Racing! Victor Espinoza is back on a horse

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we congratulate Gunmetal Gray for winning the Sham Stakes.

There’s so much to get to for today’s newsletter that we won’t get to it all. And, yes, you ask, the Los Alamitos steward’s minutes are out of protective custody and have been unsealed and we will look at those rulings in the Monday newsletter.

But of all the things that happened on Saturday, you have to rate Victor Espinoza’s getting back up on a horse and doing a workout as the best of all.

We have an extensive story on it on our web and in print. You can find it here.

But here’s a Cliff’s Notes version of what Victor said. (Believe it or not, there really was a Cliff that invented Cliff’s Notes. His name was Clifton Keith Hillegass and his works single-handedly got me through all my Shakespeare classes.) Ok, back to Victor.

--Espinoza almost missed his workout on Bobby Abu Dhabi because he didn’t find out about it until a half hour before he was to ride. He said he thought something could wrong aboard the horse but rode him anyway. “I got a bad feeling, because I knew that horse wasn’t doing that great,” Espinoza said. “But you just go out there and hope that nothing happens.”

--When he hit the ground, he was rooting to feel some pain because no pain means trouble. “Normally, when I hit the ground I move around and I know where it hurts,” Espinoza said. “You feel the pain. But this time I had no pain and I’m thinking ‘what’s going on?’”

--There were times when he didn’t think he was going to make it back to riding. “There were many times when I thought maybe I just wasn’t going to come back,” Espinoza said. “And I was OK with that because I was thankful enough that I was able to walk.”

--Espinoza will work horses next weekend and then decide when he might return to riding fulltime after talking to the doctor at the end of the month. He’s still hoping to pick up a Kentucky Derby horse.

Eclipse Awards

More on this in a few days, but here are the Eclipse Award nominees. The horses (and a couple of people) in bold face are Southern California based.

Horse of the Year: Accelerate, Justify, Monomoy Girl

2-year-old male: Game Winner, Improbable, Knicks Go

2-year-old filly: Bellafina, Jaywalk, Newspaperofrecord (IRE)

3-year-old male: Catholic Boy, Justify, McKinzie

3-year-old filly: Midnight Bisou, Monomoy Girl, Rushing Fall

Older dirt male: Accelerate, City of Light, Gun Runner

Older dirt female: Abel Tasman, Marley’s Freedom, Unique Bella

Male sprinter: Imperial Hint, Roy H, Stormy Liberal

Female sprinter: Finley’sluckycharm, Marley’s Freedom, Shamrock Rose

Male turf horse: Expert Eye (GB); Glorious Empire (IRE), Stormy Liberal

Female turf horse: A Raving Beauty (GER), Enable (GB), Sistercharlie (IRE)

Steeplechase horse: Jury Duty (IRE), Optimus Prime (FR), Zanjabeel (GB)

Owner: Peter Brant; Hronis Racing LLC; WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Starlight Racing and Head of Plains Partners

Breeder: Mike Abraham, John D. Gunther, WinStar Farm, LLC

Trainer: Steve Asmussen, Bob Baffert, Chad Brown

Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr., Jose Ortiz, Mike Smith

Apprentice jockey: Reylu Gutierrez, Weston Hamilton, Edgar Morales

Santa Anita review

The Times has a story in print and online about the Grade 3 $100,000 Sham Stakes filled with lots of quotes. You can read it here. But, we can hit the high points in the one-mile race right here.

Gunmetal Gray came from sixth entering the stretch to win by a length over a heavily favored Coliseum. The Baffert-trained Coliseum, a huge gray horse who no doubt is still filling in to his frame, was pretty fractious in the paddock and then left the gate poorly.

“Coliseum seemed to slip and really veer right [out of the gate],” said Gunmetal Gray’s jockey Mike Smith. “When he did that, he caught me in behind for a couple jumps, which really got me out of position. Then, Coliseum got up there and made the pace move the second quarter, which I was comfortable with, so I knew it was going to set up for a horse that would finish and it did.”

Gunmetal Gray paid $9.40, $4.80 and $3.40. Sueno was second and Much Better, the other Baffert, was third. Coliseum finished sixth in the seven-horse field.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said he had a lot of options for the colt’s next race but didn’t offer up any of them.

In the pricier but less sexy of the two stakes races, the Grade 2 $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes for older horses going 1 1/8 miles on the turf, the big winner was jockey Geovanni Franco. He wasn’t supposed to ride winner Next Shares, but, when rider Joel Rosario was sick and taken off all his mounts, it left a nice paycheck for Franco.

Now, the finish was thisclose. The official margin over Cleopatra’s Strike was listed as a nose because that’s the smallest call they have. Liam the Charmer was third. Next Shares, the favorite, paid $5.20, $3.60 and $2.80.

“I thought I won it because I thought my horse had his nose down at the wire, but I knew it was close,” Franco said. “This is the biggest pick-up mount I’ve ever had for sure.”

Trainer Richard Baltas doubled down on his horse.

“This is a very, very, very good horse,” Baltas said. “I said earlier that he likes a little more cut in the ground, but he obviously handled this well. Geo rode a great race. … He was a little far back but this guy doesn’t panic.”

In Friday’s last race, we got the name wrong on one of the two horses that was euthanized. It was Unusual Angel, not Unusual Agent. Our condolences to his connections and the connections to anyone who has ever been in that situation.

Santa Anita preview

In Saturday’s newsletter, we credited Santa Anita for being proactive by putting together an all dirt card with no turf races on Sunday because of the impending rain. It makes it so much easier for handicappers to not be left guessing as to which races might come off the grass and which horses will be scratched. So, it’s through that prism that we have a nine-race card beginning at 12:30 p.m.

The centerpiece (but not in the center of the card) is the Grade 2 $200,000 Santa Ynez for 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs. I wrote about the favorite Bellafina a couple of days ago. You can give it a read here.

She is deservedly the 4-5 favorite in the five-horse field. Bellafina’s last race was a disappointing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies after three straight wins including two Grade 1s. Trainer Simon Callaghan attributed the lackluster performance to her being in breeding season. Flavien Prat rides the 3-year-old filly who was just named an Eclipse Award finalist.

Mother Mother (no comma in there) is the second favorite at 9-5 for Baffert and Drayden Van Dyke. Mother Mother was third last out in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos. She was also second by 4 ¼ lengths to Bellafina in the Del Mar Debutante. Post time is around 4:05 p.m.

Here are the field sizes, in order: 7, 8, 7, 7, 10, 9, 9, 5, 10.

Big Races review

A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Saturday.

Gulfstream (5): $100,000 Ginger Brew Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 7 ½ furlongs on turf. Winner: Boxwood ($7.00)

Aqueduct (8): $100,000 La Verdad Stakes, NY-bred fillies and mares 4 and up, 7 furlongs. Winner: Kathryn the Wise ($5.40)

Gulfstream (9): $100,000 Kitten Joy Stakes, 3-year-olds, 7 ½ furlongs on turf. Winner: Casa Creed ($27.40)

Gulfstream (10): $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 mile. Winner: Mihos ($7.80)

Santa Anita (7): Grade 2 $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes, 4 and up, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Winner: Next Shares ($5.20)

Santa Anita (9): Grade 3 $100,000 Sham Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 mile. Winner: Gunmetal Gray ($9.40)

Big races preview

A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Sunday. All times PDT:

4:04 Santa Anita (8): Grade 2 $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Bellafina (4-5)

Bob Ike’s SA pick of the day

NINTH RACE: No. 10 Miss Unusual (4-1)

Consistent filly from the hot Billy Morey stable comes off a sloppy track win at Los Alamitos and should be tough right back in this restricted claimer. Drawn favorably outside, she should get a great trip under good apprentice Heriberto Figueroa and be in the right spot turning for home as we try to close out the week with another winner.

Saturday’s result: Spokane Eagle ($9.40) proved much the best while winning the sixth race, making it two straight winners.

Bob Ike is a Partner/VP of Horsebills.com (here's a video) and the proprietor of BobIkePicks.com (full-card picks, 3 Best Plays and betting strategy).

Ed Burgart LA play of the day

SEVENTH RACE: No. 4 Kr Olive Oil (5-2)

I loved this filly’s maiden victory one month ago when she leveled off with a smooth stride from the rail post after veering inward several lanes leaving the gate. She easily improved from her third-place debut vs. rival Walk On By Blues, who benefitted by six previous starts. In addition, Kr Olive Oil’s trainer Jaime Gomez consistently develops young runners into stakes contenders.

Final thoughts

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Any thoughts, you can reach me at johnacherwa@gmail.com. You can also feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa

And now the stars of the show, Saturday’s results and Sunday’s entries.

INVASION LOOMING angled in on the early lead and set the pace inside, fought back on the backstretch and second turn, came a bit off the rail in the stretch, battled between foes in midstretch then held on gamely outside the runner-up under urging. INCREDIBLE LUCK pulled between horses then angled in and stalked inside, bid along the rail in tight quarters in the final furlong and continued willingly but was outgamed. ENCUMBERED four wide early, went three deep into the first turn then stalked outside a rival, bid outside the winner on the backstretch and second turn and three deep in midstretch and just held third between foes late. VAN CORTLANDT tugged along the inside then saved ground stalking the pace, came out a bit leaving the second turn and into the stretch and was edged for the show three deep on the line. HEY SEQUOIA settled off the pace inside, continued along the rail in the drive and was outfinished for a minor award. UNION REBEL broke out and a bit slowly, tugged between foes then chased outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and could not quite summon the needed late kick. CAMINO DE ESTRELLA chased off the rail then between foes on the backstretch and second turn and lacked the necessary rally. IRON ALEX settled outside then chased three deep to the stretch and also lacked the needed late response.

SUPER KLAUS saved ground chasing the pace, split horses into the second turn, cut the corner into the stretch, came out in midstretch and rallied under urging to collar the runner-up on the line. TRUE VALIDITY dueled between horses then inside on the second turn and into the stretch, inched away under urging in midstretch, drifted out some in the final furlong and was caught in the final stride. QUEEN OF THE TRACK pulled and prompted the pace three deep then outside the runner-up on the second turn and into the stretch and bested the others. AMERICAN FALLS angled in and stalked between horses then off the rail or outside a rival on the second turn, came out into the stretch and weakened. PALM D'ORO four wide into the first turn, stalked three deep then outside the winner on the second turn and into the stretch, came out some in the drive and also weakened. FABULOUS STAR angled in and settled inside, swung out into the stretch and lacked a further response. LILY CON had good early speed and dueled inside, dropped back on the second turn and gave way.

FALCONE stalked outside, bid three deep leaving the second turn and into the stretch, gained the lead nearing midstretch, inched away under left handed urging past midstretch and proved best. AUSSIE FOX angled in and pulled hard along the inside and steadied on the first turn, tugged his way along outside a rival on the backstretch and into the second turn, came three wide into the stretch and finished willingly to gain the place. RECKLESS GRAVITY broke inward, chased outside a rival, swung four wide into the stretch and edged a foe late for third. MO BOB (IRE) pulled and stalked outside a rival then bid alongside a foe to duel for the lead on the backstretch and second turn, was between horses into the stretch and was edged late for the show. SUPER CLASSIC angled in and saved ground off the pace, went outside a rival on the second turn and a bit off the rail into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. TASTEMAKER hopped slightly then was squeezed back at the start, settled inside, came out on the second turn and again into the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. BRIOSO between foes early, dueled outside a rival then inside on the backstretch and second turn and weakened in the drive./. RARE JOURNEY tugged his way along inside to duel for the lead then saved ground stalking the pace, dropped back on the second turn and gave way.

SPA SHACKALACKA had speed off the rail then dueled inside a rival, angled in and took a short lead on the turn, came off the inside into the stretch, inched away under urging and held gamely. KIDMON stalked outside then alongside a rival on the turn, came three deep into the stretch and finished willingly to just miss. VINTAGE HOLLYWOOD between horses stalking the pace, continued three deep between foes on the turn and into the stretch and edged a rival for the show. CAYATE saved ground stalking the pace throughout and was edged for third. BEAR CHUM (AUS) broke a bit slowly, chased off the rail then inside on the turn and into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. SCHULACE bobbled at the start, saved ground stalking the pace, went between foes on the turn and into the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. DUKE OF FALLBROOK chased outside then three deep on the backstretch and four wide on the turn and into the stretch and weakened. FROM THE DISTANCE had speed off the rail then dueled outside the winner, was fanned out a bit into the stretch and also weakened.

STUBBINS saved ground stalking the pace, bid along the rail in close quarters under urging past midstretch and got up nearing the wire. MY MANDATE had good early speed a bit off the rail, dueled inside, edged away briefly midway on the hill, fought back leaving the hill, inched away again a bit off the rail in the stretch, fought back outside the winner in deep stretch and was edged late. MOUNTAIN SPIRIT had speed outside then stalked four wide, bid alongside the runner-up leaving the hill, drifted four wide into the stretch and held third. PARSIMONY stalked between horses, came three wide into the stretch and was outfinished. MURALIST a bit slow to begin, settled off the rail, went up four wide then three deep on the hill, drifted out and bumped a rival into the stretch and lacked the needed late kick. KICHIRO had speed between horses then stalked three deep, angled in outside a rival into the stretch and could not offer the necessary late kick. VOLUBILE chased outside a rival then between foes, steadied in tight three deep into the stretch and lacked the needed response. LIGHT OF THE WORLD had speed between horses then stalked between foes, re-bid between rivals leaving the hill then stalked again nearing the stretch and weakened. HACKBERRY chased inside, cut the corner into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. MUTINEER chased a bit off the rail then between horses, steadied onto the dirt crossing and also lacked the needed late kick. SECRET COURIER stalked outside then four wide on the hill, was bumped five wide into the stretch and weakened. SENSUOUS chased between horses then dropped back a bit off the rail, swung five wide into the stretch and did not rally. Rail on hill at zero.

SPOKANE EAGLE had speed outside then stalked off the rail or alongside a rival, bid three deep on the turn, took the lead into the stretch, kicked clear under left handed urging then drifted in from the whip in deep stretch and was under a hold late. COIL ME HOME stalked outside a rival on the backstretch and turn, came three deep into the stretch and gained the place. GOREN sent inside then drifted off the rail, dueled outside a rival then between foes on the turn and into the stretch, remained between horses in midstretch and just held third. BEST TWO MINUTES steadied between foes early, pulled his way along off the rail on the backstretch, angled in on the turn, came out off heels in midstretch and was edged for the show. COOL BOBBY went up inside to duel for the lead, took the advantage into the turn, fought back along the rail on the turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. ZATTER stumbled badly at the start to drop back, chased off the rail, came four wide into the stretch and lacked a rally.

NEXT SHARES a step slow into stride, settled inside then between foes leaving the backstretch, came out on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and rallied under urging to get up three wide in the final stride. CLEOPATRA'S STRIKE stalked outside a rival then a bit off the rail, bid outside the pacesetter in the stretch to gain the lead, inched away briefly and held on gamely but was edged on the line. LIAM THE CHARMER came off the rail leaving the first turn, stalked three deep then outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and rallied willingly between foes late. CHICAGO STYLE saved ground chasing the pace, swung out leaving the second turn and three deep into the stretch and finished well. PLATINUM WARRIOR (IRE) saved ground stalking the pace, bid along the rail in the stretch and was outfinished. FLAMBOYANT (FR) chased inside then a bit off the rail on the backstretch and second turn, came out in the stretch and also was outfinished. ARMS RUNNER tugged his way to the lead and angled in, set the pace inside, fought back a bit off the rail in the stretch then between foes in deep stretch and was outkicked. OSCAR DOMINGUEZ (IRE) a bit slow to begin, settled outside a rival then three deep leaving the backstretch and four wide into the stretch and could not quite summon the needed late kick. BIG BEND stalked outside a rival, dropped back between foes on the second turn and weakened.

POPULAR KID stalked four wide then off the rail leaving the second turn, came four wide into the stretch, bid three deep under left handed urging to gain the advantage in deep stretch and inched away. KYLEMORE sped to the early lead, angled in and set the pace inside, came off the rail under urging into the stretch as the rider lost the whip, fought back off the inside in the drive and held second. THE BIG TRAIN stalked outside a rival then off the rail, bid between foes three deep into the stretch, took a short lead between foes in midstretch, fought back and was edged for the place. SHOW ME DA LUTE four wide on the first turn, stalked three deep then outside a rival into and on the second turn and into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. MONGOLIAN GROOM saved ground stalking the pace, cut the corner into the stretch and could not offer the needed late kick. LORD GUINNESS chased inside, came out a bit in midstretch and could not summon the necessary response. EXTRORDINARY JERRY chased between horses then a bit off the rail into and on the second turn, came three deep into the stretch and lacked a rally. JAMMINWITHBRANDON steadied between horses into the first turn, chased outside a rival, came three deep into the stretch and weakened. LIBERTY PARK settled off the rail then outside a rival, came out leaving the second turn and four wide into the stretch and lacked a further response.

GUNMETAL GRAY unhurried and angled in early, settled inside, came out on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and rallied under left handed urging to be along in time. SUENO came off the rail into the first turn, stalked three deep, came out into the stretch, bid between foes in deep stretch, drifted in some while putting a head in front late but could not hold off the winner. MUCH BETTER angled in and stalked outside a rival then a bit off the rail, bid outside the pacesetter to take the lead on the second turn, inched away leaving that turn, kicked clear, drifted inward in the stretch, fought back while drifting out a bit in deep stretch and held third. GRAY MAGICIAN saved ground stalking the pace, split rivals into the stretch, drifted in late and was outfinished. EASY SHOT chased between horses then a bit off the rail, went outside a rival into the stretch, moved up just off the inside then steadied off heels in deep stretch and was outfinished. COLISEUM broke out and a bit slowly, pulled his way along to chase three wide, came four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. SAVAGERY sped to the early lead, angled in and set the pace inside, fought back on the second turn, dropped back into the stretch and weakened.

DERBY FACTOR angled in and settled a bit off the rail, went around a rival into the stretch, came out in the drive and rallied under urging to get up three deep late. BITTER RING HOME dueled between horses then inside on the second turn and into the stretch, fought back to the lead along the rail a sixteenth out but could not quite hold off the winner. GETALOADOFTHIS had speed four wide then dueled three deep, battled outside the runner-up on the second turn and into the stretch, gained the advantage in midstretch, was between foes in deep stretch and held third. WHEN JESUS WALKED chased off the rail then outside a rival, continued off the inside on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and bested the others. STARSHIP CHEWY dropped back along the inside and saved ground of the pace, came out some in the stretch and improved position. VIOLENT AFFAIR had speed five wide on the first turn, chased outside or off the rail, came three deep into the stretch and weakened. BLESS HIS HEART had good early speed and dueled inside, dropped back on the second turn and had little left for the stretch. SERGIO chased just off the rail, came out on the second turn and three wide into the stretch and gave way. DUDE'S DUDE three deep between horses early, chased a bit off the rail then inside on the second turn and also gave way in the drive.