STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2023

Photo: Ernie Belmonte

- • HIGH-PRICED MIRAHMADI DEBUTS IN FASIG-TIPTON FUTURITY - • CRAZY HOT, BECKY’S DREAM CLASH IN FASIG-TIPTON DEBUTANTE - • WORKS: KANGAROO COURT BACK ON THE TAB FOR YAKTEEN - • $1 MILLION SINGLE TICKET RAINBOW 6 PAYOUT POSSIBLE SATURDAY - • MANDATORY RAINBOW 6 PAYOUT ON TAP FOR SUNDAY - • HOLLYWOOD MEET AT SANTA ANITA CLOSES SUNDAY

HIGH-PRICED MIRAHMADI DEBUTS FOR BAFFERT IN FASIG-TIPTON FUTURITY

Despite having never raced, seven-figure auction purchase Mirahmadi is tabbed as the 4-5 favorite for his debut in Saturday’s Fasig-Tipton Futurity going five furlongs.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Mirahmadi is a 2-year-old Into Mischief colt named in honor of Santa Anita Track Announcer Frank Mirahmadi. He is out of the Malibu Moon mare More Chocolate, who was a graded-stakes winner for trainer John Sadler.

Mirahmadi—the horse—was bought for $1.05 million at the 2022 Keeneland September yearling sale by SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing and Madaket. Those principals also campaign the colt as part of an extensive ownership group.

Baffert on Thursday said he considered entering Mirahmadi in a maiden race on Sunday, but ultimately opted for the more ambitious stakes spot.

“He’s been training nice. He could probably use another work, but I thought let’s go ahead and run here and that should have him ready for Del Mar,” he added.

Mirahmadi has worked eight times since April 19 including two gate drills. On June 5, he worked a bullet from the gate when going five furlongs in 58.80 seconds. Baffert noted the colt was still “a little soft” for his debut.

“He’s a strong, powerful horse that’s come around quickly for us,” Baffert said. “We’ve always been high on him. He’s fast. But we’ve never really turned him loose in the morning. It’s going to be a tough task Saturday. I feel like the horses that have already had an out have a big advantage, but we’ll see if he’s up for it.”

Mirahmadi will break from the far outside in a field of six set to go postward. Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez will be in the irons.

Mirahmadi’s main rivals in the Futurity appears to be Refocus (8-5) for trainer Doug O’Neill and Going Mobile (5-1) for trainer Steve Knapp. Refocus clocked the fastest 4 ½ furlongs of the season at Santa Anita when debuting against statebreds on May 21. By freshman stallion Pavel, Refocus won his debut by 4 ½ lengths in a final time of 52.08 seconds. Mario Gutierrez, who was aboard for the maiden win, will again be aboard Saturday.

Going Mobile also won by 4 ½ lengths in his debut going at 4 ½ furlongs here on April 30. The Stay Thirsty colt won in a time of 52.57 seconds. He’ll be ridden for the second time by Tiago Pereira.

First-time starter Harry Houdini, who drew the rail for trainer Dan Blacker, is expected to be scratched. The Good Magic colt was also entered in a maiden race on Sunday, which Blacker said is the preferred spot. Also entered in the Sunday maiden race for Baffert is Muth, also a son of Good Magic, who fetched $2 million at this year’s OBS March Sale of 2-year-olds in Training. He is owned by Zedan Racing.

Rounding out the field for the Futurity are Tranche for trainer Luis Mendez and first-time starter Next Level for trainer Keith Desormeaux. Tranche is making his California bow after two starts in Kentucky without a win. Most recently, the Collected colt was third in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes on May 4 at Churchill Downs.

Next Level hails from the first crop of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Vino Rosso. He was a mere $20,000 buy at last year’s Keeneland September yearling sale.

The Fasig-Tipton Futurity goes as the seventh race on Saturday’s 12-race card. Post time is scheduled for 4 p.m. The field in post position order: Harry Houdini, Joe Bravo (20-1); Refocus, Mario Gutierrez (8-5); Tranche, Edwin Maldonado (8-1); Going Mobile, Tiago Pereira (5-1); Next Level, Kent Desormeaux (20-1); Mirahmadi, Juan Hernandez (4-5).

CRAZY HOT, BECKY’S DREAM CLASH IN SATURDAY’S FASIG-TIPTON DEBUTANTE

Crazy Hot romped by 10 ¾ lengths in her debut here May 20. Becky’s Dream clocked the fastest 4 ½ furlongs of the season by a 2-year-old filly when winning her debut here May 27. On Saturday, those promising fillies meet as part of a five-horse field set for the five-furlong Fasig-Tipton Debutante.

Crazy Hot is a California-bred by Kentucky-based stallion Goldencents. She fetched $75,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings and Horses of All Ages Sale. Trained by Jeff Bonde, Crazy Hot was bet down to the 9-5 favorite in her debut against statebreds and didn’t disappoint. With Geovanni Franco up, Crazy Hot quickly cleared the field leaving the gate and extended her lead all the way to the wire.

Crazy Hot has returned with two half-mile works since her debut. Bonde noted the filly has continued to move forward.

“She’s been training very well. She’s pretty professional,” Bonde said Friday. “We’re just trying to keep her happy and keep her at her apex.”

Crazy Hot is owned by Edward J. Rusty Brown and Cory S. Thabit. She will have Franco in the irons again on Saturday.

Becky’s Dream is a French-bred daughter of City of Light owned and trained by veteran horsemen Hector Palma. In her debut against open maidens, Becky’s Dream dueled early before kicking clear to win by 3 ½ lengths. The winning time was a sharp 52.32 seconds.

“This is a filly that just seems to do everything right,” Palma said.

Becky’s Dream sold for a mere $15,000 at last year’s Keeneland September yearling sale. Palma bought the filly privately after the sale for an undisclosed sum. She is named after Palma’s girlfriend of 42 years who he said died from COVID two years ago.

Becky’s Dream has one work since her debut, a four-furlong move in 47.40 seconds on June 7. It was the second-fastest of 23 works at the distance.

“I let the babies do what they want. I don’t push them,” Palma noted.

Becky’s Dream will break from the rail on Saturday with Pereira again in the saddle. Palma wasn’t particularly concerned with the rail draw.

“When you got the horse you got the horse. At five furlongs, does the rail really matter?” Palma questioned. “Going that distance, you have to break good wherever you start from.”

The only other filly in the Debutante with race experience is Grand Slam Smile, who ships south from Golden Gate for trainer Steve Specht. A California-bred by Smiling Tiger, Grand Slam Smile was an easy four-length winner going 4 ½ furlongs at Golden Gate May 14.

The Fasig-Tipton Debutante goes as the third race on Saturday’s 12-race card. Post time is scheduled for 2 p.m. The field in post position order: Becky’s Dream, Tiago Pereira (Even); Motet, Kyle Frey (20-1); Grand Slam Smile, Frank Alvarado (6-1); Crazy Hot, Geovanni Franco (4-5); Stormy Gal, Abdul Alsagoor (20-1).

WORKS REPORT: KANGAROO COURT BACK ON THE TAB FOR YAKTEEN

Stakes winner Kangaroo Court, most recently the beaten favorite in the GII Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs May 6, returned to the work tab Friday for trainer Tim Yakteen. The 3-year-old California-bred by Dads Caps drilled four furlongs in 47.40 seconds.

Kangaroo Court was among 92 workers at Santa Anita on another overcast morning. Owned by George Sharp, Kangaroo Court had won three straight races including the Echo Eddie Stakes here on April 8 prior to the Pat Day Mile. In the 12-horse Pat Day Mile, Kangaroo Court went off the tepid 4-1 favorite under John Velazquez. He dueled on the lead for the opening half mile before fading to 11th.

Working for trainer John Sadler on Friday were the comebacking Grade II winner Bran and stakes winner Big Switch. Bran, off since winning the GII Turf Sprint last September at Kentucky Downs, drilled four furlongs in 47.60 seconds. Big Switch went four furlongs in 47.80 seconds.

Lily Poo, most recently third in the GII Summertime Oaks here June 3, returned to the tab for trainer Michael McCarthy. She worked five furlongs in 1:01.40.

A pair of promising maiden winners also worked. Smart Mo, trained by John Shirreffs, drilled five furlongs in 1:00.60. The 3-year-old Mo Town colt won his bow going a mile here on May 26.

Working for trainer Doug O’Neill was the 2-year-old Requist. By Nyquist, he went four furlongs in 48.80 seconds. It was Requist’s first work since romping by 7 ½ lengths in a maiden heat going 6 ½ furlongs here May 29.

FINISH LINES: Providing there is no Single Ticket Rainbow Six winner on Friday, Santa Anita will guarantee a $1 million payout in the event there is a Single Ticket winner on Saturday…There will be a mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 Jackpot on Sunday, closing day of the Hollywood Meet. The carryover pool entering Friday’s card stands at $192,461…Santa Anita has carded 12 races for both Saturday and Sunday First post is 1 p.m.…Toby Turrell, clocker and publisher of Winner’s Card, will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Saturday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m…On Friday, on-track patrons will receive free parking and admission plus $3 beers and $5 margaritas …The Santa Anita Infield will host a Family Fun Zone this Saturday and Sunday. Attractions include inflatable jumpers, arts and crafts, face painting, pony rides, carnival games and more.