Horse racing newsletter: Santa Anita Derby day

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we get ready for the biggest day of major Kentucky Derby preps.

This is the best day of the year on the road to the Kentucky Derby. Three 100-point qualifiers, the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby and the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. The Wood has sort of faded as being a great stepping stone to the Kentucky Derby, but the Santa Anita Derby remains the king, having sent 19 on to victory at Churchill Downs.

I did a longer preview for web focusing in Dream Shake, the second favorite. To read it, just click here. In the meantime, let’s do a lightning round through the field.

Post 1. Roman Centurian, trainer Simon Callaghan, jockey Juan Hernandez. Scratched. (Note: This post will remain open, so horses will start from gate equal to their number.)

2. Dream Shake, Peter Eurton, Flavien Prat, 7-2: Getting some wise-guy attention, second last out in San Felipe, won his debut by 4 ¾ lengths.

3. Rock Your World, John Sadler, Umberto Rispoli, 4-1: Undefeated in two starts, both on the turf. Won the Pasadena Stakes.

4. Parnelli, John Shirreffs, Edwin Maldonado, 20-1: Six starts with one win. Third in the Sham and fifth in the Robert Lewis.

5. Back Rong Luck, John Sadler, Tyler Baze, 20-1: Won last two races after moving to Sadler barn. First race and first stakes at Santa Anita.

6. Ottothelegend, Steve Asmussen, Mario Gutierrez, 12-1. A fourth and a first in two maiden specials at Fair Grounds and Oaklawn.

7. Medina Spirit, Bob Baffert, John Velazquez, 5-2. Ran second to Life Is Good in the Sham and San Felipe. Won the Robert Lewis in between those races.

8. Law Professor, Michael McCarthy, Kent Desormeaux, 10-1. An eighth and a win in two maiden specials.

9. The Great One, Doug O’Neill, Abel Cedillo, 8-1. Has won once in six starts, was fifth last out in the San Felipe.

10. Defunded, Bob Baffert, Mike Smith, 8-1. A third and a win in two maiden specials.

Post is around 4:15 p.m.

Want to catch up on some of the aforementioned races. Here you go.

Sham Stakes. Just click here.

Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Just click here.

San Felipe Stakes. Just click here.

Santa Anita review

In the only non-claiming race on Friday’s card, Crystal Ball ran a perfect race in second under Prat until the top of the stretch and then motored home to win a one-mile allowance/optional claimer for fillies and mares. There were only five horses in the race.

Crystal Ball paid $4.20, $2.60 and $2.10. Pharoah’s Heart was second, followed by Miss Fia, Last First Kiss and This Tea.

“Coming off a layoff, she’d been training well, but there’s nothing like a race,” winning trainer Baffert told Mike Willman of Santa Anita. “Now, she’s ready to get back to some stakes competition, so this will set her up nice. …There’s nothing like bringing them back off a long layoff. Those fillies, they made her run hard, that was a tough race.”

Santa Anita preview

There are 12 races starting at noon and ending some 6 ½ hours later. Long day, but some quality racing. Half of the races are on the turf (the odd-numbered ones) and half are stakes races, four of them graded. We talked about the big one up top, so let’s get to the rest.

Grade 3 $100,000 Providencia Stakes: This is a race for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Going Global, at 6-5, is the favorite for trainer Phil D’Amato and jockey Prat. After four races in Ireland, she started the 3-year-old campaign for D’Amato and has won both races, the Grade 3 Sweet Life and the China Doll last out. Closing Remarks is the 3-1 second choice for Carla Gaines and Rispoli. This Cal-bred was second in the China Doll and the race before won the Cal Cup Oaks. In her only graded stakes, she finished 10th in the Jimmy Durante at Del Mar. Post is near 2:14 p.m.

Grade 2 $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks: Is this 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies a big deal? Let’s look at the last six winners, in reverse order: Swiss Skydiver, Bellafina, Midnight Bisou, Paradise Woods, Songbird, Stellar Wind. OK, case made. This year it has only five starters. The 8-5 favorite is Moraz for Michael McCarthy and Rispoli. She was second to Beautiful Gift last out in the Santa Ysabel and third in the Las Virgenes the race before. The 9-5 second choice is Beautiful Gift for Baffert and Velazquez. She has raced three times, winning her last two. Post is about 2:48 p.m.

Grade 2 $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes: This is a race for fillies and mares going a mile on the turf. Charmaine’s Mia, at 8-5, is the morning-line favorite for D’Amato and Prat. She has won both her races—a Grade 2 and 3—since moving from the Michael McDonald barn. She has won six-of-27 lifetime. Raymundos Secret is the second choice at 4-1 for D’Amato and Velazquez. She has won two of the last three including the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar. She has won four-of-12 lifetime. Post is around 4:46 p.m.

$150,000 Evening Jewel Stakes: It’s the first of two stakes restricted to Cal-breds, this one for 3-year-old fillies going 6 ½ furlongs. Becca Taylor is the 5-2 favorite for Steve Miyadi and Prat. She is undefeated in three starts, none at the stakes level. Pray For My Owner is the second choice for Mark Glatt and Tyler Baze. She was third in her first race and won her second, both maiden specials. Post is scheduled for 5:17 p.m.

$150,000 Echo Eddie Stakes: This one is just like the Evening Jewel, except it’s for colts and geldings. The Chosen Vron is the 8-5 favorite for Eric Kruljac and Mike Smith. He’s coming off a third in the San Vicente after finishing third in his first race. There are two horses at 5-1, Letsgetlucky (Brian Koriner, Rispoli) and None Above The Law (Peter Miller, Prat). Letsgetlucky won his only start and None Above The Law has won two of seven and is coming off a win in a starter optional claimer. Post is around 6:19 p.m.

Here are the field sizes, in order: 8, 7, 7, 7, 7, 5, 8, 10, 8, 9, 12, 11.

Ciaran Thornton’s SA pick of the day

SECOND RACE: No. 3 King Abner (6-1)

King Abner gets Jessica Pyfer and her seven-pound weight break Saturday for stepfather D’Amato. This tandem is three of seven at the meet and five of seven in the money for a big return on investment. First start in three months and there are a series of sharp works. 6-1 is great value for this race.

Friday’s result: Kitten’s Car sat at the back of the pack and into the turn, was boxed in, then finally late moved four wide to run fourth. On the gallop out, this horse flew, so watch out next race.

Ciaran Thornton is the handicapper for Californiapick4.com, which offers daily full card picks, longshots of the day, best bets of the day.

Golden Gate preview

Matt Dinerman is back for another week of Golden Gate Fields racing. The genial race caller is the host for our weekly previews and other musings. So, take it away, Matt.

“First things first, we saw turf racing back in play at Golden Gate on Thursday afternoon and it will continue for the rest of the year.

“Gold Rush Weekend, the biggest event every year, features eight stakes over two weekend days. The event, on April 24-25, is likely to include many Southern California contenders. With the event three weeks away, we’ll see a handful of races this weekend for locals prepping for the stakes.

“Saturday’s eighth, an allowance on turf written as a prep for the Golden Poppy Stakes, features the return of Grade 1 winner Keeper Ofthe Stars. The Jonathan Wong trainee won the Gamely at Santa Anita last May and has not run since a pair of off-the-board finishes last summer. Before the Gamely, Keeper Ofthe Stars won the Grade 3 Autumn Miss in 2019 and the Grade 2 Buena Vista in February of last year. Other major players entered include multiple GGF stakes winner Sloane Garden and stakes-placed Southern California shipper Heathers Grey.

“The ninth is a second-level allowance that draws class and consistency. Last year’s Snow Chief Stakes winner Indian Peak returns to the Bay Area after a stint in Southern California and gets back to a Tapeta surface he seems to enjoy. Stakes winner American Farmer has run two better-than looked races against tough company at this condition and also merits respect. Cono (the half sibling to 2021 ‘Derby trail horse Rombauer) ships back up to Northern California for trainer Michael McCarthy after an undesirable trip at this condition last time. Sacred Rider is a well-bred, stakes-placed horse who ran a bang-up race when defeating allowance opponents last month and takes the next logical step up the class ladder. A horse who runs well in this race may show up in the $250,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on grass on April 24.

“Sunday’s third race, a one-mile turf route, could be a prep for either the California-bred Silky Sullivan Stakes (on April 25) or the California Derby (April 24.) Tacoflavoredkisses makes his first start off the claim by trainer Andy Mathis. Ashley’s Valentine is a half sibling to several turf routers, including multiple Grade 2 winner Ashleyluvssugar, and tries two-turns and grass for the first time after a maiden special weight win sprinting. Governor’s Party ran third in the El Camino Real Derby and Southern California shippers Sensemaker and Coastal Kid round out the quintet.

“The seventh race is a mile on turf for the 3-year-old fillies. It’s a possible prep for the $75,000 California Oaks (April 24) or the $75,000 Campanile Stakes (April 25) for California-breds. Freedom Fighter ships north for trainer Simon Callaghan and will get bet. Queen Molotov and Liam’s Secret were impressive maiden winners sprinting and have been well regarded and get the distance. The same can be said for Austrian Navy, who ran decent against allowance sprinters last time and also goes two turns for the first time. Southern California shipper Risen Lady (Michael McCarthy) and European-bred Party Spirit (Manny Badilla) complete the list of main contenders.”

Big races preview

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

11:21 Aqueduct (4): Grade 3 $200,000 Bay Shore Stakes, 3-year-olds, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Drain THe Clock (1-2)

12:25 Aqueduct (6): Grade 1 $300,000 Carter Handicap, 4 and up, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Mischevious Alex (6-5)

12:51 Keeneland (6): Grade 2 $200,000 Appalachian Stakes, fillies 3-years-olds, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Spanish Loveaffair (2-1)

1:09 Oaklawn (6): $200,000 Purple Martin Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Windmill (9-5)

1:24 Keeneland (7): Grade 3 $200,000 Commonwealth Stakes, 4 and up, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Flagstaff (8-5)

1:31 Aqueduct (8): Grade 3 $150,000 Excelsior Stakes, 4 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Mr. Buff (4-5)

1:57 Keeneland (8): Grade 2 $200,000 Shakertown Stakes, 3 and up, 5 ½ furlongs on turf. Favorite: Bound For Nowhere (3-1)

2:09 Aqueduct (9): Grade 3 $250,000 Gazelle Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Search Results (1-1)

2:14 Santa Anita (5): Grade 3 $100,000 Providencia Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Favorite: Going Global (6-5)

2:30 Keeneland (9): Grade 1 $400,000 Ashland Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Malathaat (9-5)

2:48 Santa Anita (6): Grade 3 $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks, fillies 3-years-old, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Moraz (8-5)

2:58 Aqueduct (10): Grade 2 $750,000 Wood Memorial, 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Risk Taking (5-2)

3:02 Keeneland (10): Grade 1 $300,000 Madison Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Bell’s the One (2-1)

3:35 Keeneland (11): Grade 2 $800,000 Blue Grass Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Essential Quality (3-5)

3:54 Oaklawn (11): Grade 3 $600,000 Fantasy Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Pauline’s Pearl (9-5)

4:15 Santa Anita (8): Grade 1 $750,000 Santa Anita Derby, 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Medina Spirit (5-2)

4:46 Santa Anita (9): Grade 2 $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Charmaine’s Mia (8-5)

5:17 Santa Anita (10): $150,000 Evening Jewel Stakes, Cal-bred fillies 3-years-old, 6 ½ furlongs. Favorite: Becca Taylor (5-2)

6:19 Santa Anita (12): $150,000 Echo Eddie Stakes, Cal-breds 3-years-old, 6 ½ furlongs. Favorite: The Chosen Vron (8-5)

Chris Wade’s LA pick of the day

EIGHTH RACE: No. 5 Propellar (5-1)

He finished third over this surface after a 168-night layoff. Propellar leaned back at the start to lose almost two lengths of ground and his early racing momentum to a perfect tripped Catalina Rocket. After the tough getaway, this entrant showed a quick turn of foot to reach a semblance of contention past the gap followed by a solid finish under a hold to garner the trifecta placing. The figure earned this improving runner a competitive figure against this mix of runners. He figures to be a nice price.

And now the star of the show, Friday’s results and Saturday’s entries.