Santa Anita Winter Meet 2005
|
|
Sweet Catomine Changes
Trainers Only two days after running fifth in the Santa Anita Derby, her first loss since the previous summer, Sweet Catomine has been taken from trainer Julio Canani and given to John Shirreffs, who finished fourth in the race with Giacomo. The three-year-old Sweet Catomine filly has been the subject of controversy for the past 48 hours. She is owned by Marty and Pam Wygod. Under Canani's care, Sweet Catomine won the Oak
Leaf Stakes, Del Mar Debutante, Santa Anita Oaks, and Breeders'
Cup Juvenile Fillies. Her owners have stated that she will not travel
to Kentucky for the Oaks or the Derby. |
|
|
Buzzards Bays A Major
Upset The top two finishers in Southern California's best Derby prep were the winners of the Golden Gate Derby and the Turf Paradise Derby. Left in their wake were the winners of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. What does that say about the current status of
the West Coast Derby contenders? |
Buzzards Bay took the Santa Anita Derby over General John B, leaving Wilko, Giacomo, and the star filly Sweet Catomine in his wake. It was the third straight Santa Anita Derby win for controversial trainer Jeff Mullins, who won the last two editions with Buddy Gil and Castledale (IRE).
| Sweet
Catomine On the Derby Trail Jockey Corey Nakatani, who rode such stars as Jewel Princess, Sharp Cat, and Serena's Song, called her "the best filly I ever rode." Trainer Julio Canani called her, "The best filly that ever lived." While such high praise remains to be proven, the wonder that is three-year-old filly Sweet Catomine could just show that she is one of the greats when she tackles the colts in the April 9 Santa Anita Derby, the West Coast's last prep for the Kentucky Derby on May 7th. After another win, this time in the Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I), Sweet Catomine is on a five race win streak which started with a maiden victory in the Del Mar Debutante. Memorette and She Sings took the place and show spots on the Oaks, while second choice Cream Donut Keith finished sixth. Sweet Catomine is a daughter of Storm Cat owned by Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wygod. |
|
| Sweet
Catomine Towers Over Rivals Last year's Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, the brilliant Sweet Catomine, is heavily favored to win Sunday's Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I). The three-year-old daughter of Storm Cat has won four stakes races in a row, including last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), and faces an overmatched field in Sunday's race. A strong win by Sweet Catomine could take her straight to the Santa Anita Derby, the last California prep race for the Kentucky Derby. With former California favorite Declan's Moon now out of consideration for the Derby, there is a spot left open for a new contender to take his place. Many fans are convinced that Sweet Catomine may be "the one" as she aims to follow in the footsteps of Winning Colors, who won the 1988 Santa Anita Oaks before the Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Derby. Sweet Catomine is trained by Julio Canani and will be ridden again by Corey Nakatani, who had previously guided the massive bay to all over her victories until the San Ysabel, where Nakatani served a suspension and David Flores had the mount. |
|
|
|
Derby Favorite Declan's
Moon Off the Trail Kentucky Derby favorite and undefeated champion two-year-old last year, Declan's Moon, has been taken out of Kentucky Derby consideration after a fracture was discovered in the gelding's knee. The handsome son of Malibu Moon will not be able to return to the races until the summer. Ron Ellis trains Declan's Moon and celebrated his birthday with the discovery of the injury. Last weekend Declan's Moon easily defeated top contenders Going Wild and Spanish Chestnut in the Santa Catalina Stakes, two months after he won the Hollywood Futurity over Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Wilko. Mace and Samantha Seigel own the colt, who is five-for-five lifetime. He burst into stardom with a victory over Roman Ruler in last summer's Del Mar Futurity. Plans were for Declan's Moon to run in the Santa Anita Derby on April 9. Afleet Alex has inherited Kentucky Derby favoritism now in Churchill Downs' second future betting pool. |
| Uncle
Denny, Scipion Out Triple Crown hopeful Uncle Denny is now off the trail, according to trainer Rafael Beccera. The three-year-old son of In Excess has a bone chip in his ankle and will need three months off. Uncle Denny had won four of his five starts. Also off the trail is Patrick Biancone's duo of Scipion, who suffered a condylar fracture, and Spanish Chestnut, who simply cannot run that far. Another out of the picture is Texcess, who finished last in the Lane's End Stakes. These four California hopefuls join Declan's Moon, the former favorite for the Derby, and Roman Ruler, as West-coast hopefuls who will not be able to continue until after the Triple Crown is over. |
|
Roman Ruler Off the Derby Trail
By Emily Hufford
This time of year, the song, "Another one bites the dust" is a common theme amongst fans who follow the Triple Crown trail. Roman Ruler became the latest casualty, as the three-year-old son of Fusaichi Pegasus will be given time off to heal a quarter crack after a poor finish in Saturday's San Felipe Stakes. The Bob Baffert-trainee won the Norfolk Stakes last year before an off the board finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Roman Ruler's brilliance in the summer of 2004 led many to mark him as a potential Kentucky Derby favorite. Trainer Baffert says it is possible that the colt will make the Preakness Stakes.
|
|
Rock Hard Ten Wins
the Big 'Cap The glorious Rock Hard Ten returned to the winner's circle of the Santa Anita Handicap on Saturday to much fanfare. The appreciative crowd cheered and clapped for the popular massive son of Kris S who won his third stakes race in three tries at the current meet. A four-year-old with awesome potential, Rock Hard Ten has won the Swaps Stakes, Malibu Stakes, and Strub Stakes in addition to the "Big 'Cap." Ridden by Gary Stevens, Rock Hard Ten was closer to the pace than he had been in previous races. He left behind a good field in his wake, including Imperialism, Donn Handicap winner Saint Liam, and stablemate Congrats, who finished second. Rock Hard Ten and Congrats are trained by Richard Mandella. A colorful crowd of 35,484 witnessed the event, which was held under sunny skies as opossed to the massive amounts of rain that have been falling on the track this meet. |
|
|
Declan's Moon Still
Has It Three-year-old Declan's Moon marched into the paddock at Santa Anita, saw a flock of photographers ahead, stopped dead, and flung up his finely shaped head, posing. Shouts of admiration followed the colt before the race as well as afterwards. One man commented, "There goes a true champion." While that remains to be seen, Declan's Moon has done nothing wrong. He easily ran by top Derby prospects Spanish Chestnut and Going Wild to win the Santa Catalina Stakes. Last year's two-year-old champion, Declan's Moon is a Maryland-bred son of Malibu Moon. He is trained by Ron Ellis. |
|
|
Derby Contenders Who Worked Saturday Declan's Moon: 7f 1:25.3 Hol |
| Hasty
Kris Wins Hasty Kris spoiled the comeback of Choctaw Nation when he won the San Carlos Handicap (Gr II) at Santa Anita on Saturday. The eight-year-old gelded son of Kissin Kris held off the determined Harvard Avenue for the win over a field that included Bobby Frankel's speedy colt Mass Media and the one-time star Sinister G. The San Carlos is a 7 furlong sprint, and Hasty Kris won by a half length. He is trained by John Sadler for C R K Stable. Perfect Moon ran third and Choctaw Nation fourth. |
|
Snack, Sort It Out to California
By Alex Pfaadt
Two Triple Crown hopefuls have moved to California to
continue their preparations for the Kentucky Derby. Snack, recent winner
of the WEBN Stakes at Turfway Park, has switched trainers and was moved
out to California with Trainer Doug O'Niell. Plans are still for him to
make his next start in the Lanes End Stakes, at Turfway Park.
Sort it Out, who won the Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct last weekend, has
been shipped to the barn of Bob Baffert after Bob and Janice McNair's
Stonerside Farm purchased a majority interest in him from his previous
owners.
| Fusaichi
Rock Star Wins the San Vicente By Tasha Langley Fusaichi Rock Star, a highly touted three-year-old son of Wild Wonder, finally showed his brilliance by winning Sunday's San Vicente Stakes (Gr.II) at Santa Anita Park. The $150,000 race is one of the first big preps for three year olds at Santa Anita on the road to the Kentucky Derby. A week ago, the talk about the San Vicente revolved around the return of Roman Ruler, a son of Fusaichi Pegasus who was ironically also trained by Bob Baffert and who is one of the current favorites for the Kentucky Derby. However, Roman Ruler cracked a hoof this week and had to be scratched. That left the field with four horses: Kirkendahl, Don't Get Mad, Consolidator, and Fusaichi Rock Star. The winner was sent off as the longest shot in the field, at 7-1. |
 Miss Loren in 2004 at Del Mar © Alex Evers 2004 |
Fusaichi Rock Star took the lead almost from the beginning and never
looked back, holding on despite a fast closing kick from Don't Get Mad.
Kirkendahl was third and Consolidator, the favorite, was last. Fusaichi
Rock Star set fractions of :23 1/5, :46 2/5, 1:10 1/5 and a final time
over the wet-fast track of 1:22 2/5 for seven furlongs. The gray son of
the Full Feather mare Grannies Feather is now on the Kentucky Derby trail.
Fusaichi Rock Star paid $17 to win under jockey David Flores. Don't Get
Mad payed $4 to place. The exacta was worth $54.
Also on Sunday was the $250,000 Gr.I Santa Maria Handicap. Argentine-bred
mare Miss Loren got up by a nose to win over another Argentinian, Good
Student, in a stirring stretch duel. Hollywood Story finished a troubled
third, taking up in the stretch as she was closing in, and therefore resulting
in a stewards' inquiry which didn't result in a change in the order of
finish. Miss Loren was a previous graded winner in the US, having won
last year's Clement Hirsch Handicap (Gr.II) at Del Mar in an upset victory.
The daughter of Numerous, ridden by Jose Valdivia, Jr., battled back as
Good Student made an attempt on the lead. Miss Loren ran the 1 1/16 mile
race in 1:42 2/5, with Born To Dance carving out early fractions of :23,
:46 2/5 and :1:10 2/5. Miss Loren paid $12.40, $7 and $4.40 as the fifth
choice in the field. Good Student returned $12 and $6, and Hollywood Story
returned $3.40 for show. The exacta was worth $153.20.
Miss Loren has now earned $616,260 and sports a record of 13 wins from 45 races. This was the first Grade I win for her and for her trainer, Luis Seglin.
| Rock Hard Ten Takes
the Strub It took guts and determination for the popular Rock Hard Ten to hold off the determined Imperialism in the stretch of the Strub Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita. The four-year-old son of Kris S did manage to win, but barely. It was the best performance by Imperialism since his 2004 Kentucky Derby third-place finish. Rock Hard Ten won the first leg of the Strub Series, the Malibu Stakes, by a small margin, and then skipped the San Fernando in favor of the Strub. Trainer Richard Mandella won the San Fernando with Rock Hard Ten's stablemate Minister Eric, sweeping the series. Love of Money, who set the early pace, held on
for third. Good Reward finished fourth and Castledale fifth. |
|
Going Wild Steps Forward
Three-year-old Going Wild made a loud statement on the Derby trail when he won the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. The son of Golden Missle won by a length over Papi Chullo, who finished a neck in front of favored Giacomo, who was coming off a second place finish to Declan's Moon in the Hollywood Futurity. Going Wild is trained by D. Wayne Lukas. He last
was seen winning the San Miguel Stakes in January. The Bob and Beverly
Lewis owned colt broke his maiden on December 26th. |
|
| Sun
and Longshots Prevail in Sunshine Millions The third Sunshine Millions - a series of races between California and Florida breds at two Magna tracks, Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, took place on Saturday with the threat of rain, but it was sunny skies in both states for all eight races. The Sunshine Millions Classic went to the 70 - 1 shot Musique Toujours, who couldn't win a Claiming Crown race last year but managed to defeat Midas Eyes, Limehouse, and Zakocity, amongst others, in the Classic. The Turf went to Star Over the Bay, a popular gray who has an affinity for firm turf courses and sunshine. He was making his first start since a disappointing finish in the Breeders' Cup Turf last October.
|
|
Other winners included Valentine Dancer in the Filly and Mare Turf, Sweet Lips in the Distaff, Hot Storm in the Oaks, Alix M over Bear Fan in the Filly and Mare Sprint, and the freakish Lost in the Fog in the Dash. Lost in the Fog is now undefeated in three starts.
 Green Team © 2004 Genna Cui |
Millions
Sprint Marred by Breakdown The Sunshine Millions Sprint went to big longshot Red Warrior, who finished ahead of Full Moon Madness and Areyoutalkintome. However, the race was marred by a fatal injury to the good California sprinter Green Team. A six-year-old son of Huddle Up out of the Moscow Ballet mare Scare Tactics, Green Team was a multiple stakes winner, with wins including the 2003 California Cup Sprint and 2004 California Sprint Championship. He had been pulling away in the lead when he broke down. Green Team was trained by Jeff Bonde. Red Warrior paid $97.00 to win. |
| Whilly
Wins the San Marcos The Irish-bred Whilly led every step of the way to win the San Marcos Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita on Saturday. Puppeteer, the second choice in the field of six, finished 1/2 length behind the winner, while favored License to Run finished fifth. Whilly, who paid $8.80 to win, is by Sri Pekan. Doug O'Neill trains for Triple B Farms and Felipe Martinez was aboard for the victory. Whilly last ran on December 26, when he won the Sir Beaufort Stakes also on the Santa Anita turf course. T.H. Approval ran third. |
|
| Sweet
Catomine Returns With A Victory Sweet Catomine made her three-year-old debut a week late, but returned in style, winning the Santa Ysabel Stakes easily over the Santa Anita surface on Sunday. The bay daughter of Storm Cat is the probable two-year-old filly Eclipse champion after a 2004 season that included a win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in October. She hadn't run since that race. Julio Canani trains the filly for owners Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wygod. She was ridden to victory on Sunday by jockey David Flores, who was replacing Corey Nakatani. Pussycat Doll, out of Hookedonthefeelin and trained by Bob Baffert, was second. On London Time finished third. |
|
| Going
Wild, Sharp Lisa Win Three-year-olds on the upswing include Going Wild and Sharp Lisa, a colt and a filly who won stakes races on Monday at Santa Anita. Going Wild, who is trained by D. Wayne Lukas and broke his maiden on December 26, won the San Miguel Stakes over Birdstone's half brother So Long Birdie, while Sharp Lisa won the Santa Ynez over No Bull Baby. Sharp Lisa is trained by Doug O'Niell. |
|
| It's
'Eric in the San Fernando On Saturday, the Santa Anita card featured the $200,000 Grade II San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes for four-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. It seemed to be a re-match of four horses from the 2004 Kentucky Derby in Imperialism, Action This Day, Minister Eric, and Castledale. It was Minister Eric who pulled through for trainer Richard Mandella to score his first stakes win. In 2003, Minister Eric had finished second to stablemate Action This Day in the 2003 Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He had previously finished 7th in the Malibu which was won by stablemate Rock Hard Ten. Indian Country set fast fractions early and Mass Media finished the mile in 1:35 1/5. He then lost the lead to Minister Eric, who won by a half-length in 1:42. The chestnut son of Old Trieste is owned by Diamond A Racing Corporation. He paid $16.00 $6.60 $5.60 for the win; Bobby Frankel's Mass Media paid $4.80 $4.00 for place and Skipaslew paid $12.20 for the trifecta. |
|
The complete order of finish was: Imperialism, Castledale (IRE), My Creed, Harvard Avenue, Action This Day and Indian Country.
|
|
Some Spanish
Flair
By Amelia Baldree Patrick Biancone's Spanish Chestnut won Saturday's $150,000 Grade II San Rafael at Santa Anita Park under jockey Gary Stevens. The flashy 3-year-old son of Horse Chestnut ran the one mile in 1:36.69 on a fast track to win his graded stakes debut, his second route race. Spanish Chestnut now has a record of 5-3-2-0 with earnings of $174,420. He paid $9.00 $5.60 and $3.40. Iced Out finished second and paid $7.60 $3.40 and Texcess paid $2.60 to show. Texcess was favored and ran very wide throughout. His trainer had opted for the San Rafael instead of the Golden Gate Derby, which ended up with three horses going postward. |
| Castledale
Returns Amidst Familiar Faces Unraced since the Kentucky Derby last May, 2004 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Castledale will return in the San Fernando Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, where he will face a few familiar challengers. Amongst his foes are Imperialism, who finished third in the Derby; Action This Day, who finished sixth; and Minister Eric, who was sixteenth. Other contenders in the 1 1/16 mile race are Mass Media, Harvard Avenue, and Perfect Moon. Notably absent is Rock Hard Ten, the Malibu Stakes winner, who missed training time due to the rain. Castledale is an Irish-bred by Peintre Celebre. He is now a four-year-old and is trained by Jeff Mullins. One who could surprise in the San Fernando is Action This Day, who sizzled on the Santa Anita main track with a :34.20 workout on Wednedsay. Another veteran of the Triple Crown trail who runs in the San Fernando is Sinister G, a son of Matty G who won the Lane's End Stakes early in 2004. |
|
|
|
With Sun, Sweet
Catomine Gets to Run Now that the torrential rains in Southern California have subsided, probable two-year-old filly champion Sweet Catomine will get to make her 2005 debut in Sunday's rescheduled Santa Ysabel Stakes. The big, brilliant daughter of Storm Cat has not run since a phenomenal victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies last year, and there have been whispers that if she does well int he first part of 2005 she may take on the colts later in the spring. The Santa Ysabel and all other races were cancelled from January 9 when a horse in the first race fell and had to be euthanized. Sweet Catomine is trained by Julio Canani. |
| Santa
Anita Forced to Cancel Due to tremendous amounts of rain that have pounded Southern California since the day after Christmas, Santa Anita was forced to cancel its Sunday card of races. It was the first cancellation by the racetrack since January, 1995. During the first race, Unusual Sunrise broke down and had to be euthanized. Track management and the jockeys agreed to call off the races. Santa Anita is expected to resume racing on Wednesday. |
|
| Congrats
Relishes The Mud Congrats broke through for new trainer Richard Mandella by winning the San Pasqual Handicap (gr. II) at Santa Anita. In his previous and first Southern California start, Congrats had finished sixth in the Native Diver Handicap. A Claiborne-bred son of A.P. Indy out of Praise, Congrats romped to a five length win over Total Impact and Sigfreto. One of the top contenders, Lundy's Liability, was scratched. Tyler Baze rode the winner, who is a half brother to Claiborne stallion Flatter. |
|
|
Fencelineneighbor Wins the San Gorgonio © Patty Yount 2005 |
'Neighbor Picks
Up the Pieces On a sloppy racetrack at Santa Anita, Fencelineneighbor won the San Gorgonio Handicap by two lengths as the favorite after the conditions caused the race to be switched from the turf to the dirt, resulting in six scratches. The five-year-old daughter of Wild Rush had most recently won an allowance race by five lengths after performing in stakes throughout 2004. She was ridden by Luis Jauregui and is trained by Mike Machowsky. Uraib was second, Dolly Wells third. |
Tizakitty
Surprises It looked as though Dream of Summer, who was going for her sixth straight victory, couldn't be beaten, especially when House of Fortune scratched out of the Kalookan Queen Handicap on Wednesday at Santa Anita. However, Dream of Summer was upset by the talented Tizakitty, who led on the inside to win by a length over Mazella. Dream of Summer managed third. Tizakitty is a daughter of Distinctive Cat and is trained by Bob Hess, Jr. She was ridden by Garret Gomez in the 6 1/2 furlongs dash over a track listed as "wet fast." It was the track condition that caused the scratches of four horses in the ten horse field, including the good mare Valentine Dancer. |
|
|
Truly a Judge
Wins the San Gabriel Despite a track listed as "wet fast" due to recent major storms in southern California, Truly a Judge went postwards as the favorite in the grade three San Gabriel Handicap at Santa Anita Park on Saturday. He is a seven-year-old gelded son of Judge TC trained by David Bernstein. A familar cast of contenders stepped up to the plate in the San Gabriel, including Star Cross, who was second, and Continental Red, who finished third. Lundy's Liability was one of four horses who scratched. Truly a Judge was coming off a win in the Native Diver Handicap at Hollywood Park in December. He was ridden in the San Gabriel, which was forced off the turf course, by Martin Pedroza. Truly a Judge has earned $685,131 in forty-two starts. |
Redemption! Rock Hard Ten, the giant, nearly-black three-year-old colt that is popular amongst racing fans, returned from a four-month layoff to win the Malibu Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita in stunning fashion. Making his first start for new trainer Richard Mandella, the son of Kris S. broke well and settled back, several lenghts off of the horses in front of him. For a while it looked as if he was moving no where, then jockey Gary Stevens cued the massive but nimble colt and Rock Hard Ten started to roll through on the inside, then switched to the middle of the track, weaving between horses in what Mandella later called a "perfect ride." |
|
At the wire, Rock Hard Ten burst through between horses to nail the victory by a half length. Doug O'Niell-trained longshots Lava Man, Harvard Avenue, and Perfect Moon finished second, third, and fourth. Favored Mass Media was fifth.
The victory was a sweet one for Rock Hard Ten, who had been disqualified in the Santa Anita Derby back in April of this year when being trained by Jason Orman. After that, he finished second in the Preakness Stakes, ran poorly in the Belmont Stakes, and won the Swaps Stakes before a poor showing in the Haskell Invitational Handicap, where he was found to be sick. Despite his record, Rock Hard Ten has his share of naysayers, who now may be silenced with this grade one win over a tough field.
Rock Hard Ten will be pointed for either the San Fernando Stakes, Strub
Stakes, or both. The Malibu Stakes was the first race in the series for
four-year-olds of 2005.
 Minister Eric After a Workout on Wednesday © Emily Hufford 2004 |
Minister Eric, Rock Hard Ten,
Mass Media To Clash in Malibu Stakes Some of the toughest competition will come from Bobby Frankel's Mass Media, who is coming off of a win in the Sports Page Handicap at Aqueduct, where he defeated Lion Tamer. The field also includes Love of Money, the Pennsylvania Derby winner, Quintons Gold Rush, who so far has shown that he has untapped potential, and the intriguing Grand Reward, a son of Serena's Song who has run some good races on the turf in Europe and will be trying the dirt for the first time. Last year's Malibu winner was Southern Image, who went on to be one of the year's best handicap horses. |
