Racing! Victor Espinoza returns on Monday

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we congratulate Marley’s Freedom on a big effort in the Santa Monica Stakes.

It’s great to report that Victor Espinoza will return to riding on Monday. He’ll be in the first race at Santa Anita aboard Gallantlystreaming for trainer John Sadler aboard a horse owned by Kosta and Pete Hronis.

He’s in the first race, a 6 ½ furlong race down the hill for 3-year-old maiden claimer fillies. It’s his only mount on Monday. The filly is the 5-2 favorite on the morning line.

“I don’t really know anything about this filly I’m riding,” Espinoza told Mike Willman of Santa Anita. “But, she’s dropping in class and hopefully we can win. I’m excited to get back to my routine and to feel like I have a real job again.”

Espinoza has been out for almost seven-months after his mount, Bobby Abu Dhabi, broke down during a workout and the jockey was thrown to the ground and initially had some paralysis.

Eric (Manny) Sondheimer will be at Santa Anita on Monday to bring you all the news of Victor’s return for our website, print edition and newsletter.

Even though Victor is a Hall of Famer and the jockey of American Pharoah and California Chrome and other great horses, he’ll have to prove he’s his old self before he gets the number of mounts he would have had before the accident.

“We want to work as many horses as we can and build our business up,” Espinoza said. “It’s always tough here and you have to work hard and show people you are 100% to get their confidence. I feel good and it’s great to be back.”

Handicapping lesson success

Rob Henie’s weekly handicapping lesson is supposed to be instructional and not viewed as a pick. It’s why we don’t list how the pick in the race did. It’s the thinking and theories behind the pick that is more important than the outcome of a single race. Well, we’re going to break that rule and mention that if you played his two horses from Saturday in the exacta it was worth $73.20 with his second horse winning. Maxim Rate paid $59.40 to win. Way to go, Rob.

Santa Anita review

The big race was the Grade 2 $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes for older fillies and mares going seven furlongs. Selcourt went to the lead and looked strong until early in the stretch when Marley’s Freedom started gathering up ground. Marley’s Freedom won by 1 ¼ lengths.

“[Trainer] Bob [Baffert] told me to be sure to warm her up real good and to get her running away from there,” said jockey Drayden Van Dyke. “She did and we had a good tactical spot. I was just sitting on her, but I had to get after Selcourt a little early because it looked like she was running pretty easy on the lead.”

Marley’s Freedom paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.10. Selcourt was second and Mopotism was third in the five-horse race. Dream Tree and Amuse scratched.

It was a good effort for Selcourt but she was no match for Marley’s Freedom, an Eclipse Award finalist.

“[Secourt] flew out of there, she broke like a shot [Saturday] and we got to set our own fractions,” said Joe Talamo, who was aboard Selcourt. “She was very relaxed and hat’s off to the winner. Man, Marley’s Freedom has been able to string some really nice races together. I was really proud of my mare though. Even when Marley’s Freedom came to her, she was fighting. I thought we were going to steal it there for a second at the top of the lane.”

There was also a minor stakes on the card, the $70,000 Wishing Well Stakes, which was taken off the 6 ½-furlong hillside course and made a five-furlong turf race on the main course. The thinking was the hillside course was not ready for safe racing and rather than move the race to the dirt, it was shortened up and run on a flat course. This contingency is spelled out in the conditions. It caused only two scratches as nine horses went to post.

Belvoir Bay completely dominated the field winning by 4 ¾ lengths for Peter Miller and Joel Rosario. Belvoir Bay paid $3.40, $2.60 and $2.40. Lady Suebee was second and A Little Bit me was third.

Right out of the gate, Poster Girl unseated Mike Smith. The horse continued to run the race but did not significantly interfere with the field and never got close to the winner. Both horse and jockey were OK after the incident.

In the third race, the favorite, Palladium was pulled up on the backstretch by Rosario. The colt was never engaged in the race and just kept losing ground. However, and we hope this is good news, the horse walked back to the barns under his own power.

Santa Anita preview

If you like turf racing, you’ll love Sunday’s card at Santa Anita with five of the nine races on the grass. If you like high quality racing, ah, you’re not going to be crazy about Santa Anita’s card. It’s the rare weekend day when there isn’t even a low level stakes on the card. Now, this is a five-day racing week with a couple of big Cal-bred races on Monday. The turf races are the odd numbered ones with a 12:30 p.m. first post. The average field size is 7.9.

The feature is the seventh race, a one-mile allowance/optional claimer on the turf for older horses with a $59,000 purse. There are 11 starters with three on the also eligible list, so it should be a very full field.

Maestro Dearte, at 7-2, is the favorite for trainer Peter Eurton and Van Dyke. He is two-for-seven lifetime and has been running nothing but AOCs since breaking his maiden in his second start. He was second last out on Dec. 28. The second favorite is Keep Quiet at 9-2. This will be his second West Coast start after racing back east for his first 12 races. He is three-of-13 lifetime. He won last out on Jan. 20 for Miller and Flavien Prat.

Here are the field sizes, in order: 9, 5, 6, 6, 9 (2 also eligible), 7, 11 (3 ae), 10 (1 ae), 8.

Big Races review

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

Laurel (5): $100,000 Miracle Wood Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 mile. Winner: Alwaysmining ($3.40)

Laurel (6): $100,000 Wide Country Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 7 furlongs. Winner: Las Setas ($20.60)

Laurel (7): $100,000 John B. Campbell Stakes, 4 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Winner: Bonus Points ($25.40)

Tampa Bay (7): $100,000 Pelican Stakes, 4 and up, 6 furlongs. Winner: Killybegs Captain ($21.60)

Laurel (8): Grade 3 $250,000 General George Stakes, 4 and up, 7 furlongs. Winner: Uncontested ($8.00)

Laurel (9): Grade 3 $250,000 Barbara Fritchie Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 7 furlongs. Winner: Late Night Pow Wow ($6.00)

Aqueduct (8): $100,000 Broadway Stakes, NY-bred fillies and mares 4 and up, 6 furlongs. Winner: Holiday Disguise ($11.40)

Gulfstream (11): Grade 3 $150,000 Royal Delta Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 1 mile. Winner: Blamed ($3.80)

Fair Grounds (8): Grade 3 $150,000 Mineshaft , 4 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Silver Dust ($13.40)

Oaklawn (8): $100,000 Dixie Belle Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 6 furlongs. Winner: Raintree Starlet ($13.40)

Fair Grounds (10) Grade 3 $150,000 Fair Grounds Handicap, 4 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Winner: Synchrony ($4.20)

Fair Grounds (11): Grade 2 $200,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Serengeti Empress ($5.80)

Golden Gate (7): $100,000 El Camino Real Derby, 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles. Winner: Anothertwistafate ($4.40)

Fair Grounds (12): Grade 2 $400,000 Risen Star Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: War of Will ($4.00)

Santa Anita (9): Grade 2 $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 7 furlongs. Winner: Marley’s Freedom ($3.40

Big races preview

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

1:08 Aqueduct (7): $100,000 Haynesfield Stakes, NY-breds 4 and up, 1 mile. Favorite: Honor Up (8-5)

Bob Ike’s SA pick of the day

SEVENTH RACE: No. 1 Risky Proposition (8-1)

Four-year-old gelding from the Bill Spawr barn has been away since Dec. 1 and is facing older for the first time but could be live at a solid price. He moved up in class after being tagged for $50,000 in July and finished mid-pack in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby in his last start. The works look solid, he's drawn well inside and should get a legitimate pace to run at. Main worries are favorites Keep Quiet and Maestro Dearte.

Saturday’s result: Off-the-turf and off the board for Kinchiro, who was bet down and sat third early but packed it in on the turn. Likely wants turf to show his best.

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).

Chris Wade’s LA pick of the day

RACE SEVEN: No. 2 JESS BEIN ME (3-1)

He went well when crossing the wire third – although moved up to second after the disqualification of the first-place finisher – when facing a productive cast of rivals in a trial to the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby on Jan. 19. In that effort, Jess Bein Me broke a step slow and was brushed by a veering rival to lose a length of ground to the leaders. He was then heavily crowded by his rivals in the final half of this 400 yards, yet never backed down and showed a lot of fight to the finish line. He’ll be tough to deny in this race with a typical performance for the high powered jockey/trainer combo of Eduardo Nicasio and Chris O’Dell.

(No worries, Ed Burgart hasn’t gone away, he’s just on vacation. Chris Wade has been the racing analyst and host of the Los Alamitos night simulcast broadcast for nearly two decades. While Ed is on vacation, Chris also fills in as the nighttime morning-line maker.)

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.

HARD NOT TO LOVE a step slow to begin, went up between horses to the early lead, angled in and set the pace inside, responded when the runner-up loomed leaving the turn, inched away again and won clear under left handed urging. FLAT OUT JOY stalked outside a rival then off the rail leaving the turn, came a bit wide into the stretch and was clearly second best. OVER EMPHASIZE close up stalking the winner inside then a bit off the rail to the stretch and held third. MORNING CYNN broke a bit slowly, settled outside a rival then off the rail, came around a rival into the stretch, drifted in late and did not rally. THOUGHT I'DMISSYOU broke inward and slowly, saved ground chasing the pace throughout and weakened in the drive. FLAT OUT JOY wore calks.

WAR MOCCASIN chased inside then a bit off the rail leaving the backstretch and on the second turn, came three deep into the stretch, angled out in upper stretch, drifted in some in midstretch then rallied under left handed urging to edge the runner-up late. HALO DARLIN pulled some while outside a rival early then angled in and set the pace inside, responded when challenged into and on the second turn, shook clear again in the stretch and held on well but was nailed late. BELIEVE INDEED angled in and saved ground off the pace, cut the corner into the stretch and finished willingly along the rail for the show. INDYPENDENT DEPUTY stalked the pace outside a rival, came out into the stretch, was in a bit tight four wide between foes in midstretch and lacked a rally. MISS BOOM BOOM saved ground stalking the pace, came out some into the stretch, angled back to the inside in midstretch, was between foes in deep stretch and lacked a further response. SPEAKERS stalked just off the rail, bid three deep into and on the second turn, came three wide into the stretch, was in a bit tight between foes in midstretch and weakened. KENNEDIE SKY close up stalking the pace a bit off the rail, bid between horse into and on the second turn and into the stretch, continued between rivals in midstretch and also weakened.

SWAMP SOUFFLE had speed between horses early, stalked just off the rail on the first turn then bid outside the pacesetter on the backstretch and second turn, took a short lead leaving that turn, inched away into the stretch and drew off under some urging and steady handling. VANGILDER pulled along the inside and steadied midway on the first turn, tugged his way into a tight spot off heels leaving that turn, saved ground then came a bit off the rail leaving the backstretch and on the second turn and into the stretch and outfinished a rival for the place. ACK sped to the early lead, set the pace inside then dueled along the rail, fought back on the second turn, was not a match for the winner in the stretch and was outfinished for second. POPPY'S C NOTE had speed three deep then stalked outside a rival, came out into the stretch and weakened. PALLADIUM angled in and dropped back a bit off the rail, fell well behind on the backstretch and was pulled up approaching the second turn and walked off.

STORMS RIVER broke a bit slowly, angled in and chased outside a rival, moved up three deep on the second turn and into the stretch, bid outside the runner-up to gain a slim lead, battled outside that one in the final furlong and inched away late under urging. PARSIMONY had speed outside foes then angled in and dueled inside, regained the advantage on the second turn, fought back along the rail in the stretch, could not quite match the winner late but continued willingly to best the others. SPEAKEROFTHEHOUSE between foes early, angled in and chased inside, came out into the stretch and gained the show. AMERICAN CAMP pulled between foes and steadied early, angled in and stalked inside, continued along the rail in the stretch and lacked the necessary response. HARMON angled in and settled outside a rival, came out on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and improved position. MUTINEER pulled between horses early, chased just off the rail or outside a rival, continued between foes into and on the second turn, came out into the stretch and weakened. UNION STATION saved ground off the pace, came out leaving the second turn and three wide into the stretch and lacked a rally. THIEF OF JOY (IRE) stalked the pace inside, came out into the stretch, angled back inward in midstretch and weakened. MONTANA MOON pulled while wide in the stretch the first time, stalked outside then tugged his way up three deep with a bid on the backstretch, dueled outside the runner-up on the backstretch and second turn, was between foes into the stretch, lugged in some in midstretch and also weakened. MO MISSISSIPPI pulled a bit wide early then angled in and dueled outside a rival, stalked alongside a foe on the backstretch and into the second turn, came out four wide into the stretch and also weakened. POTANTICO angled in and settled outside a rival chasing the pace, dropped back into and on the second turn, came out into the stretch, gave way and was eased through the lane.

PRODIGAL SON sped to the early lead then angled in and dueled inside, inched away just off the rail in the stretch and proved best under urging. GOLDEN BIRTHDAY a bit slow to begin, saved ground chasing the pace throughout and gained the place. STARRING JOHN WAIN settled off the rail, angled to the inside on the turn, came out around a rival into the stretch and picked up the show. PLAY MONEY broke slowly, went up outside the winner to duel for the lead, fought back on the turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. DON'TTEASETHETIGER was in a good position stalking the pace outside the runner-up on the backstretch and turn and weakened in the drive. DERBY STAR chased off the rail, angled in some on the turn and again into the stretch and had little left for the drive.

MAXIM RATE stalked between horses, came out three wide into the stretch and rallied under urging to get up nearing the wire. UNICORN angled in and dueled outside a rival, took a short lead into the stretch, inched away in deep stretch and was caught late. MERCY MERCY saved ground chasing the pace, was in a bit tight into the second turn, came out into the stretch and split rivals late for the show. HOLLY HUNDY had speed between horses then angled in and dueled inside, fought back on the second turn and until past midstretch and weakened late. POSIT stalked the pace outside a rival, came three deep into the stretch and lacked the needed response. KITTYHAWK LASS allowed to settle and angled to the inside into the first turn, saved ground, came out around a rival into the stretch and improved position. SUPREMA stalked three deep, drifted four wide into the stretch and weakened. HAPPY TUNE pulled between horses and steadied off heels into the first turn, chased between foes or a bit off the rail, angled in entering the stretch and also weakened. EMRATA saved ground stalking the pace to the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. MEANASASNAKE angled in early, was in tight early on the first turn, saved ground chasing the pace and lacked a response in the stretch. LIVE THE MOMENT broke a bit slowly, drifted out into the first turn, chased three deep then outside a rival on the second turn, angled to the inside entering the stretch and had little left for the drive.

WHIRLING stalked four wide then five wide into the turn, bid four wide into the stretch, battled outside rivals through the final furlong and gamely prevailed under urging. LUCKY VAL had speed between horses and drifted out a bit early, dueled outside a rival then three deep between foes into the stretch, battled between rivals through the final furlong and continued gamely to the end. HELOISE stalked inside, bid along the fence leaving the turn to gain a short lead, came off the inside in the stretch and fought back off the rail to the wire. COPPER COWGIRL had good early speed and dueled a bit off the rail then between foes leaving the turn and into the stretch and weakened. GIA LULA steadied in tight early, stalked between horses to the stretch and also weakened. MOUSEY MOUSEY stalked inside then between foes into the turn, fell back some, angled to the inside into the stretch and also weakened. WARM IT UP chased three deep between rivals then off the rail on the turn, swung five wide into the stretch and lacked a further response. ANNITASHEAVEN angled in early, stalked four wide then three deep between horses on the turn, drifted four wide into the stretch, drifted inward in the drive and gave way. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the early running but made no change when they ruled to trouble to GIA LULA was mostly caused by ANNITASHEAVEN. COPPER COWGIRL wore calks.

BELVOIR BAY (GB) had speed between horses to duel for the lead, continued inside leaving the backstretch, inched clear on the turn, opened up under a mild hand ride in the stretch and drew off without further encouragement. LADY SUEBEE pressed then stalked the pace inside, continued along the rail in the stretch to be second best. A LITTLE BIT ME angled in and saved ground stalking the pace, came out leaving the turn and three wide into the stretch and got up for the show. PAINTING CORNERS stalked the pace outside a rival then three deep leaving the turn and into the stretch and was edged for third. QUEBEC chased outside a rival, came out leaving the turn and four wide into the stretch and was outfinished for a minor award. LYNNE'S LEGACY settled outside a rival then inside on the turn, continued along the rail in the stretch and lacked the needed rally. MONGOLIAN SHOPPER had speed three deep then dueled outside the winner, stalked between horses leaving the turn and weakened. TESORA chased a bit off the rail then was forced out some by the riderless horse leaving the backstretch, was fanned five wide by that one into the stretch and weakened. POSTER GIRL (GB) leaned in a bit and broke slowly and had the rider get caught up with the assistant starter to lose an iron then lost the rider. The stewards conducted in inquiry into the start before ruling POSTER GIRL was the cause of her own trouble.

MARLEY'S FREEDOM stalked a bit off the rail, bid outside the runner-up under left handed urging in midstretch, gained the advantage past the eighth pole and inched away late then was under a long hold in the final strides. SELCOURT sped to the early lead, drifted out a bit at the gap then angled in and set the pace inside, fought back along the rail in the stretch, could not match the winner in the final sixteenth but held well for the place. MOPOTISM three deep early, stalked between horses then off the rail, continued three wide between foes on the turn and into the stretch and bested the others. ESCAPE CLAUSE stalked four wide then outside into and on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and lacked a rally. PARADISE WOODS tugged her way along to stalk the pace inside, continued along the rail on the turn and into and through the stretch and also weakened. SELCOURT wore calks.

SURPRISE FASHION broke a bit slowly, angled in and settled inside then a bit off the rail, swung three deep into the stretch and rallied under urging to catch the runner-up late. SECRET COURIER drifted out a bit early, stalked off the rail, bid outside the pacesetter on the turn to gain the lead nearing the quarter pole, inched away into the stretch, kicked clear and held on well but was caught nearing the wire. RAILMAN had speed four wide then stalked outside, angled in some leaving the turn, angled in again in the stretch and held third. VIOLENT BEHAVIOR stalked outside a rival then a bit off the rail, came three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. KICHIRO broke a bit slowly, went up inside to stalk the pace, came out into the stretch and weakened. SPECTATOR'S DREAM angled in and settled inside then a bit off the rail on the turn and into the stretch and did not rally. RED VALOR pulled between horses and steadied in tight nearing the five eighths pole, chased outside, came three wide into the stretch and weakened. PALALEO sped to the early lead, set the pace a bit off the rail then inside, dueled on the turn and weakened in the drive. CRAIG'S settled outside, angled in alongside a rival on the turn and lacked a further response. KING LEBRON chased off the rail then between horses, dropped back and angled to the inside on the turn and gave way.