Racing! Roger Stein, RIP

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we remember all those Saturday and Sunday mornings listening to the radio.

We all knew it was coming some day, but it still shocks you when it happens. Roger Stein, who was successful as trainer but more remembered as a radio host, died on Friday. He was 65.

He asked to come home from the hospital that at times he had seemed like a permanent resident so that he could spend his last days in an environment he liked so much better. He asked that all the equipment that was keeping him alive be turned off.

We have a pretty comprehensive obituary on him on our website and a version of it in our print editions. Just click here.

Roger made Saturday and Sunday morning interesting because you never knew what he was going to say. You could generally count on Bob Baffert being a guest on Saturday. Baffert, the biggest name in the sport, had so much respect for Roger that he was almost always available.

Stein would joke about his use of medical marijuana to ease the pain that, at times, consumed him for more than a decade. Despite all the duress, Stein usually made it to the starting gate with each show until he hung it up last June.

He was known for his tough questioning of guests on his show, but also had his favorites.

“Roger could be nasty, very nasty, but he could also be incredibly charming,” said Mike Willman, director of publicity at Santa Anita, and the host of the Sunday radio show that followed Roger’s.

“He probably had an IQ of a buck 80, and all of that, along with the fact he knew the business inside and out, are what made him a tremendous interviewer. And, all of that served him well in being an effective horse trainer as well. He knew what motivated people, racing secretaries in particular, and he established relationships that helped him place his horses in races where they’d be competitive.”

Baffert recalled, and was happy, he was usually held in Roger’s favor.

“I was one of the fortunate ones that stayed on his good side,” Baffert said. “He had that radio show [and the power that went with it.] He was always nice to me and also was helpful to me.

“I’ll never forget after American Pharoah won the Triple Crown, he said, ‘That’s not your best horse, you’ll have a better one.’”

His son, Sam Stein, would often be by his side during his radio show.

“He loved the radio show,” Sam said. “Sitting next to him I had a front row seat growing up and he loved it. The main thing was the pride he took in the show, there were others who would sugarcoat things. He gave it to you straight.”

Good friend Barry Shapiro described him this way.

“He was probably the funniest and smartest guy I ever met,” Shapiro said.

And speaking of funny, here’s what former Times turf writer Bill Christine had to say:

“Roger was a man of a million quips, but I thought this was his best.

“A big man, he went on a diet, and when asked how many pounds he had shed, he said: ‘I've lost a jockey.’”

Seems to capture Roger Stein.

RIP.

Santa Anita review

It wasn’t a great feature on Friday, unless you won it. Zusha won the one-mile allowance for fillies and mares 3 and up. Zucha pushed the pace just enough catch Kaydetre and win the $67,000 race by 1 ¼ lengths for trainer Gary Mandella and jockey Drayden van Dyke.

Zusha paid $6.40, $3.00 and $2.20. Kaydetre was second and Donut Girl was third.

“[Owner Rafael] Steinbruch would like to keep her beyond her racing career, so I think we might try a graded stakes next time,” Mandella told Mike Willman of Santa Anita. “Sometimes it takes these fillies a while to come into their own and who knows? If she can get stakes-placed black type, that really helps her as a broodmare.”

Santa Anita preview

Saturday at Santa Anita there is a nine-race card starting at 1 p.m. There are two stakes races and five turf races. Four of Saturday’s races are for maidens.

The first stakes is the Grade 3 $150,000 Honeymoon Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Maxim Rate is the 9-5 favorite for trainer Simon Callaghan and jockey Kent Desormeaux. She has won two of three and finished second by a nose in her other race. She has gone 1 1/8 miles on the Santa Anita turf when she finished second.

The second favorite, at 3-1, is Lady Prancealot for Richard Baltas and Joe Talamo. She’s been racing a lot having won two-of-12 races. She started her career in Britain. She has stakes experience and finished second last out in the Grade 3 Seniorita. Post is about 4 p.m.

The second stakes is the Grade 2 $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. There is a small field of five with Paradise Woods coming in as Jon White’s 1-5 favorite. The 5-year-old mare has only won four-of-14 races but has been running in the upper stratosphere of races. She will be running her fourth race for John Shirreffs, having won last out in the Santa Margarita by 10 ½ lengths. She gets Mike Smith as the jockey.

At 4-1 is La Force for Paddy Gallagher and Drayden Van Dyke. She has won two-of-24 lifetimes but, again, running against the best. She was second in the Santa Margarita and was eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in the previous race. Post is around 4:30 p.m.

Here are the field sizes, in order: 7, 5, 5, 8, 8, 8, 8, 5, 10 (4 also eligible).

Big races preview

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

11:12 Woodbine (3): $125,000 Greenwood Stakes, 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Pink Lloyd (1-5)

2:00 Woodbine (8): Grade 2 $175,000 Connaught Cup Stakes, 4 and up, 7 furlongs on turf. Favorite: Emmaus (2-1)

2:02 Penn National (6): $100,000 Penn Ladies Dash Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Ms Locust Point (5-2)

2:18 Belmont (8): Grade 3 $200,000 Pennine Ridge, 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Favorite: Value Proposition (5-2)

2:30 Penn National (7): $100,000 Chocolate Town Spring Stakes, 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Laki (2-1)

3:05 Penn National (8): $100,000 Susquehanna Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorite: Dynatail (5-2)

3:15 Arlington (8): Grade 3 $100,000 Arlington Matron Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: La Force (9-5)

3:40 Penn National (9): $100,000 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup Stakes, 3 and up, 5 furlongs on turf. Favorite: Pure Sensation (7-5)

4:03 Santa Anita (7): Grade 3 $150,000 Honeymoon Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Favorite: Lady Prancealot (3-1)

4:15 Penn National (10): $200,000 Penn Oaks, fillies 3-years-old, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Regal Glory (6-5)

4:33 Santa Anita (8): Grade 2 $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Paradise Woods (1-5)

4:50 Penn National (11): Grade 2 $500,000 Penn Mile Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: A Thread of Blue (5-2)

7:11 Churchill Downs (9): $120,000 Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes, 3 and up, 5 furlongs on turf. Favorite: Bobby’s Wicked One (2-1)

7:42 Churchill Downs (10): $100,000 Aristides Stakes, 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Share the Upside (9-5)

Ciaran Thornton’s SA pick of the day

RACE FIVE: No. 3 Golden Birthday (8-1)

Golden Birthday won last out coming from far behind to win romping away with splits that got faster and faster as the race went on, something one sees rarely these days. Last week’s workout tells us the horse is primed. Moving up in class we are getting 8-1, an excellent value. This is a Dp Racing horse, known for longshot winners and the horse races protected today in another sign of optimism.

Friday’s result: Nap Lajoie ran half a race then faded, disappointing our value hopes with that great 10-1 price.

Who goofed? Monday faux pas: It happens! You watch race replays and see what you want to when you are writing about the result a couple of days later. Power Down was the No. 1 on Memorial Day, not the No. 3 I wrote about. Power Down finished last but was fighting Joe Talamo in the stretch.

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

Ed Burgart’s LA pick of the day

SIXTH RACE: No. 3 Pitbull (9-5)

He has been one of the most impressive 2-year-olds I have seen trained this year and did everything right in both 12.2 second gate drills when quick early and strong late while easily outworking his company. He galloped out with big strides in first 12.2 gate drill and was well in hand at the wire with smooth action in last 12.2 work.

Final thought

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

OUTLAW had good early speed and dueled between horses, inched clear on the turn, drifted out then in a bit from the whip in the stretch and drew off under steady handling late. GOLDEN IMAGE four wide early, stalked outside then alongside a rival on the turn, came three wide into the stretch, angled in some in midstretch and picked up the place. VERMEER pressed the pace three deep then stalked outside a rival on the turn, continued off the inside into the stretch and held third. WILL DANCER broke out a bit, was between horses early, chased off the rail then a bit off the fence into and on the turn and into the stretch and did not rally. MIDNIGHT BANDIT dropped back and came off the rail early, entered the stretch three wide and improved position. BIG BAD GARY had good early speed and dueled inside, stalked along the rail on the turn and weakened in the drive. DIXIE DOO RUN RUN broke alertly and was between horses early, angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, came out a bit into the stretch then angled back to the fence and gave way in the drive. DUAL ACCOUNT stalked three deep then chased outside a rival or off the rail, angled to the inside on the turn, came out some in upper stretch and had little left for the drive.

STORMING LADY between horses early, stalked inside, came out into the stretch, bid three deep to take the lead in midstretch, inched clear under urging and held.ought. BREEZY BEE angled in on the first turn and chased inside, came out leaving the second turn and four wide into the stretch and finished willingly. RUBY TRUST sped to the early lead and angled in, set the pace inside then dueled along the rail, fought back into the stretch and past midstretch and held third. TAKE A LEAP stalked outside a rival then between horses leaving the backstretch, continued outside a foe on the second turn, came out into the stretch and was outfinished for the show. DEARBORN pulled early and came off the rail, tugged her way between foes with a bid five eighths out, dueled outside a rival, took a short lead nearing the stretch, fought back between horses in midstretch, then weakened in the final furlong. ROSES AND CANDY stalked three deep then bid briefly outside foes early on the backstretch, went three wide nearing the second turn, dropped back and angled in some leaving that turn and weakened.

FAST ENOUGH dueled between horses then inside on the turn, took a short lead past the eighth pole and drew clear under some urging and steady handling. CAL'S GEM had good early speed and dueled three deep then outside the winner, could not match that one in the final sixteenth but was clearly second best. NEXT FLIGHT pressed the pace inside then stalked on the turn, came out into the stretch and bested the others. BAM BAM AGAIN pulled and stalked inside, came out leaving the turn and three wide into the stretch and weakened. PROJECT LEADER chased outside then off the rail on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and also weakened. INCLUDE THE TAX dropped back off the rail, angled to the inside on the turn and failed to menace. COASTLINE SERMON chased outside then alongside a rival on the turn, swung four wide into the stretch and weakened. WICKED BLUE between horses early, chased off the rail, dropped back between horses on the turn and had nothing left for the drive.

CAPTIVATE sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, responded when challenged on the second turn, inched away again in the stretch and held on gamely under urging. DALLAS SKYLINE angled in and stalked inside then a bit off the rail on the backstretch and second turn, came three wide into the stretch and finished willingly late. CONCUR between horses early, stalked just off the inside, bid outside the winner on the second turn and into the stretch, fell back a bit in midstretch and held third. RUMPUS CAT angled in and chased a bit off the rail, came out leaving the second turn and into the stretch and was edged for the show. AYACARA (GB) broke a step slowly, angled in and saved ground off the pace, cut the corner into the stretch and lacked a further response.

ZUSHA had good early speed and dueled between horses then outside the runner-up on the second turn, took a short lead into the stretch, drifted out a bit from the whip past midstretch and inched away late. KAYDETRE sped to the early lead, set a pressured pace inside, dueled along the rail on the second turn and into the stretch, fought back inside the winner in the final furlong, could not quite match that one late but clearly bested the others. DONUT GIRL a step slow to begin, pressed the pace four wide, stalked three deep on the turn and into the stretch and held third. SAPPHIRE KID prompted the pace three deep between foes, stalked between horses on the second turn and into the stretch and weakened. BATTLEGROUND STATE a bit washy at the gate, saved ground stalking the pace, dropped back leaving the second turn and into the stretch and had little left for the drive.

ACCLIMATE sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, responded when rivals loomed into the stretch, kicked clear again and proved best under a moderate hand ride while being flagged some with the whip and a hold late. EAST RAND stalked outside a rival then a bit off the rail, continued inside into the second turn, came out some to loom a threat behind the winner into the stretch then was not a match for that one in the drive but held second. MALIBU MUSIC close up stalking the winner off the rail then outside a rival into the second turn, came three deep into the stretch and was edged for the place. HOLY GHOST saved ground chasing the pace, came out leaving the second turn and three wide into the stretch and did not rally.

FIRE WHEN READY sent between horses early, inched away and set the pace a bit off the rail then inside into the turn, came a bit off the rail nearing the stretch, kicked clear, drifted in a bit then came out slightly under left handed urging in deep stretch and held gamely. PERFECT WAGER settled just off the rail then inside, came out into the stretch and finished well to just miss. WILD BEAN three deep early, stalked outside a rival then off the rail leaving the turn and into the stretch and bested the others. SATRAPA stalked between horses then a bit off the inside, angled to the rail on the turn and weakened. NAP LAJOIE saved ground stalking the pace, came a bit off the rail on the turn, dropped back outside a rival leaving the turn and had little left for the stretch.

AWESOME HEIGHTS had good early speed and dueled inside, took a short lead on the turn, inched away under urging a bit off the rail in midstretch and held on gamely. KRIS' WILD KAT prompted the pace three deep then stalked outside a rival on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and continued willingly but could not quite catch the winner. REBEL WAR dueled between horses then outside the winner on the turn and into the stretch, was between foes in midstretch and just off the rail in deep stretch and held third. SOUL OWNER bumped at the start, angled in and saved ground stalking the pace throughout and was outfinished for a minor award. TASTE'S LEGEND saved ground chasing the pace, came out leaving the turn and into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. KING CHARLIE broke a bit awkwardly and to the inside to bump a rival then bobbled, chased outside a foe then off the rail, angled to the inside on the turn and did not rally. ROYAL SONG broke slowly, settled off the pace inside, saved ground on the turn and into the stretch and was not a threat.