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Former Racing Executive Brant Latta, 60, Passes

Joseph Brant Latta, age 60, of Fort Smith, Ark., peacefully departed this life on March 15, 2021. Brant was born on June 14, 1960, in Oklahoma City, Okla.

After earning his accounting degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Brant went on to study racetrack management at The University of Arizona. His horse racing career eventually brought him to Longacres Racetrack in Seattle, Wash., where he met his wife, Heather. When Longacres closed Brant became the general manager at Yakima Meadows for two years in Yakima, Wash. Brant went on to manage Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Ariz., and later, he became the general manager of Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

In the last part of his racing career, he acted as chief operating officer for Magna Entertainment and worked closely with Magna's numerous tracks around the country. Brant was longing to spend more time with his family, so in 2008, he retired from the racing industry and opened an insurance agency that he owned until his passing.

Brant was loved for his quick wit, his extraordinary sense of humor, and his devotion to living his life to the fullest. He enjoyed playing golf with his daughter, visiting the casino with his son, spending time with his eight brothers and sisters, playing poker with his posse, and having an after-work cigar at Winston's while visiting and laughing with his friends. He also loved sitting outside on his porch, and anyone who was lucky enough to be invited to “Porchin' with Brant” was guaranteed some truly unforgettable entertainment.

Brant was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Ronald and Rose Latta. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Heather Latta; his daughter, Claire Rose Latta, and her fiancé, Chris Eckes; his son, Brayden Latta; his sister Alicia Burks; his sister Ann Borengasser and her husband, Jim; his brother Ty Latta; his brother Kevin Latta and his wife, Kelly; his sister Theresa Little and her husband, Tony; his sister Angela Knutzen and her husband, Steve; his brother Todd Latta and his wife, Sara; his sister Kerry Roller and her husband, Terry; many nieces and nephews, and countless friends.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 20, at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Barling, Ark. Interment of ashes will be private and for family only. Honorary pallbearers will be Ty Latta, Kevin Latta, Todd Latta, Jim Borengasser, Tony Little, Steve Knutzen, and Terry Roller.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1301 Frank Street, Barling, AR, 72923 or The American Stroke Association at www.stroke.org. To leave online condolences, please visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.

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Racing Executive Brant Latta Passes Away

Joseph Brant Latta, age 60, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, passed away Mar. 15. After earning his accounting degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Brant went on to study racetrack management at The University of Arizona. He worked at Longacres and when that closed Brant became the general manager at Yakima Meadows for two years.

Brant went on to manage Turf Paradise and later became the general manager of Santa Anita Park. In the last part of his racing career, he acted as chief operating officer for Magna Entertainment and worked closely with Magna's numerous tracks around the country. In 2008, he retired from the racing industry and opened an insurance agency that he owned until his passing.

Brant is survived by his wife Heather Latta; his daughter, Claire Rose Latta; his son, Brayden Latta; and many siblings. A funeral mass will be celebrated Mar. 20 at 11:00am at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Barling, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1301 Frank Street, Barling, AR, 72923 or The American Stroke Association at www.stroke.org.

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Shades Of Enola Gray: Leggs Galore Speeds To Irish O’Brien Victory

William Sims' homebred Leggs Galore was long gone in Sunday's $100,000 Irish O'Brien Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., as she waltzed to a 2 ¼-length win, which was her fifth consecutive triumph dating back to Aug. 7. Trained by Phil D'Amato and ridden by Ricky Gonzalez, Leggs Galore, a 4-year-old California-bred filly by 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern, got six furlongs over a firm turf in 1:08.17.

Breaking like a rocket from her outside post position, Leggs Galore opened up a four- length cushion after the first quarter mile and it was readily apparent no one was capable of pressuring her, thus assuring the brilliantly fast grey her second consecutive stakes win over the course in what may've been her best effort to date.

“This race, she really started to remind me of Enola Gray (a California-bred gray that was a multiple stakes winner on turf and a winner of the 2017 Irish O'Brien) the way she won today,” said D'Amato, who notched his meet-leading 10th stakes victory. “I gave Ricky the option. I just told him to play the break, if they wanted to come get her she could rate, she's done it before, but I mean she broke like a rocket and there was no looking back.”

A handy winner of the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint on Jan. 16, Leggs Galore was off as the 6-5 favorite in a field of seven older fillies and mares bred or sired in California and she paid $4.60, $2.60 and $2.20.

“She's just so special, she's so fast and talented,” said Gonzalez, who has now ridden her to four consecutive wins. “Phil said she's rated before, so I had options but the way she broke there was only one way, just keep going. She was so relaxed, she was looking around, her ears were pricked, just having fun out there. I was just a happy passenger.”

Out of the Indian Charlie mare Cashing Tickets, Leggs Galore is now unbeaten in five turf starts from seven overall races. With today's winner's share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $262,208.

In what amounted to a separate race, Bella Vita, who was third around the turn, drove up the rail in a solid effort for second money, finishing 2 ¼ lengths in front of Sadie Bluegrass. The second choice at 8-5 with Flavien Prat, Bella Vita paid $2.60 and $2.20.

A non-threatening second into and around the turn, Sadie Bluegrass held third by a head over Nardini. Based at Golden Gate Fields, Sadie Bluegrass was ridden by Brayan Pena and paid $3.40 to show while off at 5-1.

The Irish O'Brien gave Gonzalez a riding double and D'Amato picked up his 21st overall win, putting him third in the standings, one behind Bob Baffert and Peter Miller.

Fractions on the race were 21.94, 44.37 and 56.08.

The Irish O'Brien is part of the lucrative Golden State Series. Sponsored by the CTBA, the Golden State Series is for eligible California-bred or sired horses.

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Santa Anita Going To 1 P.M. First Post; Freshening Turf After April 3 Santa Anita Derby Weekend

With Daylight Savings Time now upon us, Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., is adjusting its post time from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. beginning this Friday, March 19. This Saturday is the first day of spring and just two weeks hence, Saturday, April 3, the best 3-year-olds in the West will line up for the 84th running of the Santa Anita Derby, a race that has produced 18 Kentucky Derby winners and a pair of Triple Crown Champions.

“We've got a lot more daylight with time change and by starting 30 minutes later each day, we're also in a better position on the back end of our cards in terms of competition from eastern simulcast signals,” said Chris Merz, Santa Anita's director of racing and racing secretary. “For the most part, we've usually got beautiful weather this time of the year and this helps us to take advantage of that as well.”

In addition to a shift in post time, Merz also advises that the track will be running on Saturdays and Sundays for two weeks following the Santa Anita Derby.

“We're going to be freshening the turf course and this is part of our planned maintenance schedule,” said Merz. “For those two weekends, turf racing will be limited. On April 10 and 11, we'll be carding main track races only and on the 17th and 18th, we'll run a maximum of two turf races per day.

“This is the perfect time of the year, with all the additional sunshine, to give the course a break and let it rejuvenate. We'll come back with a comprehensive turf and main track schedule and return to our regular Friday through Sunday racing weeks beginning April 23 through closing day, June 20.”

With the turf course unavailable on April 10, the $75,000 Mizdirection Stakes, for older fillies and mares at six furlongs on turf, will now be run the following week, on Saturday, April 17.

Racing resumes with an eight-race card on Friday. For additional information on live racing, please visit santaanita.com.

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