STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2023

Photo: Ernie Belmonte

- • REINCARNATE WORKS IN COMPANY FOR KENTUCKY DERBY - • AIR FORCE RED, WHATMAKESSAMMYRUN MEET AGAIN IN SIREN LURE - • 2-YEAR-OLD RACING BEGINS NEXT WEEK AT SANTA ANITA - • TAIBA, FAIZA AMONG 150 WORKERS ON WARM SANTA ANITA MORNING __- • SEABISCUIT TRAM TOUR RETURNS BEGINNING NEXT SATURDAY __ - • PERMANENTLY DISABLED JOCKEY’S FUND TELETHON IS SUNDAY

REINCARNATE WORKS IN COMPANY FOR KENTUCKY DERBY Reincarnate continued his preparations for the Kentucky Derby when working five furlongs in company on Saturday at Santa Anita for trainer Tim Yakteen.

Hitting the main track right after the 6:30 a.m. renovation break, Reincarnate completed the work in 1:01.0. It was his second work since a third-place finish in the Grade I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on April 1.

“He worked great. Looked really good this morning,” Yakteen said.

Reincarnate won the GIII Sham on Jan. 8 at Santa Anita and was third in the GIII Rebel at Oaklawn Park prior to the Arkansas Derby. He will be ridden in the Kentucky Derby by John Velaquez, who was aboard for both the Rebel and Arkansas Derby.

Set to join Reincarnate in the Kentucky Derby starting gate May 6 at Churchill Downs is stablemate Practical Move, winner of the GI Santa Anita Derby here April 8. Practical Move worked on Friday, drilling four furlongs in 47.00 seconds while in company with Kangaroo Court. Yakteen reported Saturday morning Practical Move and Kangaroo Court, along with multiple stakes winner Johannes who also worked Friday, were all in good order Saturday and on track to run at Churchill Downs.

“Everyone was good this morning. Fingers crossed,” Yakteen said.

Johannes, winner of the Baffle and Pasadena Stakes on turf in his two most recent starts, is set to run in the GII American Turf for 3-year-olds on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Kangaroo Court is scheduled to run in the GII Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs on the same day. He will be joined in the Pat Day Mile by stablemate Fort Bragg, who will cut back in distance following a fifth-place finish in the GI Florida Derby on April 1. Fort Bragg also worked on Saturday when drilling five furlongs in 59.40 seconds. It was the fourth fastest of 43 works at the distance.

Reincarnate, Practical Move, Kangaroo Court and Johannes will all work back on Friday at Santa Anita, Yakteen said. They are scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs the following day.

AIR FORCE RED, WHATMAKESSAMMYRUN MEET AGAIN IN SIREN LURE Graded stakes winners Air Force Red and Whatmakessammyrun lead a compact field of five set to go postward in Sunday’s feature race, the $100,000 Silent Lure Stakes for older horses going about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course.

This will be the fourth meeting between Air Force Red, the 6-5 morning-line favorite, and 5-2 second choice Whatmakessammyrun. In their most recent matchup, the GII Joe Hernandez on the hillside turf course Dec. 31, Air Force Red took the field gate to wire with Whatmakessammyrun finishing off the board. In last October’s GII Eddie D Stakes, also on the hillside turf course, the tables were turned with Whatmakessammyrun rallying to win and Air Force Red finishing off the board.

Mark Glatt, trainer of Whatmakessammyrun is hoping for a similar outcome on Sunday to the Eddie D on Sunday. He noted the race shape for the Silent Lure could set things up for his 5-year-old gelding. Air Force Red is not the only confirmed front-runner in the field. Both Sunrise Journey (4-1) and Burnin Turf (5-1) have also done their best running on the front end.

“It looks like there’s some speed in there. Hopefully we’ll get a good stalking trip,” Glatt said.

Glatt is also optimistic due to the warming weather at Santa Anita. The turf course on Sunday should be much firmer than what Whatmakessammyrun has contended with in the Joe Hernandez and most recently the GIII San Simeon on March 5 when he finished fourth over the hillside turf course.

“He really likes the course, but he doesn’t like it when it’s wet and it’s been a little wet the last few times he’s run. Hopefully it will be firmer like it was in October when he won a Grade II. We’ll see.” Glatt said.

After his win in the Joe Hernandez, Air Force Red was stretched out to a mile by trainer Leonard Powell for his next two starts. The 5-year-old ridgling by Air Force Blue was beaten a neck in the GIII Thunder Road here Feb. 4 and returned to be fifth by 1 ¾-lengths in the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile March 4.

“Last time he ran down the hill it was a huge race,” Powell said Saturday. “Then when we ran him a mile, he ran well but didn’t finish the way he we hoped. This seems to be his best trip.”

The Siren Lure goes as the third race on Sunday’s 10-race card. Post time is scheduled for 1:59 p.m. The field in post position order: Air Force Red, Juan Hernandez (6-5); Whatmakessammyrun, Joe Bravo (5-2); Indian Peek, Ramon Vazquez (5-1); Sunrise Journey, Edwin Maldonado (4-1); Burnin Turf, Umberto Rispoli (5-1).

2-YEAR-OLD RACING KICKS OFF NEXT WEEKEND Fans and horseplayers will get their first look at this year’s crop of 2-year-olds next weekend as two maiden events for juveniles are in the condition book.

On Saturday, 2-year-old statebred fillies will dash 4 ½ furlongs on the main track. Then on Sunday, 2-year-old statebred colts and geldings will also compete at 4 ½ furlongs on the main track.

The first 2-year-old stakes of the year are set for June 17. Scheduled to be run that day are both the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Futurity and $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Debutante, each contested at 5 ½ furlongs on the main track.

TAIBA, FAIZA AMONG 150 WORKERS ON A WARM SANTA ANITA MORNING Two stars from Bob Baffert’s barn, Taiba and Faiza, were among 150 workers on what was a warm spring morning at Santa Anita. By 1 p.m. post time on Saturday, the temperature in Arcadia is expected to reach the high 80s.

Taiba, eighth most recently in the GI Saudi Cup on Feb. 25, worked four furlongs in 47.80 seconds. The multiple Grade I winner had his first work following the Saudi Cup on April 2.

Faiza’s work on Saturday was her first since winning the GII Santa Anita Oaks here April 8. The Girvin filly, who is a perfect 5-for-5, worked three furlongs in 36.00 seconds.

SEABISCUIT TRAM TOUR RETURNS BEGINNING APRIL 29 The Seabiscuit Tram Tour returns to Santa Anita beginning next Saturday. The guided tour, which is free of charge, departs Clocker’s Corner at 9:45 a.m. It includes a visit to Santa Anita’s Stable Area, Receiving Barn, Paddock Gardens and a drive by Seabiscuit’s original barn and stall. Participants will also walk through the Silks Rooms before visiting the saddling paddock.

The Seabiscuit Tram Tour will run every Saturday through June 17 with some exceptions. The tour will not be offered May 6, May 20 and June 10. Free parking is also available through Gate 8 off Baldwin Avenue. To reserve a spot, visit www.santanita.com/tramtour or call (626) 574-6677.

FINISH LINES: The 5th annual Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund Telethon is set for Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Current and retired jockeys will be on hand at the XBTV studio at Santa Anita answering phones and accepting donations for the worthwhile cause. The phone number to donate is 1-844-TVG-PDJF…With 40 qualifying points in-hand, GI Santa Anita Derby runner-up Mandarin Hero has been galloping daily at Santa Anita. With six horses in front of him, he currently ranks 26th in his quest to be a Derby starter. Mandarin Hero is scheduled to work here Wednesday and fly to Churchill Downs the following day for a potential start in the Run for the Roses…After dominating the Classic Meet , Juan Hernandez won two races Friday as did Umberto Rispoli, putting them atop the Hollywood Meet jockey’s standings… The 28-day Hollywood Meet runs through Sunday, June 18…There is a Rainbow 6 carryover of $55,981.82 entering Friday’s card…Brian Beach, agent for jockeys Joe Bravo and Victor Espinoza, will be host Tom Quigley’s guest Sunday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m.