STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

MONDAY, FEB. 20, 2023

__• WITH HEAVY RAIN FORECAST, SANTA ANITA CANCELS FRIDAY’S CARD __

• GI WINNER DR. SCHIVEL GEARING UP AFTER LONG LAYOFF

• JOCKEY VICTOR ESPINOZA REUNITES WITH AGENT BRIAN BEACH

• BC JUVENILE RUNNER-UP CAVE ROCK WORKS FOR BAFFERT

WITH HEAVY RAIN IN THE FORECAST, SANTA ANITA CANCELS FRIDAY’S CARD

Santa Anita has canceled Friday’s card due to heavy rain forecast for the area beginning Thursday. Most of the races scheduled for Friday will be brought back as “extras” on Saturday, according to a notice from the racing office.

“We’re looking at a low end of probably two inches of rain between late Thursday and Friday with a high end closer to five inches,” said Jason Egan, Santa Anita director of racing and racing secretary.

Friday was originally scheduled to be a dark day at Santa Anita following Monday’s special Presidents’ Day card. However, due to what were multiple rain-related cancellations earlier in the Classic Meet, Friday’s card was added to serve as a makeup for the lost days.

On-track fans are advised that Santa Anita will be open for simulcast wagering Friday in the Grandstand Paddock Room beginning at 10 a.m. Parking and admission are free.

TOP SPRINTER DR. SCHIVEL GEARING UP AFTER LONG LAYOFF

Top sprinter Dr. Schivel, sidelined since a Group I try in Dubai last March, had his second work on the comeback trail Saturday for trainer Mark Glatt.

The Grade I winner and 2021 Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up drilled three furlongs in 37.40 seconds on Saturday. Last Monday, Dr. Schivel also went an easy three furlongs in 39.80 seconds.

Dr. Schivel’s only start last year was a third-place finish in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan Racecourse on March 26. He returned from the Middle East trip with bone bruising and was sent to the farm in July for rest and recuperation. He’d been galloping at Santa Anita this winter before returning to the work tab last week.

“We had to go real slow with him, but things are going to start picking up pretty good here hopefully,” Glatt said.

The trainer added he does not have a timetable for Dr. Schivel’s return to the races. Glatt noted the 5-year-old Violence horse will likely have to miss a scheduled work this weekend due to a forecast of heavy rain in the area.

“Hopefully this is the last storm we have because it really messes you up with a horse like this coming off a break,” Glatt said. “It’s important for those horses to stay on schedule. Horses that have been running right along they can get by with less training. But for a horse you’re trying to get fit again, it’s tough.”

Dr. Schivel sports a record of 5-2-2 in 10 starts with earnings of $1,076,500 for owners Red Baron’s Barn, Rancho Temescal, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and William A. Branch. As a 2-year-old in 2020 he won the Grade I Del Mar Futurity and then added another Grade I win the following season when taking the Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar. In that year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, also at Del Mar, Dr. Schivel had the lead in deep stretch but got nailed on the wire by Aloha West to lose by a nose.

“He’s doing well. He’ll be ready when he’s ready,” Glatt said.

JOCKEY VICTOR ESPINOZA REUNITES WITH AGENT BRIAN BEACH

Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza will once again be represented by agent Brian Beach beginning with the start of the fifth condition book on Friday. Beach previously represented Espinoza from 2013 to 2021. “We’re getting the band back together,” the agent said Monday.

During their previous partnership, Espinoza swept the 2015 Triple Crown with American Pharoah. They split in 2021 due to what Beach said was a combination of COVID and the health of his wife, Lotta.

“With all the restrictions that were put in place at the time due to COVID, the health of my wife kind of kept me away from the track,” Beach said. “But things are much better with her and I’m able to jump back in.”

Espinoza has had just 23 mounts at the Classic Meet with two wins. For his career, the 50-year-old Hall of Famer has racked up 3,495 victories with purse earnings of more than $211 million.

Finish Lines: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up Cave Rock had his second work of the year Monday when drilling four furlongs in 49.7 seconds for trainer Bob Baffert…Santa Anita will host a chili cook-off Saturday starting at noon…On Santa Anita Handicap day March 5, Thoroughbred members in attendance will receive a free Santa Anita Park cap…There is a $164,303.72 carryover in the Rainbow 6 Jackpot entering Monday’s card...The win rate for favorites has ticked up to 31.94 percent at the Classic meet through Saturday.