santa anita | Horse Racing Free Tips

Breeders’ Cup Winner Ce Ce Kicks Off 2022 Campaign In Saturday’s Santa Monica Stakes

Fresh off the biggest win of her career, the Bo Hirsch homebred Ce Ce heads a field of five older fillies and mares going seven furlongs in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita.

A handy 2 ½ length winner of the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint going seven panels at Del Mar Nov. 6, Ce Ce will be bidding for her third consecutive graded stakes win in what will be her first start at age six on Saturday.

With five wins from eight starts at Santa Anita, Ce Ce, who is by Elusive Quality and is out of Hirsch's Grade 1 stakes winning Miss Houdini, by Belong to Me, is a three-time Grade 1 winner who has earnings of $1,753,100 from an overall mark of 16-8-1-3.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Ce Ce enjoyed a tremendous year at age five, winning four out of her six starts while banking $888,000. She'll again be ridden by Victor Espinoza, who has been aboard for all but two of her career starts.

Bob Baffert will be represented by a pair of distaffers, recent Grade 1 winner Kalypso and Merneith, who ran a big second in the ungraded Kalookan Queen at 6 ½ furlongs Jan. 2 following a nearly one year absence. A winner of last year's Santa Monica, Merneith, a 5-year-old mare by American Pharoah, will be ridden for the third consecutive time by Edwin Maldonado, who was aboard for last year's Santa Monica score.

Owned by HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud, Merneith, who will hope to improve with a recent race to her credit, is 11-4-4-2 overall with earnings of $373,620.

A 4 ¾ length winner of the G1 La Brea Stakes at seven furlongs Dec. 26, Kalypso will nonetheless be facing tougher competition as she'll be competing against older distaffers for the first time. Owned by Rockingham Ranch, David Bernsen, Littlefield, et al, Kalypso, a 4-year-old daughter of Brody's Cause, has won two of her three starts, including last year's G2 Santa Ynez Stakes at seven furlongs. With an overall mark of 9-3-3-2 and earnings of $480,600, she'll be ridden back by John Velazquez.

Hronis Racing's Park Avenue, who had a two-game winning streak snapped when a well beaten second in the G3 La Canada Stakes going a mile and one sixteenth on Jan. 1, will shorten up out of five consecutive routes in what will be her second stakes engagement.

Trained by John Sadler, Park Avenue, a 4-year-old filly by Quality Road, will be ridden for the third consecutive time by Juan Hernandez.

THE GRADE 2 SANTA MONICA WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 6 of 9 Approximate post time 3 p.m. PT

Kalypso—John Velazquez—124
Ce Ce—Victor Espinoza—124
Merneith – Edwin Maldonado – 122
Full of Grace – Abdul Alsagoor – 120
Park Avenue – Juan Hernandez – 120

First post time for a nine-race card, which will include three graded stakes on Saturday is at 12:30 p.m. Admission gates will open at 10:30 a.m.

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Express Train Brings Recent Form Into Six-Horse San Pasqual

In what shapes up as an important prep to the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 5, C R K Stable's Express Train heads a field of six older horses going a mile and one eighth in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita.

A game nose winner over A-List sophomore Hot Rod Charlie in the G2 San Antonio Stakes going a mile and one sixteenth on Dec. 26, Express Train is the defending champ in the San Pasqual and he'll be seeking his fourth graded stakes win on Saturday.

Trained by John Shirreffs, Express Train will be ridden back by Victor Espinoza, who delivered the mail at odds of 7-1 on opening day. A 5-year-old horse by Union Rags, Express Train is easily the leading money earner in the field with $815,800 from an overall mark of 15-5-4-3.

A newly turned 4-year-old, Twin Creeks Racing Stables' Law Professor prevailed in a protracted stretch battle with Grade 1 winner Beyond Brilliant to take the G2 Santa Anita Mathis Mile by a half length on Dec. 26 and he has the look of a “now horse” as he bids for his third consecutive victory.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Law Professor, a 4-year-old gelding by Constitution, was ridden to consecutive wins by Jose Ortiz and will be handled for the first time by Juan Hernandez in the San Pasqual. With a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure in hand, Law Professor, who had raced on turf in his previous two starts, was off at 4-1 in the Mathis Mile, which was switched to the main track due to heavy rains. With three wins from seven starts, Law Professor seeks his second stakes win.

With John Velazquez riding him back, Bob Baffert's Eight Rings, who went to the front in the opening day San Antonio and nearly dead heated with Hot Rod Charlie for the place while beaten a half length by Express Train, rates a big chance in what will be his 14th career start. A Grade 1 winner here at two, Eight Rings is a 5-year-old horse by Empire Maker seeking his second graded stakes win and his fourth overall.

In a dominant gate to wire performance, trainer George Papaprodromou's American Theorem took a second condition allowance at a mile an one sixteenth by 2 ¼ lengths over Shooter's Shoot on Jan 2 and was flattered by the fact the runner-up came back to post a big second here in Saturday's G3 Palos Verdes Stakes.

Owned by Kretz Racing, LLC, American Theorem, who earned a 90 Beyer on Jan. 2, will likely employ similar front-running tactics with Mike Smith back aboard.

A Derby prospect a year ago, Baffert's Spielberg came back running off a 9 ½ month freshening to rally from off the pace and register a three-length win in a one mile second condition allowance Jan 14 and will be ridden back by Flavien Prat as he seeks his second graded stakes win. A 4-year-old colt by Union Rags, Spielberg is owned by Golconda Stables, Madaket Stables LLC, SF Racing, LLC, et al and is 10-3-3-1 overall.

THE GRADE 2 SAN PASQUAL WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 9 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

Kiss Today Goodbye—Abel Cedillo–120
Express Train—Victor Espinoza—124
American Theorem—Mike Smith—120
Eight Rings—John Velazquez—120
Spielberg—Flavien Prat—120
Law Professor—Juan Hernandez–124

First post time for a nine-race card on Saturday is at 12:30 p.m., admission gates will open at 10:30 a.m.

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Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings: Jan. 25-31

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 and where.

CALIFORNIA

Track: Santa Anita

Date: 01/28/2022

Licensee: Richard Dean Greenman, trainer

Penalty: Required to participate in a fitness for licensure hearing before being permitted to get re-licensed (his license having expired in August of last year).

Violation: N/A

Explainer: Acting on an Order of Remand from the California Horse Racing Board DMTD Ruling #28 issued August 1, 2021, is amended as follows: Pursuant to CHRB rule #1900 (Grounds For Suspension Or Revocation) Trainer Richard Dean Greenman is suspended for 30 Days (August 19, 2021 through September 7, 2021–already served) for violation of CHRB rule #1874 (Disorderly Conduct–detrimental behavior) on March 3, 4 and 5, 2021, at Santa Anita Park. Further, Richard Dean Greenman must participate in a fitness for licensure hearing before being permitted to apply for a California Horse Racing Board Trainer's License.

Track: Santa Anita

Date: 01/28/2022

Licensee: Ruben Valdes, owner

Penalty: Suspended license

Violation: Failure to appear at hearing for non-payment of bill

Explainer: Owner Ruben Valdes, having failed to respond to written notice to appear before the Board of Stewards at Santa Anita Park on or before January 27, 2022, is hereby suspended for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1547 (Failure to Appear) pending an appearance at a hearing before a Board of Stewards to answer charges alleging violation of CHRB rule #1876 (Financial Responsibility–$4,240 to K.C. Transport). During the term of suspension, all licenses and license privileges of Ruben Valdes are suspended and pursuant to California Horse Racing Board rule #1528 (Jurisdiction of Stewards), subject is denied access to all premises in this jurisdiction.

Track: Santa Anita

Date: 01/30/2022

Licensee: Abel Cedillo, jockey

Penalty: $750 fine

Violation: Excessive use of the riding crop

Explainer: Jockey Abel Cedillo is fined $750.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1688(b)(8) (Use of Riding Crop–more than six times in succession during a race–second offense in the last sixty (60) days) during the eighth race at Santa Anita Park on January 29, 2022.

KENTUCKY

Track: Turfway Park

Date: 01/25/2022

Licensee: Wesley Ward, trainer

Penalty: Thirty-day suspension (15 days stayed), and $500 fine

Violation: Medication overage

Explainer: Upon receipt of notification from Industrial Laboratories, the official testing laboratory for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and confirmed at Texas A & M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, sample number E418071 taken from Averly Jane, who finished first in the ninth race at Churchill Downs on April 28, 2021 contained Metformin in blood (Class 8). After a formal hearing before the Board of Stewards, Wesley A. Ward is hereby suspended 30 days and fined $500.00. Due to mitigating circumstances (number of violations in relation to overall record), 15 days are to be served from January 26, 2022 through February 9, 2022 (inclusive). The remaining 15 days are stayed on the condition that no Class A or Class 8 medication violation occurs in any racing jurisdiction within 365 days from the date of this ruling. Averly Jane is disqualified and all purse money forfeited. Pari-mutuel wagering is not affected by this ruling. During his suspension Mr. Ward is denied the privileges of all facilities under the jurisdiction of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Entry of all horses owned or trained by Mr. Ward is denied pending transfer to persons acceptable to the stewards. Upon receipt of this ruling, it is required within 30 days to pay any and all fines imposed to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

Read the TDN story on the matter here.

NEW YORK

Track: Aqueduct

Date: 01/28/2022

Licensee: Heman Harkie, jockey

Penalty: Three-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: For having waived his right to appeal Jockey Heman Harkie is hereby suspended three NYRA racing days January 29th 2022, January 30th 2022 and February 3rd 2022 inclusive. This for careless riding during the running of the seventh race at Aqueduct racetrack on January 27th 2022.

The post Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings: Jan. 25-31 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Prat, Friar’s Road Reunite For San Marcos Triumph At Santa Anita

It was conditions to order for trainer Michael McCarthy's Friar's Road in Sunday's Grade 2, $225,000 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. With a strong pace to run at, the 5-year-old horse by Quality Road did just that, as he wheeled three-deep turning for home and inhaled dueling leaders Bob and Jackie and Acclimate to register an emphatic 4 ¼-length win. Ridden by Flavien Prat, he got a mile and one quarter on turf in 1:58.67.

“I had been on him a few times in the morning and I was really happy with the way he was training,” said Prat, who hadn't ridden Friar's Road since finishing second on him in a maiden special weight on dirt at Oaklawn Park 10 starts back on May 2, 2020. “There was a strong pace today and he was there for me when it was time to make a move. The pace was key today. He's a big horse with a long stride and you don't want to take too much hold of him.”

Most recently second, beaten a nose in the Grade 3 San Gabriel Stakes which was switched to the dirt on Dec. 26, Friar's Road, who was twice graded stakes placed on turf last year, was off as the even money favorite in a field of five older horses and paid $4.20, $3.00 and $2.20.

“It was fantastic, a great way to end the weekend,” said McCarthy, who chalked up his third stakes win of the meeting.

Owned by Mr. and Mrs. W.K. Warren, Friar's Road, who is out of the Giant's Causeway mare My Sugar Bear, notched his first stakes win and improved his overall mark to 13-3-4-2. With the winner's share of $135,000, he increased his earnings to $346,500.

Ridden by Jose Valdivia, Jr., Bob and Jackie, who won the opening day San Gabriel in gate to wire fashion, was tasked with keeping speedy Acclimate honest on the early lead and tired to finish second, a head better than Say the Word. Off at 13-1, Bob and Jackie paid $9.80 and $4.40.

Say the Word, next to last after the first half mile, put in a mild bid to be third by a 1 ¼ lengths over Lincoln Hawk. Off at 2-1 with Umberto Rispoli, Say the Word paid $2.20 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.69, 46.60, 1:11.09 and 1:34.98.

The post Prat, Friar’s Road Reunite For San Marcos Triumph At Santa Anita appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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