Racing! And your pick for horse of the year is …

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we deal with more breakdowns at Santa Anita.

The votes are in for our Horse of the Year poll and the clear winner is Justify. Thanks to all of you who voted in our first poll. Many more to come but I promise not to inundate you with them. There were 626 votes cast and here’s how it turned out:

Justify 59.6%

Accelerate 35.3%

Monomoy Girl 5.1%

The Eclipse Awards will reveal its choice, or the choice of its voters, on Thursday night in a ceremony that welcomes the return of Jeannine Edwards as host.

It’s been a tough couple years for the Eclipse Awards show. Last year, host Nick Luck thought the show was about him and hijacked the show making it run longer than a Russian novel. The year before, California Chrome owner Perry Martin decided this was the place to debut his stand-up act, leading to one of the more bizarre moments.

Edwards will keep it on track and not make it about herself. There should be lots of Southern California winners, including Justify, Accelerate, Game Winner and Roy H. Unique Bella has good shot, too. In the human categories, we voted for Bob Baffert for trainer and Kosta and Pete Hronis for owners, but you know I always fear the East Coast bias.

One award already announced is the winner of one of the media awards, taken by L.A.-based Jeremy Balan of the BloodHorse. This is Jeremy’s first, so we’re pretty happy for him.

If there were only an Eclipse for best newsletter by a major Southern California news organization, we might make the finals. Maybe even finish second to “not available.” We can dream.

You can watch the Eclipse Awards on TVG.

Sadness at Santa Anita

Santa Anita had another two horses break down during racing on Monday. In the seventh race, Like Really Smart, a 3-year-old gelding, was pulled up by jockey Flavien Prat shortly after leaving the gate after taking a bad step. He was vanned off and there was no immediate word on his prognosis.

In the feature, Last Promise Kept, ridden by Joe Talamo, broke down on the back stretch with a left-hind injury during the one-mile turf race, was vanned off the course, and later euthanized when it was determined that there was no chance of recovery.

On Sunday, Amboseli, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, was pulled up in the Astra Stakes with a life-ending injury. Both fatalities occurred on the turf course.

There is a new track superintendent in Andy LaRocco after Dennis Moore left at the beginning of the year. That’s a tough spot to be after some relatively safe meets. Without question, this is a trend no one wants to see but everyone wants to see end.

More on MTP change

The emails didn’t stop on Santa Anita’s change in policy where when the clock strikes zero minutes to post (MTP), it really means about four minutes to post. The sentiment didn’t change from the readers. But, I did hear from a few executives at other tracks, who shall remain nameless, who expressed chagrin that the two Stronach tracks make it difficult for them to set post times when they employ the “Gulfstream drag” and new “Santa Anita drag.”

No doubt, the industry would greatly benefit with a central agency that policed and set post times. Sure, things can happen but there is just too much stepping on each other to no one’s benefit. And you know, TVG, which is where a lot of people watch horse racing, would love to be able to plan its race schedule.

And thanks to Simon Bray, of TVG, for mentioning the newsletter’s discussion of the issue.

But, as we all know, getting tracks to collectively agree on anything is akin to herding cats.

Santa Anita review

For the second day in a row, the Grade 3 stakes feature has resulted in tragedy (see above). The race was won by one of last year’s feel-good stories in Vasilika, who was claimed for $40,000 by Jerry Hollendorfer and now has won nine-of-11 races. She bided her time, moved on the outside entering the stretch, and won by 1 ½ lengths in the Grade 3 $100,000 Megahertz Stakes for older fillies and mares going a mile on the turf.

Vasilika, as the heavy favorite, paid $3.20, $2.20 and $2.10. Ms Bad Behavior was second and Zaffinah was third.

“You never expect this kind of thing to happen, but occasionally it does,” Hollendorfer said. “I hope she fits our program. We did some extra work on her but you know she’s blossomed into a very nice mare now.”

You think?

Prat was the winning jockey.

Final thought

Looking to jump the circulation of this newsletter. Can’t beat the price. If you like it, tell someone. If you don’t like it, then you’re probably not reading this. Either way, send to a friend and just have them click here and sign up. Remember, it’s free, and all we need is your email, nothing more.

Any thoughts, drop me an email at johnacherwa@gmail.com or feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa

Now, here’s the star of the show, Monday’s results.

BE LIFTED UP chased outside a rival, came out four wide into the stretch and rallied under urging to get up nearing the wire. ANONYMOUSLY sped to the early lead, set the pace a bit off the rail then inside, came out a bit into the stretch, kicked clear, drifted in late and was caught nearing the line. HOT ON THE TRAIL broke a bit slowly and awkwardly, settled off the rail then outside a rival, came out into the stretch and picked up the show. THE PET angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch, split horses in midstretch and lacked the needed rally. TOP HAT TANTRUM settled a bit off the rail then inside, came out in upper stretch and lacked a further response. KATE'S PRINCESS hopped then steadied in a bit of a slow start, chased inside, came out leaving the hill and three deep into the stretch, angled out in upper stretch and lacked a rally. JUST SPLENDID close up stalking the pace between horses then inside leaving the hill, weakened in the drive. HOT ROD GAL had speed off the rail then stalked three deep, continued outside a rival leaving the hill, angled in some entering the stretch and also weakened. Rail on hill at 7 feet.

LADY MAMBA went up inside to the early lead, inched away on the backstretch, set the pace along the rail, edged clear on the turn, responded when challenged in the stretch and inched away again under left handed urging. GOLD ARROW broke slowly, chased off the rail, came out leaving the turn and four wide into the stretch and edged a rival late for the place. SCATTERING MINK a bit slow to begin, saved ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch, bid outside the winner in midstretch then could not match that one late and just lost second. RIA MUNK stalked outside then off the rail, came three deep into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. RANCOR had speed outside the winner then stalked a bit off the rail, fell back into the stretch and weakened. STORMY SUNSET chased off the inside, dropped back and angled in on the turn and gave way.

UNO TROUBLE MAKER had speed off the rail then dueled well outside a rival, angled in on the turn and took the lead, inched away and found the rail leaving the turn and held gamely under left handed urging. COME ON KAT stalked outside a rival hen a bit off the rail on the turn and into the stretch and bested the others. AMERS broke out a bit, saved ground chasing the pace, split rivals on the turn, went outside a foe in upper stretch and picked up the show. EASTER DREAM stalked outside then three deep on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. EMPRESS OF LOV bobbled some at the start, chased outside a foe, came three deep into the stretch and did not rally. NAUGHTY SOPHIE also bobbled at the start, went up inside to duel for the lead, stalked leaving the turn and weakened in the drive. D D'S LUTE saved ground stalking the pace, dropped back on the turn, came out some in the stretch and gave way.

RATHER NOSY stalked between foes then bid between horses into the turn, dueled outside the runner-up, took a short lead into the stretch, battled alongside that one under left handed urging and inched away late. A DIME FOR ME sped to the early lead, angled in and set the pace inside then dueled along the rail into and on the second turn, fought back inside in the stretch and was clearly second best. GOODTINGSCOMINPINK stalked four wide then bid four wide into the turn, fell back and angled in outside a rival, came three deep into the stretch and bested the others. YOUR ROYAL COIL close up stalking the pace between foes, bid between horses three deep into the turn, angled in outside a rival on the turn, found the rail in the stretch and weakened. CURRYFORTHREE BANG stalked outside on the backstretch and four wide on the turn and into the stretch and lacked a rally. SHARP IMAGE chased inside then outside a rival into and on the turn, came out three wide into the stretch and lacked a further response. GLITTER GULCH broke a bit slowly, stalked outside a rival then a bit off the rail, split horses on the turn, angled to the inside and also weakened. LEAD ACTRESS broke slowly, saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch and was not a threat. WARRENSROLLINGDICE between horses early, angled in and stalked inside, dropped back on the turn, gave way and was eased in the stretch.

WILSHIRE DUDE between foes early, prompted the pace three deep, took a short lead leaving the second turn, battled outside the winner under urging in the stretch and inched away late. CANADIAN GAME had good early speed and dueled inside, fought back along the fence in the stretch and could not quite match the winner late. I CAN DO THIS saved ground stalking the pace throughout and edged a rival for the show. TOPGALLANT settled outside then off the rail, came out five wide into the stretch and was edged for third. FRIENDLY STEVE pulled between foes and steadied leaving the first turn, stalked between horses, came out three wide into the stretch and was outfinished for a minor award late. AYACARA (GB) angled in and settled a bit off the rail to the stretch and lacked a rally. ALL I CAN SAY four wide into the first turn, stalked three deep, came four wide into the stretch and weakened. SMOKIN B had speed between horses then dueled between the top pair, dropped back into the stretch and also weakened.

APACHE PRINCESS chased a bit off the rail then inside, came out leaving the hill and three deep into the stretch, gained the lead and kicked clear under urging then was under a hold late. ANGEL ALESSANDRA stalked three deep then outside a rival, came out four wide into the stretch and outfinished foes for the place. VELVET QUEEN saved ground chasing the pace, came out in the stretch and split horses late for the show. DEVILS DANCE had good early speed and dueled between horses, continued a bit off the rail in the final furlong and was edged for third. CREATIVE INSTINCT settled off the rail then chased outside a rival leaving the hill, came out four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. DATA STORM KITTY had speed outside then dueled three deep, was between foes in upper stretch and weakened. COURTEOUS a step slow to begin, went up inside to duel for the lead, fought back leaving the hill and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. Rail on hill at 7 feet.

HANDSOME JOHN bobbled at the start, stalked three deep, came four wide into the stretch, rallied under urging while drifting in and got up in the final stride. BOB'S SNIPER went up inside to duel for the lead, inched away leaving the turn, kicked clear a bit off the rail in the stretch and held on well but was caught on the line. FAIR CHALLENGE stalked a bit off the rail then between horses, came out in the stretch, split rivals in midstretch and edged a foe for third. CRYIN' CHUCK had speed between horses then dueled three deep, stalked leaving the turn, came three wide into the stretch, was between horses in midstretch, drifted in late and was edged for the show. JOHN'S INTUITION between rivals early, pressed then stalked the pace four wide, continued three deep leaving the turn and into the stretch and weakened. NO PARKING HERE had good early speed and dueled between rivals, stalked a bit off the rail nearing and into the stretch, drifted in late and also weakened. LU CAT steadied between horses early, angled in and saved ground stalking the pace, dropped back leaving the turn and into the stretch and gave way. LIKE REALLY SMART broke in and bumped a rival, had speed six wide then took a bad step and was pulled up before midway on the backstretch and vanned off.

VASILIKA chased inside then a bit off the rail, went up three deep on the second turn and into the stretch, rallied under urging to bid outside the runner-up in deep stretch and gained the lead then inched away late. MS BAD BEHAVIOR sped to the early lead, set the pace inside then relinquished command and stalked along the rail on the backstretch, came out and re-bid outside a rival leaving the second turn, regained the advantage into the stretch, inched away a bit off the rail, fought back inside the winner in deep stretch and held second. ZAFFINAH (IRE) stalked inside, went around a rival in midstretch then finished well along the inside to be edged for the place. LA SARDANE (FR) stalked outside a rival then went up three deep to gain the lead on the backstretch, inched away and angled in to set the pace inside, dueled leaving the second turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. AMANDINE (GB) close up stalking the pace outside a rival then between horses on the second turn and into the stretch and also weakened. LAST PROMISE KEPT angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, suffered a catastrophic injury in the left hind on the backstretch and was vanned off.

SHANE ZAIN prompted the pace four wide then three deep on the turn, battled outside a rival on a short lead into the stretch, was between foes in midstretch then fought back under urging off the rail in deep stretch and gamely prevailed. ROYAL TRUMP pressed the stalked the pace inside, came out on the turn and three wide into the stretch, bid three deep then outside the winner in the final sixteenth and continued gamely to the end. CAPTIVATE stalked outside a rival then went up three deep between horses into and on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and picked up the show, then did not return to be unsaddled and was vanned off. CONCUR pressed the pace between foes then dueled between rivals into and on the turn and a bit off the rail into the stretch, fought back past midstretch and weakened late. CHILL stalked outside a rival then four wide into and on the turn and into the stretch and also weakened. FAST COTTON had speed between horses to duel for the lead then a bit off the rail, battled inside on the turn, dropped back into the stretch and also weakened. CRAZY UNCLE RICK stalked between rivals, fell back a bit off the rail on the turn and also weakened.

SPEEDETTE had speed between foes then angled in early on the first turn, set the pace inside, came a bit off the rail into the stretch, drifted back in and held on gamely under urging. OUT OF BALANCE saved ground stalking the pace, got through inside leaving the second turn, came a bit off the rail in the stretch and finished willingly to be second best. TIZ FELICITY angled in and chased a bit off the rail then outside a rival leaving the backstretch, came out on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and edged a rival late for the show. ENLISTING angled in and chased outside a rival then a bit off the rail, continued inside on the backstretch and second turn, came out in upper stretch and was edged for third. LADYMIDTOWN had speed three deep then stalked outside a rival, continued three wide leaving the second turn and into the stretch and weakened. SAPORI GIRL angled in early and saved ground throughout to no avail. PAIGE RUNNER a bit slow to begin, angled in and settled just off the rail then three deep or outside a rival, continued a bit off the fence on the second turn and into the stretch and did not rally. GEMAGINE steadied briefly when forced out a bit into the first turn, chased outside a rival on the backstretch and second turn and lacked a response in the stretch. TO THE MORNING pulled along the inside and steadied off heels then came out early on the first turn, stalked just off the fence then between foes leaving the second turn and weakened in the drive.