STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

__SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 2023 __

- • SKINNER IS SCRATCHED FROM SUNDAY’S AFFIRMED - • GLATT DECIDES ON THE GI MET MILE FOR DR. SCHIVEL - • FILLY OUT OF CHAMPION INDIAN BLESSING RETURNS FOR BAFFERT - • TOP JOCKEY HERNANDEZ WINS FOUR ON FRIDAY

SKINNER WILL NOT RUN IN SUNDAY’S AFFIRMED FOR 3-YEAR-OLDS

Skinner, who was scratched from the Kentucky Derby four weeks ago, has also been scratched from Sunday’s Affirmed Stakes.

Trainer John Shirreffs made the decision to withdraw following a gallop on the main track Saturday morning. He notified the Santa Anita racing office of the scratch at about 9:30 a.m.

“I just wasn’t happy with the way he jogged,” Shirreffs said from Clocker’s Corner.

Skinner was the 9-5 second choice on the morning line behind Geaux Rocket ride, the 8-5 favorite trainer Richard Mandella. Hall of Famer Mike Smith was set to ride Skinner for the first time.

Skinner has not raced since a third-place finish in the GI Santa Anita Derby on April 8. The Curlin colt was scratched from the Kentucky Derby two days before the 1 ¼-mile classic due to an elevated temperature.

Following the illness and return trip to Santa Anita, Skinner was back on the work tab May 14, seven days after the Kentucky Derby. He had worked three times for the Affirmed, including a five-furlong move in 1:02.20 on Sunday.

Owned by C R K Stable, Skinner was Grade I-placed as a 2-year-old while still a maiden. He earned his diploma here in his sophomore bow Feb. 12 and came back to be third in the GII San Felipe on March 4 prior to the Santa Anita Derby.

Skinner’s withdrawal from the Affirmed leaves a compact field of five set to go postward. Post time is scheduled for 4:44 p.m. The field in post position order: Ze’bul, Abel Cedillo (10-1); Del Mar Jerry, Kent Desormeaux (6-1); Mr Fisk, Juan Hernandez (5-1); Hard to Figure, Tiago Pereira (5-1); Geaux Rocket Ride, Ramon Vazquez (8-5).

__GLATT DECIDES ON THE GI MET MILE FOR DR. SCHIVEL __

Following a six-furlong work by Dr. Schivel Saturday at Santa Anita, trainer Mark Glatt said the multiple Grade I winner would ship to New York and run in next Saturday’s GI Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park.

Glatt had been eyeing either the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap, also known as the Met Mile, or the Grade II, $250,000 True North going 6 ½ furlongs also at Belmont Park. Both races are part of the undercard for next Saturday’s 155th Belmont Stakes.

“We think both races are very tough, but the Met Mile could do wonders for his stud career, Glatt said Saturday. “We figured this will likely be the last chance for him. He’s fresh, he’s sharp off that comeback win we feel it’s as good a time as any to give it a try.”

A 5-year-old horse by Violence, Dr. Schivel is owned by Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and William A. Branch. He had been sidelined more than 13 months before returning May 13 at Santa Anita and rolling to 4 ¼-length victory.

Dr. Schivel has a record of 6-2-2 in 11 starts with $1,119,100 in earnings. As a 2-year-old in 2020, he won the GI Del Mar Futurity. The following year he won the GI Bing Crosby and GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship before an agonizing nose loss in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar.

Also slated to run in the Met Mile are Santa Anita-based Taiba for Bob Baffert and Slow Down Andy for trainer Doug O’Neill. Entries for the Met Mile and the rest of the Belmont Stakes program will be taken on Tuesday. Glatt said Dr. Schivel will ship to Belmont Park that same day.

FILLY OUT OF 2-TIME CHAMP INDIAN BLESSING RETURNS FOR BAFFERT

Halosnheaven, a 3-year-old filly out of two-time champion Indian Blessing, return Sunday after nearly 10 months on the sidelines in a six-furlong maiden heat on dirt.

Halosnheaven is a homebred for Hal and Patti Earnhardt, who also owned and bred Indian Blessing. Bob Baffert, who guided Indian Blessing to champion 2-year filly honors in 2007 and champion female sprinter in 2008, also trains Halosnheaven.

By Curlin, Halosnheaven made two starts at Del Mar last summer before heading to the sidelines. She was second on debut going five furlongs in July and returned Aug. 14 to be beaten just a neck when going 6 ½ furlongs. The winner was And Tell Me Nolies, who would go on to become a Grade I winner for trainer Peter Miller.

Indian Blessing, by Indian Charlie, won 10 of 16 starts with five-runner-up finishes. She banked $2,995,420 in three seasons of racing. Among her nine graded stakes wins were four Grade I’s. Indian Blessing won the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Monmouth Park to lock up that year’s Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old filly and the following year she won the GI Prioress at Belmont Park, GI Test at Saratoga and GI La Brea at Santa Anita.

Halosnheaven is the 2-1 second choice on the morning line for her debut, which goes as the fourth race on Sunday’s nine-race card. Joe Bravo will ride. The 9-5 favorite is Enclosure, a Juddmonte homebred by Arrogate who is also trained by Baffert. Enclosure was third in her debut here going 6 ½ furlongs March 18.

Halosnheaven has worked four time since May 3 for her 3-year-old bow, which includes a bullet five-furlong move in 59.00 seconds a week ago Friday.

While Indian Blessing was a multiple champion on the track, she has had only limited success in the breeding shed. Her most productive offspring to date was Ten Blessings, a three-time winner by Smart Strike who was graded-stakes placed. He earned $162,610 for the Earnhardts and Baffert.

Post time for Sunday’s fourth race is scheduled for 2:41 p.m.

FINISH LINES: Leading rider Juan Hernandez won four races on Friday’s nine-race card to extend his advantage in the jockey’s standings. He now has 30 wins at the Hollywood Meet, 13 more than runner-up Ramon Vazquez…Congratulations to the University of Arizona Racetrack Industry Program and School of Agriculture for breeding Real Fire, winner of Friday’s seventh race for trainer Mark Glatt. A 4-year-old filly by Street Boss, Real Fire has now won three of 12 starts and banked $118,060…Closing day of the Santa Anita Hollywood Meet is June 18…The Santa Anita Infield will host a Family Fun Zone on Saturdays and Sundays through the remainder of the meet. Attractions include inflatable jumpers, arts and crafts, face painting, pony ride, carnival games and more…FanDuel TV’s Andie Biancone will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Sunday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50.