(Trainer Phil D’Amato will saddle Stronghold in the upcoming G1 Santa Anita Derby / Benoit Photo & Courtesy of Santa Anita Park)
From the Santa Anita Media Crew / Victor Ryan:
EARLY Appear AT GI SANTA ANITA DERBY Prospective buyers
It is significantly less than two months until finally the 87th functioning of the GI, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 6.
A opportunity steppingstone to the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby will be portion of a stakes-laden card at The Excellent Race Spot. Supporting stakes that working day incorporate the GII Santa Anita Oaks, an official prep for the Kentucky Oaks Might 3 the GIII Monrovia for older fillies and mares on the hillside turf study course and a pair of stakes for California-bred or sired horses.
As the Santa Anita Derby techniques, the prospective discipline is commencing to consider form. Bob Baffert, who has won a record 9 Santa Anita Derbies, is expected to have at the very least two starters and potentially three.
As 1st reported by Horse Racing Nation on Friday, Baffert designs to operate Zedan Racing’s unbeaten colt Maymun. By Frosted, Maymun dominated in his 6 ½-furlong debut in this article when successful by 7 ½ lengths Jan. 20. He returned in a 1-mile allowance Feb. 11 and edged stablemate Imagination by a neck to remain best. That work was flattered when Imagination, who is also a prospect for the Santa Anita Derby, came back to gain the GII San Felipe at 1 1/16 miles listed here March 3.
Other opportunity starters for Baffert include things like Wine Me Up, Mentor Prime and Wynstock. Wine Me Up was beaten just a head by Creativity in the San Felipe. The Vino Rosso colt is owned by Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.
Coach Key, also owned by Zedan Racing, has been operating steadily but has not raced considering the fact that finishing third in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 16. Wynstock won the Los Alamitos Futurity but arrived back again to finish very last in the GIII Southwest Feb. 3 at Oaklawn Park. By Solomini, Wynstock is campaigned by Los Alamitos operator Ed Allred and executive Jack Liebau.
The probably main rival to Baffert’s contingent is Stronghold for coach Phil D’Amato. By Ghostzapper, Stronghold exits a sharp 2 ½-duration get in the GIII Sunland Derby Feb. 18. He acquired 25 Kentucky Derby qualifying details for the victory, which places him 16th on the leaderboard currently.
D’Amato this 7 days explained there is a modest probability Stronghold could ship to Keeneland for the GI Blue Grass Stakes, also on April 6, but staying household was most possible.
“I imagine that get likely two turns at Sunland, the gentle bulb arrived on,” D’Amato additional of Stronghold, who is owned by Eric M. Waller and Sharon Waller. “Since then, he’s acted much more professionally in his drills. He labored sensational last Monday.”
Experienced John Sadler options to operate Tapalo, most just lately 2nd in the El Camino Actual Derby on artificial Feb. 10 at Golden Gate. The Tapiture ridgling is owned by Hronis Racing. Sadler added it was “unlikely” Scatfiy returns in the Santa Anita Derby soon after working himself into problems and staying eased across the wire in the San Felipe.
Coach Doug O’Neill said E.J. Received the Cup, who gained the Turf Paradise Derby March 14 for proprietor Superfecta King Stable, is achievable to go in the Santa Anita Derby.
“He’d be a important longshot, but we’re contemplating it,” O’Neill reported Saturday of the Omaha Beach front colt.
McVay, who was 3rd in the San Felipe, is doable for coach John Shirreffs. The Constitution colt has 19 Derby details and ranks 25th on the leaderboard for operator C R K Stable.
Also pointed to the Santa Anita Derby is latest maiden winner Tessuto for trainer George Papaprodromou. A ridgling by Munnings, graduated by 2 ½ lengths in a a single-mile maiden heat listed here Feb. 25. He is owned by Kretz Racing.
The Santa Anita Derby provides suitable horses a whole of 200 qualifying factors to the Kentucky Derby paid out on a scale of 100-50-25-15-10 to the top rated-5 finishers.
Nominations for the Santa Anita Derby will be launched this Friday.
PRAT, RISPOLI Just about every Earn KENTUCKY DERBY PREPS SATURDAY
Santa Anita-based jockeys Flavien Prat and Umberto Rispoli each individual gained prep races for the Kentucky Derby Saturday.
Prat scored with Catching Independence for coach Brad Cox in the GII, $1 million Louisiana Derby going 1 3/16 miles at Fair Grounds. Prat and Catching Independence were being previous of 11 into the second switch right before uncorking an extraordinary late rally to win by a size.
Rispoli experienced a especially good day using on artificial at Turfway Park. In the Rushaway Stakes for 3-calendar year-olds, the 35-year-outdated native of Italy collected his 2,000th earn around the world when guiding Trikari to a neck victory for trainer Graham Motion. Four races later, Rispoli and Santa Anita-dependent favourite Endlessly dominated in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks, which provided 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying factors for the Michael McCarthy trainee.
Owned by Amerman Racing, Endlessly has competent to run in the Kentucky Derby. However, the Oscar Efficiency colt has under no circumstances raced on grime. Just after the Jeff Ruby, McCarthy stated Endlessly would probable bypass the Derby and alternatively run on the undercard in the GII American Turf for 3-year-olds.
Both equally Prat and Rispoli returned from Kentucky Saturday night time and are established to journey Sunday’s application at Santa Anita. Prat has 6 mounts on an eight-race card listed here and Rispoli is established for four rides.
Top RATED ‘PETROS & MONEY’ BROADCASTS FRIDAY FROM SANTA ANITA
“Petros & Cash,” the leading-rated sports activities converse radio present in Los Angeles, will be broadcast are living from Santa Anita Park Friday. Streamed by hundreds of thousands and aired on AM 570 KLAC every weekday from 3 to 7 p.m., “Petros & Money” hosts Petros Papadakis and Matt “Money” Smith will operate from Santa Anita’s Grandstand apron, adjacent to the Finish Line.
Papadakis is a previous football captain and tailback at USC. In addition to co-web hosting “Petros and Dollars,” he also currently serves as a Fox Sports activities higher education soccer analyst and is co-host of The Problem, found Sunday evenings following Soccer Evening in The usa.
Smith, previously of KROQ’s preferred “Kevin and Bean Clearly show,” has promptly turn into a single of the most respected athletics personalities in the region. Matt is a host for NFL Community and is the radio the engage in-by participate in announcer for the Los Angeles Chargers. Petros & Money have extensive supported horse racing in Southern California and will no doubt shell out sizeable time Friday discussing and interviewing the principals in the Grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on Saturday, April 6.
Generated by Tim Cates, Petros & Money has been a staple of Southern California sporting activities radio since January 2007. The clearly show provides listeners with an irreverent but wholly credible just take on the entire world of athletics and substantially far more.
Admirers are reminded that in addition to Petros & Income, admission and parking are absolutely free at Santa Anita on Friday. On-observe supporters also obtain $3 beers and $5 margaritas.
Santa Anita will also offer you “A Petros & Dollars VIP Trackside Experience” available for $35, which will present exclusive finish line seating up coming to the stay Petros & Funds broadcast. There is also obtain to a Los Caballeros Taco Bar, Paddock Excursions through the day and a free of charge Santa Anita bucket hat in addition to a complete afternoon of are living racing and wagering.
For a lot more details and to acquire tickets remember to go to www.santaanita.com/PMS.
MEMORIAL Provider FOR TURF Writer Artwork WILSON Established FOR WEDNESDAY
A memorial provider for longtime Southern California turf writer Art Wilson, who died Feb. 18 at age 71, will be held Wednesday in Glendora.
Wilson had battled a type of blood most cancers for extra than 10 yrs before succumbing to heart failure at St. Mary’s Hospital in Apple Valley, exactly where he resided. He had protected Santa Anita as a journalist considering the fact that the mid-1980s. His operate was printed by the Southern California News Group, which operates a consortium of newspapers incorporates the Los Angeles Everyday Information, Pasadena Star-News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Long Seashore Unbiased and other folks.
A provider in Wilson’s honor will be held at Oakdale Memorial Park in Glendale commencing at 11 a.m. Wednesday. A reception will abide by at Glendora Continental Restaurant.
Complete Strains: Trainer Bob Baffert unveiled a promising 3-calendar year-aged filly Saturday. In Theory, a daughter of Mendelssohn for Speedway Secure, went gate-to-wire and scored by two lengths in a six-furlong maiden race. The winning time was 1:11.59… Kyle Frey gained two races Saturday to shift into a tied for seventh in the jockey’s standing with 15 wins at the Basic Fulfill. He scored with Mr. Suds ($12.80) in the fourth race for coach Steve Knapp and Gypsy Tears ($6.80) for coach Val Brinkerhoff in the fifth….Saturday’s $1 Coast-to-Coastline Select 5 returned $1,710.10 for 59 successful tickets…Next weekend’s stakes are the GIII Wilshire on Saturday for more mature fillies and mares on turf and GIII American Stakes on Sunday for older horses at a mile on turf…Live racing resumes Friday at Santa Anita with 1 p.m. initial post…Every Friday at the Common Fulfill, on-keep track of enthusiasts obtain no cost parking and admission in addition $3 beers and $5 margaritas.