STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2023

• • FAVORITE FIRST PEACE FACES FAMILIAR FOES IN DESERT CODE
• • SPIRIT OF MAKENA, FORBIDDEN KINGDOM WORK FOR GII TRIPLE BEND
• __• 10 STAKES INCLUDING 3 GRADE I’S SET FOR MEMORIAL WEEKEND __
• • JOCKEY GEOVANNI FRANCO WINS A PAIR ON FRIDAY
• • TICKETS FOR BREEDERS’ CUP AT SANTA ANITA NOW ON SALE

FAVORED FIRST PEACE FACES FAMILIAR FOES IN DESERT CODE

First Peace will look to make it back-to-back stakes wins on the hillside turf course Sunday when he takes on several familiar rivals in the Desert Code Stakes for 3-year-olds.

Trained by Mark Glatt, First Peace scored at 4-1 when testing the hill for the first time in the April 9 John Shear Stakes. Left in his wake that day were runner-up Mas Rapido, Valiancer and Conclude, who was the odds-on favorite for trainer Phil D’Amato. Each will take a second crack at First Peace on Sunday.

Through his first six starts, First Peace is proving to be a consistent colt for owner Rancho Temescal and Red Baron’s Barn. By the More than Ready stallion Funtastic, he was purchased for $75,000 at last year’s OBS June 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

First Peace failed to menace when he debuted on dirt last September at Del Mar. But in five subsequent starts, all on turf, he’s never missed the board. Prior to his win in last month’s John Shear, First Peace was second beaten just a half-length in the one-mile Eddie Logan here Dec. 30 and was a close-up third in the GIII Cecil B. DeMille at Del Mar Dec. 4.

In the Desert Code, First Peace is the slight 8-5 program favorite ahead of 9-5 second choice Conclude.

“He’s just as solid as can be,” Glatt said of First Peace Saturday morning. “One of those horses that always gives their best.”

In the John Shear, First Peace showed a new dimension when winning from just off the pace. He was sitting just behind the two leaders at the quarter pole before bursting through on the rail under Hall of Famer Mike Smith to earn a comfortable one-length win.

Glatt noted the different style shown by First Peace in the John Shear was largely the result of a couple of factors.

“He was shortening up from a mile and often horses when they are coming down the hill, they will relax a little more,” the trainer explained.

First Peace, who will again have Smith in the irons in the Desert Code, has banked $141,300 with a record of 2-2-1 in six starts.

“He’s really taken a liking to the hillside. Hopefully he will have a repeat performance on Sunday,” Glatt said.

The Desert Code goes as the sixth race on Sunday’s eight race card. Post time is scheduled for 3:41. The field in post position order: Valiancer, Hector Berrios (6-1); First Peace, Mike Smith (8-5); Mas Rapido, Kent Desormeaux (5-1); Conclude, Juan Hernandez (9-5); Acquired Class, Umberto Rispoli (6-1); Ransomware, Ramon Vazquez (8-1).

SPIRIT OF MAKENA, FORBIDDEN KINDGDOM WORK FOR GII TRIPLE BEND

Graded-stakes winners Spirit of Makena and Forbidden Kingdom, each pointed to next Saturday’s GII Triple Bend going seven furlongs, were among 172 workers at Santa Anita this morning.

If all goes according to plan, Spirit of Makena and Forbidden Kingdom will be meeting for the second time in the Triple Bend. In the GIII San Carlos here on March 11, also at seven furlongs, Spirit of Makena pressed a frontrunning Forbidden Kingdom before he overtook that rival in the stretch to win by 1 ½ lengths under Joe Bravo. It was Spirit of Makena’s third win in four starts for trainer George Papaprodromou.

On Saturday, Spirit of Makena worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds. It was the fifth-fastest of 43 moves at the distance. Owned and bred by Bruce Chandler, Spirit of Makena is a 5-year-old full horse by Ghostzapper.

Forbidden Kingdom worked five furlongs in 59.40 seconds, which was the second-fastest drill at the distance Saturday. Winner of last year’s GII San Vicente and GII San Felipe, Forbidden Kingdom was also second in the GI Malibu here on Dec. 26 prior to the San Carlos. A 4-year-old colt by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Forbidden Kingdom is trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella and owned in partnership by My Racehorse and Spendthrift Farm.

10 GRADED STAKES INCLUDING 3 GRADE I’S SET FOR MEMORIAL WEEKEND

Santa Anita will host a blockbuster four days of racing starting next Friday as part of Memorial Day weekend. There are 10 stakes scheduled, including three Grade I’s, plus an array of other entertainment options including a beer festival, Infield carnival, cornhole derby and the SoCal Corgi Nationals.

Next Saturday, the stakes action gets underway with the GII Triple Bend at seven furlongs on dirt and GIII Daytona for older horses on the hillside turf course.

California-breds will take the spotlight on Gold Rush Day, Sunday. Set for that card is the $150,000 Snow Chief for 3-year-olds on turf; Melair for 3-year-old fillies on the main track; Thor’s Echo at six furlongs on dirt; Crystal Water going a mile on turf and Fran’s Valentine for fillies and mares on turf.

Then on Memorial Day, three Grade I’s will cap the week. Scheduled are the Shoemaker Mile on turf, which is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Mile; Gamely for fillies and mare on turf and the Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 ¼ miles on the main track.

Tickets, dining packages and more can be purchased by visiting santaanita.com.

FINISH LINES: Jockey Geovanni Franco had two wins Friday to move into a tie for seventh in the jockey’s standings at the Hollywood Meet…Umberto Rispoli had a double as well, and now trails only Juan Hernandez through 13 racing days, 15-12… Horseplayer and actor Tim Colceri (Full Metal Jacket) will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Sunday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m…The win rate for favorites at the Hollywood Meet is 32.79 percent entering Saturday’s eight-race card…Jockey Jose Valdivia, Jr. is one win away from career victory number 2,000…There is a Rainbow 6 Jackpot carryover of $138,926 for Saturday’s 10-race card…Tickets to this year’s Breeders’ Cup Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased at BreedersCup.com/ticket.