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Santa Anita Stable Notes Friday, May 3, 2024
5/3/2024
STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2024
• FULL SLATE OF ACTIVITIES AWAIT ON DERBY DAY AT SANTA ANITA • INTERNATIONAL JOCKEY DE VRIES SET FOR FIRST U.S. RIDES • SATURDAY’S $1 COAST-TO-COAST PICK 5 STARTS AT 2:05 P.M. PT • HALF BROTHER TO HORSE OF THE YEAR FLIGHTLINE FIRES BULLET
FULL SLATE OF ACTIVITIES AWAIT ON DERBY DAY AT SANTA ANITA The 150th Kentucky Derby is Saturday and if you’re not at Churchill Downs to witness “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” Santa Anita Park is the place to be.
With first post at Churchill Downs set for 7:30 a.m. PT, patrons can enter Santa Anita Park through the East Gate starting at 7:15 a.m. Wagering will be available in the Paddock Room and at Sirona’s on the first floor.
Horseplayers can also participate in the $3,000 Kentucky Derby Challenge live money handicapping tournament. The $3,000 buy-in includes a $2,000 bankroll and $1,000 entry fee that goes to the prize pool. The tournament starts with the first race from Churchill Downs and ends with the Kentucky Derby, which goes as the 12th.
At 10 a.m., registration opens for Santa Anita’s Fashion Contest. Participants can sign up on the track apron west of the Winner’s Circle until 12 p.m.
Beginning at 12 p.m. on the west end of the Infield is the Michelada Rumble presented by Estrella Jalisco. Hosted by comedian George Perez, the Michelada Rumble includes Lucha Libre professional wrestling, car show, food trucks, Southern California’s best micheladas and musical acts headlined by the veteran ska-punk band Voodoo Glow Skulls.
General admission tickets for the Michelada Rumble can be purchased online at Santaanita.com for $25.
On the east end of the infield will be the California Vintage Motorcycle Show starting at 12 p.m. It will also include live music by Angel City Bluegrass, food trucks and a variety of family fun activities. General admission is just $5 and parking is free at Gate 6 off Colorado Place.
Live racing at Santa Anita starts at 12:30 p.m. An 11-race card is on tap highlighted by the GII Charles Whittingham Stakes presented by FanDuel TV at 4:37 p.m.
Post time for the Kentucky Derby is set for 3:57 p.m. Also awaiting patrons is a Kentucky Derby party in the plush Chandelier Room, and a barbecue on the track apron. Ticket packages for these events can also be purchased at Santaanita.com.
Patrons are invited to come enjoy the “Biggest Derby Party West of the Mississippi” and cheer on Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold as he represents California in the historic Kentucky Derby.
INTERNATIONAL JOCKEY DE VRIES SET FOR FIRST U.S. RIDES When the racing season in Dubai ended earlier this year, 55-year-old jockey Adrie De Vries decided to follow through on a long-held dream. Come to the United States and ride in a race.
This weekend at Santa Anita, the Dutchman gets his chance. De Vries is booked to ride Saturday’s 10th race aboard Dadstar (10-1) for trainer George Papaprodromou and Sunday’s 10th aboard Nashoba’s Joy for trainer Carla Gaines.
De Vries said his trip to the U.S. was facilitated by former jockey and agent Carlos Arias.
“I was planning to visit my friend Carlos Arias for a long time,” De Vries said Friday morning. “This season I had chance to take some time off and come here. Carlos has taken care of me and tried to get me on a couple of mounts. It took me a little bit of time to get my license.”
These will be De Vries’s only rides in the U.S. Next week he goes to Germany to ride its race season.
“I ride in Germany mostly and Dubai in the winter,” De Vries noted.
During the most recent season in Dubai, De Vries finished fifth in the jockey’s standings with 22 wins from 196 mounts (11.2 percent).
“I’m 55 now and it was always my wish to ride in America,” De Vries said. “This is a beautiful place. Hopefully we do well this weekend.”
SATURDAY’S $1 COAST-TO-COAST PICK 5 STARTS AT 2:05 P.M. PT The $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 on Saturday starts at 2:05 p.m. PT with the ninth race from Gulfstream.
Gulfstream’s ninth is a $16,000 claimer at 1 1/16 miles on turf. A field of eight is entered led by 8-5 morning line favorite Grand Journey for trainer Carlos David. Joe Bravo will ride.
The sequence also includes the 11th race from Gulfstream and the fourth, fifth and seventh races from Santa Anita.
The 11th at Gulfstream is the $100,000 English Channel Stakes at a mile on turf. In a field of 11, Salvattore Prince with jockey Edgar Perez is the lukewarm 3-1 favorite for trainer Jose D’Angelo.
The fourth at Santa Anita is a $50,000 maiden-claimer for California-breds at 5 ½ furlongs on dirt. A field of seven is entered led by Antonsen (8-5) with jockey Juan Hernandez for trainer Carla Gaines.
The fifth at Santa Anita is also a $50,000 maiden-claimer for older fillies and mares at a mile on turf. In a filed of 10, O K Rose with Hernandez is the 3-1 favorite for Peter Eurton.
The seventh is the featured GII Charles Whittingham Stakes for older horses at 1 ¼ miles on turf. Planetario with jockey Hector Berrios is the 5-2 favorite for trainer Richard Mandella in a field of eighth.
The Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 features a player-friendly 15 percent takeout rate. It is offered every Saturday and Sunday through the end of the Santa Anita Hollywood Meet June 16.
HALF BROTHER TO HORSE OF THE YEAR FLIGHTLINE FIRES BULLET Eagles Flight, a half brother to undefeated 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline, had a bullet work Friday at Santa Anita for trainer John Sadler.
By Curlin out of graded stakes winner Feathered, Eagles Flight drilled five furlongs on the main track in 59.80 seconds. It was the fastest of 35 works at the distance.
Bred by Summer Wind Equine, Eagles Flight has worked eight times since March 13.
Flightline, also trained by Sadler, was a perfect 6-for-6 in his brilliant career. By Tapit, Flightline’s victories included the 2021 GI Malibu at Santa Anita and in 2022 the GI Metropolitan Handicap, GI Pacific Classic and Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Flightline was retired after the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Classic with $4,514,800 in earnings for owners Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing LLC. He is now a stallion at Lane’s End Farm in central Kentucky where he stands for $150,000.
FINISH LINES: Entering the third week of the Hollywood Meet, there is a four-way tie atop the trainer’s standings. Mark Glatt, Jeff Mullins, George Papaprodromou and Librado Barocio each have four wins at the stand entering Friday…Saturday’s $1 Pick Six at Santa Anita starts with sixth race at 3:25 p.m. PT. The competitive sequence averages 11.2 starters per race before scratches…Sunday’s feature is the GIII, $100,000 Senorita Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the hillside turf course. Laulne is the 5-2 morning line favorite for trainer Phil D’Amato …Santa Anita track announcer Frank Mirahmadi will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Saturday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:20 a.m. Every Friday at the Hollywood Meet, on-track patrons will receive free parking and admission plus $3 beers and $5 margaritas.