STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

SATURDAY, MAY 27, 2023

• __• MELAIR FAVORITE CEILING CRUSHER A RISING STAR FOR O’NEILL __
• • HACKING IT UP THE SLIGHT FAVORITE IN WIDE-OPEN SNOW CHIEF
• • PRAT, SAEZ, KIMURA IN TOWN TO RIDE MEMORIAL DAY GRADE I'S
• • TAIBA WORKS A STIFF 7F TOWARDS GI MET MILE FOR BAFFERT
• • RAINBOW 6 MANDATORY PAYOUT SET FOR MEMORIAL DAY
• • LONGTIME NOTES WRITER ED GOLDEN WILL BE HONORED SUNDAY

MELAIR FAVORITE CEILING CRUSHER A RISING STAR FOR O’NEILL

Trainer Doug O’Neill looks to have a “special” California-bred on his hands with the unbeaten 3-year-old filly Ceiling Crusher.

By California-based stallion Mr. Big, Ceiling Crusher is the prohibitive 3-5 morning-line favorite in Sunday’s $150,000 Melair Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on dirt. The odds-on support appears more than merited.

Ceiling Crusher has won her three starts, all against statebreds, by a combined 20 ¼ lengths. Most recently, she romped by 15 ¼-length when making her stakes debut in the 6 ½-furlong Evening Jewel here April 8. The scintillating effort returned a lofty 94 Beyer Speed Figure, which towers over the Melair field.

“She’s shown she has some special qualities,” O’Neill said Saturday morning.

A mere $22,000 auction purchase as a yearling, Ceiling Crusher debuted here last June and rolled to a 4 ¾-length victory when sprinting five furlongs for trainer Luis Mendez and owner Dan Northrup. Following her winning unveiling, Ceiling Crusher was entered in the 2022 Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings and Horses of All Ages Sale. She failed to meet her reserve with a final bid of $115,000.

O’Neill said Ceiling Crusher was purchased privately this winter for an undisclosed sum. Her new owners are Wonderland Racing Stables, Todd Cady, Tim Kasparoff and Ty Leatherman.

“We bought her only a couple months ago. Luis Mendez and Dan Northrup are great horsemen and they had her doing well,” O’Neill said.

In her first start for O’Neill, Ceiling Crusher won a first-level allowance for statebreds going six furlongs. Then came the Evening Jewel.

Sent off at 1-5 under Juan Hernandez, Ceiling Crusher dueled through a sharp opening half mile in 43.98 seconds. She was just getting started. As her rivals started to falter, Ceiling Crusher continued to motor six furlongs in a swift 1:08.57 before blitzing across the wire in 1:15.18.

O’Neill said the performance exceeded even the most optimistic expectations.

“It did. We were expecting big things. But that was beyond,” he noted.

Now Ceiling Crusher gets her first test around two turns in the Melair. She appears to have not missed a beat since the Evening Jewel. She has worked five times since her breakout performance, which includes a stiff six-furlong move in 1:13.60 this past Sunday.

Ceiling Crusher now has to prove herself around two turns. O’Neill does not see the added distance as being an issue. Ceiling Crusher’s pedigree would indicate likewise. Besides being by a Dynaformer stallion, her dam Palisadesprincess is a daughter of Indian Charlie.

“I think two turns will be fine. She’s just a natural,” O’Neill said. “She loves to train and that makes it super easy. We wanted to put a good six-furlong work into her last week and she didn’t disappoint. She worked great.”

In the Melair, Ceiling Crusher will break from the outside stall in a five-horse field. Hernandez, the leading rider at Santa Anita, will again be in the irons.

“It looks like there is some speed in there if somebody wants to go, but J.J. is such a good rider and has so much confidence in her. I think she can come off the bridle and relax, then when he asks, to finish up strong.”

The Melair goes as the fifth race on Sunday’s 10-race “Gold Rush” program that features four other statebred stakes. Post time is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. The field in post position order: Tom’s Regret, Kyle Frey (4-1); Carole Lombard, Ramon Vazquez (4-1); Danzing Cat, Antonio Fresu (10-1); Chismosa, Tiago Pereira (6-1); Ceiling Crusher, Juan Hernandez (3-5).

HACKING IT UP THE SLIGHT FAVORITE IN WIDE-OPEN SNOW CHIEF

Hacking It Up, the 2-1 morning-line favorite in Sunday’s Snow Chief for 3-year-olds going mile on turf, has elevated his game this winter and spring for trainer George Papaprodomou and owner Qatar Racing.

Hacking It Up made his first four starts, all sprinting on dirt, last summer for trainer Doug O’Neill and owner-breeder Paul Reddam. He graduated going five furlongs in his second start against California-breds at Del Mar. But in two subsequent stakes tries against statebreds at Del Mar, the son of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist never threatened.

At that point, Reddam entered Hacking It Up in the Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings and Horses of All Ages Sale. He sold for $65,000 and subsequently transferred to Papaprodromou.

Gelded by his new connections, Hacking It Up was switched to turf and stretched to a mile for his 3-year-old bow. He promptly scored in a first-level allowance for statebreds here Feb. 5. Two starts later, Hacking It Up became a stakes winner when sent north to Golden Gate. In the Silky Sullivan at a mile on turf April 30, Hacking It Up rallied under Golden Gate’s leading rider Evin Roman to win by a half-length at 7-2.

“He’s a nice little horse,” Papaprodromou said Saturday morning. “We gelded him and that has helped. But it’s probably the turf. That’s why we bought him, to try him on the grass. He’s matured and has come along well.”

Hacking It Up will break from the far outside stall in a seven-horse field set for the Snow Chief. Jockey Umberto Rispoli will be aboard for the first time.

There will be no shortage of competition for Hacking It Up Sunday.

Listed as the 5-2 co-second choices on the morning line are Old Pal, a lightly raced son of Grazen for high-percentage trainer Mark Glatt who lures Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez; and Boss Sully, who will have blinkers off for trainer Brian Koriner after just missing in a similar statebred allowance here April 21. Also looming is Clouseau, who switches to turf after winning three of his last four starts for trainer Ian Kruljac.

The Snow Chief goes as the eighth race on Sunday’s 10-race “Gold Rush” program. Post time is scheduled for 4:45 p.m. The field in post position order: Old Pal, Juan Hernandez (5-2); Boss Sully, Hector Berrios (5-2); Clouseau, Geovanni Franco (5-1); Upward Mobility, Ramon Vazquez (15-1); Be Punctual, Mario Gutierrez (15-1); Tom and Jazzy, Antonio Fresu (8-1); Hacking It Up, Umberto Rispoli (2-1).

PRAT, SAEZ, KIMURA IN TOWN MONDAY TO RIDE MEMORIAL DAY GRADE I'S

Three of the top jockeys in North America will be on hand Monday to ride Santa Anita’s blockbuster Memorial Day card highlighted by a trio of Grade Is.

Making their way to Santa Anita will be Luis Saez, who this year ranks second in North America in both wins (119) and purse earnings ($10,092,489); and Flavien Prat, who relocated to Kentucky following the Santa Anita Derby in April and is now based in New York after spending the winter at Santa Anita.

Despite Prat having only about half the mounts as Saez this year, he ranks third in North America in purse earnings with $10,033,162. Prat’s mounts have earned an average of $32,365 per start, which is easily the most among North American jockeys that ride regularly.

Also returning to Santa Anita Monday is Kazushi Kimura. He spent the winter here before returning last month to his home base at Woodbine, where he is once again the leading rider.

Saez has six mounts at Santa Anita Monday. In the Grade Is, he’ll ride morning-line favorite Queen Goddess (9-5) in the Gamely for trainer Michael McCarthy; Du Jour (6-1) in the Shoemaker Mile for Bob Baffert; and Senor Buscador (5-1) in the Hollywood Gold Cup for Todd Fincher.

Prat has five mounts Monday. His Grade I mounts are School Dance (6-1) in the Gamely for Phil D’Amato; morning-line favorite Hong Kong Harry (7-2) in the Shoemaker Mile for D’Amato; and Country Grammer (8-5) in the Hollywood Gold Cup for Baffert.

Kimura has six mounts Monday. His two Grade I mounts are Gold Phoenix (4-1) in the Shoemaker Mile for D’Amato and longshot Yes This Time (15-1) in the Hollywood Gold Cup for Mark Glatt.

Santa Anita’s Memorial Day card kicks off at 1 p.m. Monday.

RAINBOW 6 MANDATORY PAYOUT IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY

As part of a blockbuster Memorial Day program, Santa Anita will have a mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 Jackpot on Monday. Additionally, Santa Anita is guaranteeing a $1 million payout on both Saturday and *Sunday if there is a single-ticket winner.

*In the event there is a $1 million payout to a single ticket winner on Saturday, there is no such guarantee in place for Sunday.

The Rainbow 6 is a 20-cent minimum wager. If there are no single-ticket winners on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, track officials estimate Monday’s pool will approach $3 million.

Monday’s Rainbow 6 begins with the fifth race at 3:12 p.m. PT. The sequence averages 9.0 starters per race and includes the GI Shoemaker Mile on turf, GI Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on the main track and GI Gamely for fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Entering Saturday’s card, the Rainbow 6 carryover stands at $225,627.01.

SANTA ANITA TO HONOR LONGTIME NOTES WRITER ED GOLDEN ON SUNDAY

Ed Golden, who retired this past December following a 30-year run as the architect of Santa Anita’s popular Stable Notes, will have a race named in his honor and be feted in a Winner’s Circle ceremony following Sunday’s second race.

A Philadelphia native and Philadelphian to his core (see Eagles, Flyers & Phillies), Golden hung up his keyboard on Dec. 5 and although he is now officially retired, his work on behalf of Santa Anita and the greater Thoroughbred industry will not soon be forgotten. Indefatigable in his love of the game and pursuit of a good gamble, Golden cultivated sources, jockeys, agents, trainers, owners, media members, officials and celebrities over the years that bore ample fruit for his readers and produced reams of good will for those that employed him.

“Hey Ed, Happy New Year. Still enjoy reading your Notes, lots of pressure to keep them consistently informative and fresh, but you do it…”—Vince Bruun, Director of Media Relations, Emerald Downs, Feb. 12, 2014

“Wow. These Notes are supposed to be dry, boring stuff. Not Ed Golden’s. Sensational reporting and writing. I hope the rest of the Santa Anita media recognizes and appreciates what we have. Sorry if I am starting to sound like some groupie, but I know writing and reporting and I know what I’d be thinking if I still was the guy hiring in Times Sports.”—Bill Dwyre, longtime LA Times Sports Editor and columnist, June 8, 2015

How about this anecdote from an interview Golden did with an oft-prickly Hall of Fame trainer?

“If you caught Bobby Frankel at a propitious moment and put your recording device on start, you could reap a profound interview not only on racing, but sports, politics, the state of the world in general and even unmentionables,” recalled Golden.

“But the late, great trainer’s reputation as having an irascible vein was not without merit. Gathering news at his Santa Anita barn one morning, I asked about a Kentucky Derby prospect he had recently received. Delighted I got what I sought with barely a frown, I had a foot out the tack room door when I turned and asked him one more question—the name of the owner.

“Patience begone, Frankel exploded and barked out ‘Gann!!’ (Edmund Gann).”

And so it was, Ed Golden, husband, father, grandfather and U.S. Army veteran, was in his element, cajoling, bobbing, weaving and in the end—gathering information that made his, The Best Damn Stable Notes in America. --Mike Willman

FINISH LINES: Apprentice Armando Aguilar and fellow jockeys Mario Gutierrez and Kent Desormeaux each won two races on Friday’s eight-race card… Multiple Grade I winner Taiba worked a stiff seven furlongs in 1:25.60 this morning for Bob Baffert. He is pointed to the GI Met Mile on June 10 at Belmont Park…Two-time Kentucky Derby winning-trainer Doug O’Neill will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Sunday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m…Memorial Day weekend festivities at Santa Anita will include an infield carnival, plus a beer festival, cornhole derby on Saturday and SoCal Corgi Nationals on Sunday. Also on Monday, ON-TRACK FANS WILL RECEIVE $1 BEERS, SODAS AND $2 HOT DOGS…