santa anita park | Horse Racing Free Tips

Going To Vegas Will Try To Maintain Her Momentum In Rodeo Drive

Fresh off the biggest win of her career and in search of her third consecutive victory, the Richard Baltas-trained Going to Vegas heads an evenly matched field of nine fillies and mares three and up going a mile and one quarter on turf in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita. A Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifier, the Rodeo Drive winner will earn a fees-paid berth into the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar Nov. 6.

A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Goldencents, Going to Vegas comes off a rousing 2 ¼ length win going a mile and one eighth on turf in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar Sept. 4, a race in which she pressed the early pace and kicked clear through the lane as the 9-5 favorite.

Owned by Abbondanza Racing, LLC, Medallion Racing and MyRacehorse, Going to Vegas has a win and a second place finish from two tries at a mile and one quarter. Claimed for $50,000 12 starts back on June 12, 2020, she's banked $242,400 this year from five starts and has overall earnings of $454,151. With an overall mark of 21-6-8-2, she'll be seeking her first Grade 1 victory.

Second in her last four starts, including the John C. Mabee on Sept. 4, LNJ Foxwoods' homebred Dogtag has two wins and three third place finishes from five starts over the Santa Anita lawn and she has a win and a second from two tries at the Rodeo Drive distance. A 5-year-old mare by War Front, she's trained by Richard Mandella and will be ridden by Joe Bravo.

LNJ Foxwoods will have another homebred, Luck, in the Rodeo Drive lineup fresh off a most impressive U.S. debut going a mile and one sixteenth on turf in a first condition allowance Aug. 7 at Del Mar. A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Kitten's Joy, Luck won two out of her four starts in France before joining the barn of Richard Baltas this past summer. Ridden to victory by Umberto Rispoli at Del Mar, she'll be handled by Flavien Prat on Saturday and she has the look of a filly very much on the improve.

Trainer Leonard Powell's 4-year-old French-bred Neige Blanche, a winner of the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes here three races back, comes off an ungraded stakes win going a mile and three eighths on turf at Del Mar Aug. 14 and would be well served by a fast early pace. Owned by Madaket Stables, LLC, Marsha Naify, et al, she'll be ridden back by Juan Hernandez.

THE GRADE 1 RODEO DRIVE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 9 of 11 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT

Dogtag—Joe Bravo—122
Fast Jet Court—Drayden Van Dyke–124
Neige Blanche—Juan Hernandez—124
Going to Vegas—Umberto Rispoli—124
Rideforthecause—Mario Gutierrez—122
Crystalle—Abel Cedillo—122
Magic Attitude—John Velazquez—124
Luck—Flavien Prat—122
Red Lark—Mike Smith–122

The Rodeo Drive is one of five stakes on an 11-race card Saturday with first post time at 12:30 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Hurricane Ida Behind Him, Eddie D At Santa Anita In Spirit For Stakes In His Honor

Eddie Delahoussaye turned 70 on Sept. 21.

Time flies.

Seems like yesterday the Hall of Fame member and Louisiana native was roaring down the stretch at Santa Anita to capture another thrilling victory in a photo finish, or winning the Kentucky Derby back-to-back, on Gato Del Sol in 1982 and Sunny's Halo in 1983.

Delahoussaye is one of only seven jockeys to register consecutive triumphs in 147 editions of the Run for the Roses, the others being Isaac Murphy, Jimmy Winkfield, Ron Turcotte, Calvin Borel, Victor Espinoza and John Velazquez.

Arguably one of the most popular jockeys ever to ride at Santa Anita, Eddie D as he is known among racing aficionados, has been honored at The Great Place by having one of Friday's stakes races named for him.

The $200,000 Eddie D Stakes, for three-year-olds and up, marks a return to Santa Anita's unique hillside turf course at about 6 ½ furlongs, that venue having not been used since March 2019.

The Eddie D is one of four opening day stakes, three of them graded, including the Grade 1 American Pharoah for 2-year-olds at a mile and 1 1/16 miles and the Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes for two-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. Although not graded, for good measure there's the $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes for two-year-olds at five furlongs on turf.

The latter three are Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge events giving the winner a fees-paid berth in their respective Breeders' Cup races Nov. 5 and 6 at Del Mar.

Due to Covid 19 both last year and this, and Hurricane Ida, a deadly and destructive Category 4 hurricane that ravaged Louisiana a month ago, Delahoussaye will miss being on hand to present a trophy to the winning connections of the Eddie D for the second year in a row.

But he and his family, wife Juanita, sister Rose Anne and daughter Mandy, who has special needs, escaped serious harm from the second-most damaging and intense hurricane ever to strike Louisiana.

“We got lucky,” Delahoussaye said by phone from his home in Lafayette. “People on both sides of us got hit the worst. We were right in the middle and had winds and rain, but nothing serious. Baton Rouge and most of the coast lines really got blasted.”

Meanwhile, Juanita and Mandy, now 46, are recovering from ailments unrelated to Ida, but otherwise, “Everything's OK. We're just getting older.

“I'm doing all right but Mandy's been sick for over a year,” said Delahoussaye, a Hall of Fame member since 1993 who retired early in 2003 with 6,384 victories after suffering head and neck injuries in a spill at Del Mar on Aug. 30, 2002. “She's still not 100 percent so we've been going through a lot with her, and Juanita had a rotator cuff operation six weeks ago, but she's getting better. I'm lucky my sister and I are healthy to help out.”

Eddie is still “fiddling around” with more than a visceral involvement in the bloodstock business and is a relatively new member of the Louisiana Racing Commission.

“A partner and I have a mare and Juanita and I have another mare, with some babies coming in,” Delahoussaye said. “One's in training right now and another we're putting in a two-year-old in training sale. I've been on the racing commission for about a year, so it all keeps me busy.”

Eddie still maintains contact with his Hall of Fame peers periodically as well.

“I talk with Chris (McCarron) once in a while, and I spoke with Alex (Solis) a couple months ago,” Eddie said. “He was in Florida with Jose Velez, so we got to chattin'.

“I talk to Pat Day once in a while but I haven't talked with Laffit (Pincay Jr.) lately. Usually, I do that once a year, but since the pandemic, I haven't talked to him at all the last two years.”

As to racing's future, what with members of the medical field, politicians and lawyers seemingly in the news as much if not more than the horses, Delahoussaye maintains a wait-and-see attitude.

“The way things are right now, with bad tests and so forth, that needs to be cleaned up,” he said with a hint of acuity. “They should reconsider the use of therapeutic medication being measured in picograms and nanograms which are so small it's almost out of a horse's system. Either we do with it or we do without it.

“If you do without it completely, we won't have racing, because let's face it: football players, baseball players, they all use therapeutic medicine. As long as it's not a stimulant to enhance performance and it's just to help them do what comes naturally, it should be used.

“Get rid of the clenbuterol that enhances their performance. Lasix is a diuretic and is not an enhancer, yet they want to do away with that.

“There are a lot of smart people out there and a lot of science. They can put their heads together and do it right.”

The Eddie D, race seven: Gregorian Chant, Juan Hernandez, 4-1; Caribou Club, Drayden Van Dyke, 6-1; Mesut, Umberto Rispoli, 12-1; Charmaine's Mia, Flavien Prat, 10-1; Law Abidin Citizen, Abel Cedillo, 5-1; Chaos Theory, Kent Desormeaux, 15-1; Lieutenant Dan, Geovanni Franco, 7-2; Whisper Not, John Velazquez, 6-1; and Snapper Sinclair, Joel Rosario, 4-1.

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Medina Spirit Faces Older Horses Seeking Classic Berth In Saturday’s Awesome Again Stakes

Medina Spirit, upset first-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, will face older horses for the first time as an outstanding field of eight three-year-olds and up contest Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita. A Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifier, the winner of the Awesome Again will earn a fees-paid berth into the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Although a cloud of uncertainty continues to hover over the validity of the Derby result due to the fact the Kentucky Racing Commission has not yet issued a ruling on Medina Spirit's positive test for an excessive amount of the permitted steroid betamethasone, the Florida-bred colt by Protonico has gone on to finish third in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes May 15 and he comes off a sharp gate to wire score in the ungraded Shared Belief Stakes going one mile at Del Mar Aug. 29.

Entered but scratched by Bob Baffert out of last Saturday's $1 million Pennsylvania Derby, Medina Spirit stayed home and drilled a solid five furlongs Saturday in 59.80, fourth best of 59 at the distance. Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Inc., Medina Spirit, who was purchased for a bargain $35,000 at the 2020 Ocala Breeders' July Sale of 2-year-olds in training and older horses, has now amassed earnings of more than $2.3 million. With a win in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes in his third start on Jan. 30 and three seconds from four starts at Santa Anita, Medina Spirit has an overall mark of 8-4-3-1.

An overachiever with an abundance of natural speed, look for regular rider John Velazquez to send Medina Spirit in a race that will unquestionably command the focus of the entire racing world.

John Sadler's Tripoli, an up and coming 4-year-old colt by Kitten's Joy, has the look of a “now” horse as he comes off a scintillating 1 ¼ length score going a mile and a quarter in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Aug. 21, a race in which he pressed the early pace en route to his third win from six starts this year. A maiden winner going 5 ½ furlongs on turf in his second start here on June 14, 2020, Tripoli will be making his second Santa Anita main track start on Saturday.

Owned by Hronis Racing, LLC, Tripoli has had three recorded works since his Pacific Classic win, his most recent a five furlong drill at Santa Anita Sept. 26 in 1:00.20, which ranked sixth of 89 that morning. With his first career stakes victory in-hand, he'll again be ridden by Tiago Pereira.

Well beaten by Tripoli as the 2-1 favorite in the Pacific Classic, the John Shirreffs-trained Express Train, a forwardly placed winner of the Grade II San Diego Handicap two starts back on July 17, will try to bounce back with regular rider Juan Hernandez up. A close second five starts back in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap March 6, Express Train, who is owned by Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable, LLC, is 6-1-3-1 at Santa Anita and should bounce back with a much improved effort on Saturday.

C R K and Shirreffs will also send out the venerable but quirky 6-year-old gelding Midcourt, who will likely be forwardly placed in the early going.

Sent to San Luis Rey Downs over the summer, the Richard Baltas-trained Idol will be making his first start since rallying from off the pace to win the Santa Anita Handicap, which was his first stakes win. Lightly raced, this 4-year-old colt by Curlin has three wins from six starts and he's got a pair of local works to his credit for his return, a five furlong drill in 1:01.40 on Sept. 19 and six furlongs on Sept. 26 in 1:12 flat. Owned by Calvin Nguyen, Idol will be out to validate his Big 'Cap score and to make his way on to the Breeders' Cup Classic stage.

Tizamagician, who earned a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure while finishing second, beaten 1 ¼ lengths by Tripoli in the Pacific Classic, can be counted upon to be sent early as he again tries to employ gate to wire tactics with Flavien Prat up. Trained by Richard Mandella and owned by MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm, LLC, this 4-year-old colt by Tiznow is enjoying a terrific year with three wins and as many second from seven starts and 2021 earnings of $487,000.

THE GRADE 1 AWESOME AGAIN WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 10 of 11 Approximate post time 5 p.m. PT

Tizamagician—Flavien Prat—124
Midcourt—Edwin Maldonado—122
Express Train—Juan Hernandez—124
Stilleto Boy—Kent Desormeaux—118
Medina Spirit—John Velazquez—122
Azul Coast—Abel Cedillo—122
Tripoli—Tiago Pereira–126
Idol—Joe Bravo—124

The Awesome Again is one of five stakes to be run a blockbuster 11-race card Saturday. Special early first post time is 12:30 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Santa Anita Races Return To Friday’s Stronach 5 Wager

Santa Anita Park's much-anticipated opening day Friday also means it will be one of five featured races as part of the popular Stronach 5.

The cross-country wager with a low 12-percent takeout will also feature races from Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park and Golden Gate Fields. The sequence includes three turf races and maiden special weight events for 2-year-olds from Santa Anita and Laurel.

The Stronach 5 kicks off at 4:19 p.m. with Laurel's eighth race, an intriguing maiden special weight event for 2-year-olds at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf.

Trainer Graham Motion will send out two colts making their debut. Northern Aurora, a son of Uncle Mo out of the graded winner Unspurned, sold for $210,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale while Zatip, a son of Tapit out of the Grade 1 winner Zaftig, is a Wertheimer and Frere homebred. Full of Mischief, a son of Into Mischief who sold for $140,000 in May, makes his debut for Michael Trombetta. Godolphin LLC's homebred Holiday House, a son of More Than Ready, will also debut for trainer Michael Stidham.

The Stronach 5 heads to Gulfstream next for the eighth race, a 5 ½ furlong event for fillies and mares on the main track for $20,000 claimers. My Sarasota Star goes out first time off the claim for trainer Georgina Baxter. The 5-year-old mare has won four of 11 starts at Gulfstream and has placed first or second in four of five starts at the distance. Dem a Wonder, owned and trained by Rohan Crichton, drops a bit in company and gets Edwin Gonzalez in the saddle. Mastering Bela looks for her second consecutive victory for trainer Carlos Munoz.

The third leg of the Stronach 5, Laurel's ninth race, features $12,500 claimers going 1 1/8 mile on the turf. The wide-open event has Mokheef dropping in class for trainer Suzanne Stettinius. The 7-year-old son of Street Cry has four wins on the turf. Forest Boyce rides. Vincent Van Gogo has won three consecutive races, two of them over hurdles. Sandwiched between hurdle wins at Colonial Downs and Tryon is a victory in July at Colonial at a mile. Neil Morris trains. Donji makes his debut for trainer Zoe Valvo, who claimed him for $10,000 in August at Colonial.

The Stronach 5 heads west for the final two legs. Santa Anita's third race is a competitive event at five furlongs on the turf for 2-year-olds. Trainer Doug O'Neill will send out Del Mo and Beef Winslow. Beef Winslow, a son of Honor Code, gets blinkers and jockey John Velazquez after finishing seventh in his debut after a wide trip. Del Mo, a son of Uncle Mo out of the unraced mare No Lip Service, will make his debut with Ricardo Gonzalez in the saddle. Little Red Feather Racing's Elevado, fourth in his debut Sept. 11, goes out for trainer Mike Puype. The son of Street Boss brought $190,000 at auction in May. Trainer Peter Miller will send out second-time starters Roy C and Fight On Ron. Roy C was sixth on the turf in his debut at Del Mar in August while Fight On Ron was third Sept. 11 at Los Alamitos.

The fourth race at Golden Gate is where the Stronach 5 will conclude. Fillies and mares with a $5,000 claiming tag will go six furlongs. Always in Vegas gets the rail and returns after an 11-month layoff. Trainer Andy Mathis is 43-percent with horses coming in off a 180-day layoff or more. Arouse N Go finished second Aug. 27 first time off the claim by trainer Jonathan Wong. Brite Tan looks for her second consecutive victory.

Friday's races and sequence

Leg One –Laurel Race 8: (10 entries, 5 ½ furlongs turf) 4 :19 ET, 1:19 PT
Leg Two –Gulfstream Race 8: (8 entries, 5 ½ furlongs) 4:30 ET, 1:30 PT
Leg Three –Laurel Race 9: (12 entries,1 1/8-mile turf) 4:49 ET, 1:49 PT
Leg Four –Santa Anita Race 3: (10 entries, 5 furlongs turf) 5 ET, 2 PT
Leg Five –Golden Gate Race 4: (7 entries, 6 furlongs) 5:14 ET, 2:14 PT

Fans can watch and wager on the action at 1/ST.COM/BET as well as stream all the action in English and Spanish at LaurelPark.com, SantaAnita.com, GulfstreamPark.com, and GoldenGateFields.com.

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

If a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.

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