santa anita | Horse Racing Free Tips

Classy Empire Maker Colt Becomes Latest Rising Star for Avengers and Baffert

Classier (Empire Maker) became the latest flashy colt unveiled by Bob Baffert and the stallion-making conglomerate nicknamed The Avengers as he streaked home an impressive winner at Santa Anita Saturday worthy of a ‘TDN Rising Star’ nod.

Having tuned up for this with a head-turning six-furlong work from the gate on Monday (6f, 1:12.40, 1/3, XBTV Video), the bay was let go at generous 7-2 odds as two foes with experience took more attention. Off a bit sluggishly from his rail draw, Classier quickly recovered to take command and zip away take a clear lead. He blew the race apart through a :45.68 half, and was never for catching as he continued on to the wire four lengths clear in a display of speed reminiscent of the connections’ 2019 GI American Pharoah S. winner and ‘Rising Star’ Eight Rings (Empire Maker). Second timer Go On (Nyquist) completed the exacta.

Classier is out of a half-sister to the dam of French and U.S. GSW/MGISP Homerique (Exchange Rate). His third dam produced Group 1 winner White Moonstone (Dynaformer). Dam Class Will Tell, by one of the hottest broodmare sires on the planet in Bernardini, has a yearling colt by Tiznow who sold for just $12,000 at KEESEP and a foal filly by Union Rags. Her dam was bred back to More Than Ready for 2021. For coverage on Classier’s sale at Keeneland, see SF, Starlight, Madaket Continue Building Their Empire.

9th-Santa Anita, $57,000, Msw, 10-24, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:16.94, ft, 4 lengths.
CLASSIER, c, 2, Empire Maker
                1st Dam: Class Will Tell, by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Conchita, by Cozzene
                3rd Dam: Desert Gold, by Seeking the Gold
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $33,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm LLC & Robert E. Masterson; B-Mary A Sullivan (KY); T-Bob Baffert. *$775,000 Ylg ’19 KEESEP.

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‘Bad Timing’: Mo Forza Knocked Out Of Breeders’ Cup Mile

Mo Forza, if not the favorite for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile certainly a sentimental favorite, will miss the race at Keeneland on Nov. 7 due to a minor issue, trainer Peter Miller told Santa Anita officials by telephone Saturday morning.

“If all goes well, we'll run in the Breeders' Cup next year at Del Mar,” the trainer said.

“What happened is just bad timing. I think he's the best turf miler in the world and I'm disappointed he won't be able to prove it this year.”

Mo Forza was owned in part by the estate of former trainer Barry Abrams, who died on Oct. 9 after a 15-year battle with cancer.

Abrams, who campaigned as Bardy Farm, also bred Mo Forza.

“This horse kept Barry going,” Miller said. “It gave him something to look forward to.

“It meant a lot to Barry and meant a lot to me, so we were crossing our fingers and hoping he could 'Win One for The Gipper.'”

A 4-year-old Uncle Mo colt also owned by part by Onofrio Pecoraro who races as OG Boss, Mo Forza had won six of his last seven races including the G1 Hollywood Derby last Nov. 30 and the G2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita on Oct. 3, his most recent outing.

The Kentucky-bred bay has a 6-3-1 record from 12 starts with earnings of $734,460.

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Baffert Runners Head BC Works at Santa Anita

Trainer Bob Baffert’s arsenal was on full display Saturday morning at Santa Anita in preparation for their respective Breeders’ Cup engagements at Keeneland Nov. 6 and 7. Heading the charge was GI Kentucky Derby hero Authentic (Into Mischief), who breezed seven furlongs in 1:24.40 (XBTV video) in advance of the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. In his latest start, the colt finished a neck behind winner Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the Oct. 3 GI Preakness S.

Undefeated TDN Rising Star Princess Noor (Not This Time) breezed six furlongs in a bullet 1:11.80 in preparation for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Victorious second time out in the GI Del Mar Debutante Sept. 6, she returned to score in the Sept. 6 GII Chandelier S. Fellow Baffert trainee, Grade I-placed Spielberg (Union Rags), posted a five-furlong move in :59.80 in advance of the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, while Gamine (Into Mischief), winner of the GI Acorn S. and GI Test S. this summer, completed five furlongs in a bullet :58.80 ahead of the GI Breeders’ Cup F & M Sprint. The filly is currently under investigation for a medication positive detected in a sample following a third in the Sept. 4. GI Kentucky Oaks.

Also at Santa Anita Saturday, trainer Richard Mandella sent out GII John Henry Turf Championship S. winner United (Giant’s Causeway) for a mile work in 1:37.80 under Flavien Prat in preparation for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf, a race in which he finished second in 2019.

“He went very nice,” said Mandella. “I think we have a little better line on him now, more than we ever did, and hopefully, it will pay off at the Breeders’ Cup.”

Mandella also breezed Jolie Olimpica (Brz) (Drosselmeyer) Saturday, indicating the latter “got a little tired” negotiating five furlongs in :59 flat and will bypass the Breeders’ Cup in favor of the Nov. 29 GI Matriarch S. at Del Mar.

Recent GI Rodeo Drive S. scorer Mucho Unusual (Mucho Macho Man), expected to contest the GI Breeders’ Cup F&M Turf, worked five panels for trainer Tim Yakteen in 1:00.60 (XBTV Video), while Sharp Samurai (First Samurai) completed the same distance in a minute flat. The multiple graded stakes winner is expected to make his next start in the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile or Mile.

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Santa Anita Closing Day On Sunday Means Mandatory Payouts On All Bets

Santa Anita's 16-day Autumn Meet will draw to a close on Sunday, as the Arcadia, Calif., track will offer an 11-race card and mandatory payouts in all exotic wagers, including the popular 20 cent Rainbow Pick 6 Jackpot.

Special early first post time on Sunday has been set at 12:30 p.m.

Sunday's Rainbow Pick 6 Jackpot will be comprised of races six through 11. Approximate post time for Sunday's sixth is at 3 p.m. PT.

The Grade 2, $200,000 Goldikova Stakes, for fillies and mares 3 years old and up at one mile on turf, has been carded as Sunday's ninth race with a competitive group of seven distaffers, headed by the Phil D'Amato-conditioned Raymundos Secret, set to compete.

With a Single Ticket Rainbow 6 Jackpot carryover of $107,002 up for grabs into Saturday's nine-race card, track officials project Sunday's total Jackpot pool could approach $1 million.

Santa Anita's races and its entire simulcast production are offered live and free of charge at santaanita.com. Fans are encouraged to tune in early on Sunday for the track's pre-race handicapping seminar, featuring track announcer Frank Mirahmadi and host Tom Quigley as they dissect the entire 11-race card beginning at 11:20 a.m. PT

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