice,” said O'Neill. “The main thing is, Flavien was very happy with him. Flavien said, 'He did it very easily.'”

Most recently second, beaten a nose as the 1-5 favorite here in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes Dec. 26, Hot Rod Charlie, who was third in the Kentucky Derby, second in the Belmont Stakes and who won the G1 Pennsylvania Derby prior to finishing fourth in the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 6, has amassed earnings of $2,511,200 from an overall mark of 13-3-3-3. (Although he finished first in the G1 Haskell Invitational July 17, he was disqualified to last).

Owned by Boat Racing, LLC, Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck), Roadrunner Racing and William Strauss, Hot Rod Charlie was purchased as a yearling by O'Neill's brother, Dennis, for $110,000.

Hot Rod Charlie's connections will be presented with the Vox Populi Award in a Winner's Circle ceremony following Saturday's fourth race.

The colt is expected to fly to Dubai on Jan. 17, where he will prep for the Dubai World Cup in March.

The post Vox Populi Winner Hot Rod Charlie Pleases O’Neill, Prat With Saturday Breeze appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights