Best of the West To Be Decided in Santa Anita Derby

Barring something unforeseen, they are both headed to Louisville in a month's time, but Saturday's GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby will make either Messier (Empire Maker) or Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) the left coast's best chance at GI Kentucky Derby glory when they go head-to-head for the second time Saturday afternoon.

Named a 'TDN Rising Star' when graduating by a space at second asking over a six-furlong trip that was always bound to be sharp, Messier easily handled Forbidden Kingdom in Del Mar's GIII Bob Hope S. over seven furlongs in November, but was upset by Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 11. In his lone start since, the $470,000 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase purchase romped by 15 in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Feb. 6, and with a switch to the barn of Tim Yakteen, would likely secure a Derby berth with a win or runner-up effort.

For his part, Forbidden Kingdom has already earned his way into the race, as he is perfect in two starts at three. The chestnut son of the good sprinter Just Louise (Five Star Day) caused something of an upset when beating subsequent G3 Saudi Derby hero Pinehurst (Twirling Candy) by 2 1/4 lengths in the seven-furlong GII San Vicente S. and proved he could stay a distance of ground when thrashing his six opponents by 5 3/4 lengths in the GII San Felipe S. Mar. 5.

If someone is to crash the party, 'TDN Rising Star' Taiba (Gun Runner) would appear to be the likeliest candidate. A $140,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling turned $1.7-million Fasig-Tipton Florida breezer, the chestnut graduated by 7 1/2 lengths on his Mar. 5 debut for Bob Baffert, earning a 103 Beyer Speed Figure that equals Messier's Lewis victory. Yakteen is also the trainer of record for Taiba and Amr Zedan's Zedan Racing Stables.

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Lucky Girl Looks To Stay Hot in Providencia

The progressive Lucky Girl (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) looks to make it three on the trot as the likely favorite in a competitive renewal of the GIII Providencia S. at Santa Anita.

Third in a single European appearance at Ireland's Gowran Park for trainer Andrew Slattery, the bay was fractionally disappointing when off the board in each of her first three U.S. appaearances, including a troubled fifth in a one-mile maiden here Dec. 27. Connections nevertheless swung for the fences and gave their filly a try in the Jan. 30 Lady of Shamrock S., in which she duly obliged by a widening margin, and she doubled up with a more narrow success in the China Doll S. Mar. 6, defeating a hard-to-handle Sterling Crest (Ire) (No Nay Never) into third.

'TDN Rising Star' Cairo Memories (Cairo Prince) makes a return to what appears to be her best surface Saturday. Winner of this track's Surfer Girl S. last October, the gray was an 8-1 chance in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and though she was only ninth, closed off nicely to finish less than three lengths behind Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The runner-up that afternoon, Malavath (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), made a victorious 3-year-old debut in the G3 Prix Imprudence Thursday at Deauville. Beaten a half-length in second by Eda (Munnings) in the GI Starlet S. in her dirt debut Dec. 4, Cairo Memories exits a seventh in the GIII Santa Ysabel S. Mar. 6.

Sixteen Arches (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) took advantage of the 'lightning lane' in rallying past her favored John Murtagh stablemate Chicago Lightening (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) in a Dundalk maiden Jan. 7 and merits respect out of the Phil D'Amato barn always dangerous with its American debuters.

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Adare Manor Looks To Punch Oaks Ticket

Having her first start for trainer Tim Yakteen, Michael Lund Petersen's Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) tries to remain unbeaten around two turns as the prohibitive favorite in Saturday's GII Santa Anita Oaks at the Great Race Place.

Second and fourth, respectively, in sprint maidens at this track on Halloween and at Del Mar the following month, the dark bay ran away from Micro Share (Upstart) by a dozen lengths when making her first start around two turns Jan. 7 and made light work of the GIII Las Virgenes S. last time Feb. 6, romping by 13 lengths. Micro Share franked the form of the maiden when graduating by 4 1/2 lengths going a mile Mar. 11, but it's difficult to see her bridging the gap here.

Ain't Easy (Into Mischief) caused an 8-1 surprise on Del Mar debut Aug. 21, earning 'TDN Rising Star' status in the process, then upended the GII Chandelier S. by nearly five lengths Oct. 1. Shelved off that effort, the bay was a useful third–with Under the Stars (Pioneerof the Nile) third–in the GIII Santa Ysabel S. Mar. 6 and should have some improvement in her.

Desert Dawn (Cupid), fourth in the GI Starlet S. Dec. 5 and again in the Santa Ysabel, is the outsider in the compact field of five.

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Weekly Rulings: March 29-April 4

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 (or not) and where.

CALIFORNIA
Track: Santa Anita
Date: 04/02/2022
Licensee: Bob Baffert, trainer
Penalty: Ninety-day suspension
Violation: Reciprocity of out-of-state medication violation penalty
Explainer: Pursuant to California Horse Racing Board rule #1484 (Evidence of Unfitness for License) the following ruling is issued in reciprocity after receiving notice of suspension from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, ruling (21-0009) dated February 21, 2022, issuing Trainer/Owner Robert Baffert ninety suspension days. Robert Baffert is suspended for 90 days (April 4, 2022, through and including July 2, 2022).

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 04/02/2022
Licensee: Mario Gutierrez, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: Jockey Mario Gutierrez, who rode ARDIS in the fourth race at Santa Anita Park on April 1, 2022, is suspended for 3 racing days (April 9, 10 and 15, 2022) for failure to make the proper effort to maintain a straight course in the stretch, causing interference which resulted in the disqualification of his mount from second to third place. This constitutes a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – Careless Riding). Pursuant to California Horse Racing Board rule #1766 (Designated Races), the term of suspension shall not prohibit participation in designated races.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 04/03/2022
Licensee: Jonathan Wong, trainer
Penalty: $400 fine
Violation: Late registration of Lasix
Explainer: Trainer Jonathan Wong is fined $400.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1845 (Authorized Bleeder Medication – late registration) of My Kentucky Girl in the eighth race on April 2, 2022, at Santa Anita Park.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 04/03/2022
Licensee: Ryan Curatolo, jockey
Penalty: $750 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Jockey Ryan Curatolo is fined $750.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop–more than six times–second offense within the past sixty days) during the third race at Santa Anita Park on April 2, 2022.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 04/03/2022
Licensee: Diego Herrera, apprentice jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Apprentice Jockey Diego Herrera is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop – more than six times) during the ninth race at Santa Anita Park on April 2, 2022.

NEW YORK
Track: Aqueduct
Date: 04/03/2022
Licensee: Kendrick Carmouche, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: For having waived his right to appeal Jockey Kendrick Carmouche is hereby suspended three NYRA racing days April 14th 2022, April 15th 2022, April 16th 2022 inclusive. This for careless riding during the running of the eight race at Aqueduct racetrack on March 31st 2022. Suspended: 04/14/2022 to 04/16/2022 (3 days).

Track: Aqueduct
Date: 04/03/2022
Licensee: Wayne Potts, trainer
Penalty: Forty five-day suspension
Violation: Discovery of non-FDA approved drug on trainer grounds
Explainer: Trainer Mr. Wayne Potts for having waived his right to appeal is hereby suspended 45 calendar days April 10th 2022, through May 6th 2022 inclusive, and again June 6th through June 23rd 2022 inclusive, due to a previous ruling (suspension) handed down by the New Jersey Racing Commission. This for the finding of a drug in your tackroom that has not been approved by the FDA for use in Thoroughbred horses. Ordered that during your period of suspension, you shall not directly nor indirectly participate in New York State pari-mutuel horse racing. You are denied the privileges and use of the grounds for all racetracks in New York State. You are forbidden to participate in any share of purses or other payments. Every horse is denied the privileges of the grounds and shall not participate in pari-mutuel racing in New York State, that is (a) owned or trained by you, or by individuals who serves as your agent or employee during your suspension; or (b) for which you during your suspension are directly or indirectly with training, including any arrangements to care for, train, enter, race, invoice, collect fees or other payments, manage funds, employ or insure workers, provide advice or other information or otherwise assist with any aspect of the training of such horses. Suspended: 04/10/2022 to 06/23/2022 (45 days).
Read more about the issue here.

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