santa anita | Horse Racing Free Tips

Classical Cat Pounces Late To Win Eddie Logan

A 2 1/2-length debut winner, Classical Cat jumped straight into deep waters, contesting the GI Del Mar Futurity and finishing seventh behind 'TDN Rising Star' Cave Rock (Arrogate). Back in the winner's circle last time out at Santa Anita Oct. 23 in his first try over grass, Classical Cat kept to the grass Friday and broke as the 2-1 second wagering choice behind favored Nagirroc. Off the pace in fourth as Game Time (Not This Time) led the field of six, he hung against the rail before tipping out for a three-wide move into upper stretch. First Peace refused to let him go by and the pair dueled into the sixteenth before Classical Cat dealt the final blow and got ahead for the narrow win.

“I had Nagirroc to my outside and obviously he was the horse to beat,” said winning jockey Umberto Rispoli. “I was praying that Mike Smith (aboard First Peace) would go a little bit ahead of me at the quarter pole, which would give me a chance to find room between them. The horse helped me. I had a ton of horse underneath and when you have gas, you can go wherever you want. I think he won easily today.”

The second black-type winner for his freshman sire (by Scat Daddy), Classical Cat hails back to dual Eclipse champion and perennial leading sire Curlin (Smart Strike). Conquest Strate Up produced a yearling filly, H M Legacy (Hard Spun), and a weanling colt by Tiz the Law before going back to Tiz the Law for a 2023 foal. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

EDDIE LOGAN S., $100,500, Santa Anita, 12-30, 2yo, 1mT, 1:34.38, gd.
1–CLASSICAL CAT, 120, c, 2, by Mendelssohn
                1st Dam: Conquest Strate Up (SW, $192,984), by Not Bourbon
                2nd Dam: Deputy, by Hadif
                3rd Dam: Sherriff's Deputy, by Deputy Minister
($65,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Michael
House; B-Pippa's Hurricane LLC (KY); T-Philip D'Amato;
J-Umberto Rispoli. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0,
$146,300.
2–First Peace, 120, c, 2, Funtastic–Peace Opportunity, by
Point of Entry. ($15,000 Ylg '21 FTKFEB; $65,000 Ylg '21
FTKOCT; $75,000 2yo '22 OBSOPN). O-Rancho Temescal LLC,
Red Baron's Barn LLC & Rodney E. Orr; B-Christopher L. Baker
& Mullikin Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Mark Glatt. $20,000.
3–Nagirroc, 118, c, 2, Lea–Emma Spencer (Ire), by Zamindar.
O-Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables LLC & William
Strauss; B-Chervenell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-H. Graham
Motion. $12,000.
Margins: HF, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 2.30, 5.60, 1.10.
Also Ran: Game Time, Malibu Coast, Ah Jeez. Scratched: Speed Boat Beach, Tostado (Ire).

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Dettori Off To a Flyer in California

Frankie Dettori's Southern California sojourn could scarcely have gotten off to a more positive start, as the legendary jockey rode a three-timer on the opening day of the winter/spring meeting at Santa Anita Park just outside of Los Angeles.

In the first of his four rides on Boxing Day, Dettori was reunited with the Country Grammer (Tonalist), with whom the Italian won his record-equaling fourth G1 Dubai World Cup last March, in the GII San Antonio S. (video), a potential steppingstone to yet another Middle East appearance. Handy to the pace every step, Dettori set the 5-year-old alight with two furlongs remaining and pulled away by 4 1/2 lengths at 3-5.

“I'm spending the winter here and on day one riding here, on one of the best horses in the world, the pressure was on,” said the 52-year-old. “I felt it but the horse was in great form, and I was able to enjoy the scream of the crowd and it is nice to be back at Santa Anita. What a place! What a crowd, it's amazing.”

There were more flying dismounts to come. Dettori made the most of the opportunity in the very next event, leading every step of the way to cause a 13-2 upset astride the Doug O'Neill-trained La Deuxieme Etoile (Nyquist) in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance on Santa Anita's unique downhill turf course, and he made it three on the trot aboard favoured Ballet Dancing (Medaglia d'Oro) for Simon Callaghan and the Coolmore partners in a nine-furlong allowance two races later. Dettori's mounts were unplaced in the GI Malibu S. and GI American Oaks later in the program.

One thing is clear–Dettori, who recently announced that he will hang up his tack at the end of next season, is energized and is relishing the task at hand.

“Thirty-five years went like a flash. I've got to make these last 12 months the best that I can and enjoy it,” he said. “Most of all I've had a great career, and this is where it all started, and this is where it will finish.”

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Why I Voted for Taiba

Who was the most talented 3-year-old male to race this year? I will not argue with anyone who says the answer is Epicenter (Not This Time). He won the GII Louisiana Derby, finished second in the GI Kentucky Derby and second in the GI Preakness S. From there, he won the GII Jim Dandy S. and the GI Runhappy Travers S. before an injury kept him from finishing the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Other than the Classic, he finished first or second in all of his starts and won four graded stakes. Classy, talented, consistent, Epicenter checked a lot of boxes.

But was he the most accomplished 3-year-old male to race in 2022 and what bearing should that have on the Eclipse Awards? That's where this gets tricky. After his win in the Travers, it looked like Epicenter had wrapped up the 3-year-old championship, but he never won again, while Taiba (Gun Runner) finished the year with a flourish. He won the GI Pennsylvania Derby, finished third in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic and, on Monday, won the GI Runhappy Malibu S. at Santa Anita. Earlier in the year, he won the GI Santa Anita Derby, in what was just his second career start.

Some want to argue that Taiba wasn't overly impressive in the Malibu, that he didn't beat a great field and that his time for the seven furlongs was just .24 seconds faster than the fillies went two races earlier in the GI La Brea S. None of that matters, a Grade I win is a Grade I win and, for Taiba, it was his third this year. Epicenter won only one Grade I, the Travers.

So do you go with the best horse (probably Epicenter) or the one who accomplished the most (probably Taiba)? There's no wrong answer here, but I have always given preference to the horses who won the most Grade I races and the score is Taiba 3-Epicenter 1. That's why I filled out my ballot for Taiba.

For a horse to be deserving of a championship they must have succeeded at the highest levels of the sport. The way we keep score is with the graded stakes system and Grade I's are the gold standard when it comes to accomplishments. In this one very important category, Taiba was clearly the winner over Epicenter.

When it comes to head-to-head competition, neither comes out ahead. Epicenter finished in front of Taiba in the Kentucky Derby, but Taiba was making just his third lifetime start and wasn't ready for such a tough assignment. Taiba finished ahead of Epicenter in the Breeders' Cup Classic, but you can't fault Epicenter for being injured. Had trainer Bob Baffert not been suspended by NYRA, Taiba very well could have faced Epicenter in the Travers, a race that could have gone a long way toward proving who was better, but we weren't lucky enough to see that showdown.

A lot of Epicenter fans say he should be rewarded for his body of work. But what about Taiba's body of work? He started seven times and won four races. That's comparable to Epicenter, who ran eight times and also won four starts.

As is usually the case, most other Eclipse categories were no-brainers. There were, however, a couple of races worthy of debate.

I was ready to vote for War Like Goddess (English Channel) after she ran a creditable third against males in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. That race came after she beat the boys in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S. But my vote went to Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom). The vote was based on the same logic I used for Taiba-versus-Epicenter. Regal Glory won three Grade I races and War Like Goddess won only one.

In the human categories, Irad Ortiz Jr. (jockey), Todd Pletcher (trainer), Godolphin (owner and breeder) were all obvious winners. The one vote I cast that went against the grain was in the apprentice jockey category. I voted for Vicente Del-Cid, who dominated at Delta Downs and Evangeline Downs. While it's true he didn't ride at top-tier tracks, through Dec. 26 he had 274 wins. Trailing only Irad Ortiz, that's second best in the country and 91 wins ahead of Jeiron Barbosa, second in that category among bugs. It won't be long before Del-Cid is winning races on a regular basis at a top track.

The Eclipse Awards ceremony honoring this year's champions will be held Jan. 26, 2023, at The Breakers Palm Beach in Florida. It's then that we will find out if the 3-year-old title goes to Epicenter or Taiba. Both are deserving winners, it's just that Taiba deserves it a little more.

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Small-Time Irish Breeder Molloy Over The Moon With American Oaks Winner

Small-time breeder Kevin Molloy was provided with the best possible Christmas present late on Monday night when Rhea Moon (Ire), the first produce out of homebred Callisto Star (Ire), became Starspangledbanner's fourth top-flight winner of 2022 when battling to Grade I American Oaks glory at Santa Anita.

Rhea Moon began her career for Ken Condon in Ireland, for whom she showed bundles of potential when placing in six-furlong maidens at Dundalk and the Curragh before being purchased privately by BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe and international bloodstock agent Niall Dalton to join Philip D'Amato.

Monday night's success was described by Molloy, who sold Rhea Moon through Ballybin Stud for £24,000 to BBA Ireland at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale in 2020, as his best experience in racing.

He said, “I stayed up to watch the race with my family and it was very exciting. We were concerned about the draw but she has that turn of foot which gets her out of trouble.

“It was my best day in racing. To win a Grade I and to have that on the page is great. They are keeping her in training and I see more improvement coming so it's quite exciting.”

Peter Kelly of Ballybin Stud sold Rhea Moon along with her winning full-sister There's The Door (Ire) for €80,000 at the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale last year and the Magna Grecia half-brother who commanded €145,000 to Johnny Hassett's Getinthegame syndicate at this year's Sportsman's Sale at Goffs.

He recalled, “I know from talking to Ken Condon that he was mad about Rhea Moon and he went hard trying to buy the full-sister last year and the Magna Grecia this year as well. I thought she'd be a good filly but I never dreamt she could go on and win a Grade I, so it's great.”

Kelly added, “Rhea Moon was a gorgeous, big filly as a yearling. Big, scopey and strong but she was a small bit turned in in front, which spoiled it a little. I remember her being a gorgeous filly in the lunge ring-she'd a huge big action on her-and you just knew she was going to be good. I remember trying to put a few people on her. Every now and then you get a glimpse of what could be a good one and she was one that I really liked at home.

“The dam Callisto Star has had an exceptional start and I'm delighted for Kevin as he has three mares all of whom are from this family. The sister has won for David Evans and is not far off black-type while Johnny Hassett bought the Magna Grecia colt at the Sportsman's Sale off us. I'm delighted for Johnny as he was a big fan of the colt and hopefully this pedigree update will help them achieve a nice profit at the breeze-up sales next year.”

It has been a bountiful year for the progeny of Starspangledbanner. Rhea Moon capped a memorable season for the Coolmore sire by joining Aristia (Ire), State Of Rest (Ire) and California Spangle (Ire) by claiming success at the highest level.

Rhea Moon's dam Callisto Star is back in foal to Starspangledbanner with Molloy excited about what the future might bring for a family he has nurtured for generations.

He explained, “There's stamina in the dam's side and, if you go right back, there's the Mill Reef influence in there as well. I think the match is very good and I was advised by Christy Grassick in Coolmore to bring Callisto Star to Starspangledbanner. Thankfully, the mare is back in foal to Starspangledbanner, which is good news.

“Callisto Star was unlucky during her training career. She was with Jim Bolger but got injured. To get off to a start like she has, with her first produce bagging a Grade I win in America, is great.”

Molloy added, “Her second foal, There's The Door (Ire), has won for David Evans and was not far off getting black-type. She had a lovely Magna Grecia colt sell to Johnny Hassett's Getinthegame partnership at the Sportsman's Sale in September. He was a lovely colt with a great temperament and it will be interesting to see how he breezes for them.”

Molloy's enjoyment at seeing Rhea Moon achieve big-race success in America was heightened by the fact that he is surrounded by the family at his base in Luttrellstown in Dublin.

He said, “Rhea Moon is a Dublin girl. She was born in Coolmore but she was raised here in Luttrellstown. I only have a small operation here. I have kept a few different broodmares from different lines but gradually got out of them. The one line I kept is from Mohican Princess (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}).

“Mohican Princess produced a number of good horses, including dual Group 3 winner Satchem (Ire) (Inchinor {GB}) and Eye Of The Storm (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who despite only having one eye, was a very talented horse. I kept Livia Galilei (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) out of Mohican Princess and I have some of Livia Galilei's daughters here as well. I've only got three broodmares altogether.”

Molloy added, “I take a lot of advice from Peter's Dad Paddy Kelly. I am guided by him and Christy Grassick. I get good advice and it's very enjoyable to have the mares around me. As I am speaking now, I am looking out the window at Rhea Moon's dam. That adds a lot. There are ups and downs but, to be able to go out and pet these mares on the nose, it gives you a lot of satisfaction. You get very close to them all.”

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