Contact: Victor Ryan; Victor.Ryan@santaanita.com

CHE EVASORA ERNIE BELMONTE

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN SATURDAY, OCT. 12, 2024

Photo: Ernie Belmonte

• WORKS: CHE EVASORA LIKELY BC-BOUND AFTER ZENYATTA MISFIRE • CLEAN-WATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT UNDERWAY AT SANTA ANITA • SATURDAY’S $1 COAST-TO-COAST PICK 5 STARTS AT 2 P.M. PT • JOCKEY RISPOLI BAGS 3 WINS ON FRIDAY’S 8-RACE CARD • SPECIAL HOLIDAY CARD MONDAY WITH $1 BEERS, $2 HOT DOGS

WORKS: CHE EVASORA BC-DISTAFF BOUND AFTER ZENYATTA MISFIRE Argentinian Group I winner Che Evasora, who was eased in the GII Zenyatta Stakes when making her U.S. debut Sept. 29 at Santa Anita, returned to the work tab Saturday with a half-mile drill in 50.60 seconds.

“She went good. It was her first breeze back and just wanted to give her something easy,” said trainer Phil D’Amato.

Campaigned by R Unicorn Stable, Che Evasora owns an automatic berth into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff Nov. 2 at Del Mar. She earned the bid with an upset victory in the Group I Gran Premio Criadores going 1 ¼ miles in Argentina on May 1.

“We’re looking to run her in the Breeders’ Cup,” D’Amato said following the work. He added a secondary option would be the GIII Bayakoa at a mile on the Breeders’ Cup Saturday undercard.

In the Zenyatta, Che Evasora flashed early speed under Antonio Fresu before taking up a stalking position down the backstretch. On the second turn, Che Evasora began to drop back before ultimately being eased.

“I would say draw a line through the last,” said D’Amato, who enters Saturday’s action with 999 career wins. “I don’t know why she was so rank. But we’re going to get her in the style she won with down in South America. She came from way out of it.”

Also returning to the tab for D’Amato was Grade I winner Gold Phoenix, who is ticketed to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf. The 6-year-old gelding, most recently fifth in the GII California Crown John Henry, worked a half mile on the training track in 49.0 seconds.

Other Breeders’ Cup candidates working Saturday included There Goes Harvard (Turf), The Chosen Vron (Sprint), Straight No Chaser (Sprint), Raging Torrent (Sprint) and Johannes (Mile).

There Goes Harvard, second in the John Henry, returned to the tab with a four-furlong move in 49.0 seconds for trainer Michael McCarthy.

Raging Torrent, winner of the GII Pat O’Brien at Del Mar Aug. 24, worked five furlongs in 1:00.0 for trainer Doug O’Neill. The Chosen Vron, second in the Pat O’Brien, earned a bullet with a five-furlong work in 59.0 seconds for trainer and co-owner Eric Kruljac. Straight No Chaser, winner of the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship Sept. 29, returned to the tab with a four-furlong work in 50.20 seconds for trainer Dan Blacker.

Johannes, winner of the GII City of Hope Mile Sept. 28 at Santa Anita, also had his first work back. The Grade I winner went four furlongs in 48.40 seconds for trainer Tim Yakteen.

MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CLEAN WATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT UNDERWAY

As part of Santa Anita’s commitment to the environment and obligations under the federal Clean Water Act, the next phase of a multi-million CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation) project began earlier this week in Santa Anita’s Owner/Trainer parking lot.

This considerable investment in Santa Anita Park’s future will be completed over the next six months. During this time, Owner/Trainer parking has temporarily been relocated south of the horse path, adjacent to the assigned parking lot.

This stage of construction will include the installation of a large water retention basin (storage tank), to capture water from the stable area. It is a similar, but much larger, project to what was completed in the west parking lot near Clockers’ Corner in 2022. Upon completion, this will further improve the quality of water that flows into the rivers and the Pacific Ocean. It is being handled by the same group who has done several large projects at Santa Anita.

SATURDAY’S $1 COAST-TO-COAST PICK 5 STARTS AT 2 P.M. PT

The $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 on Saturday, which combines races from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, kicks off at 2 p.m. PT with the third race from Santa Anita. The Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 features a player-friendly 15 percent takeout rate.

The opening leg from Santa Anita is a first-level allowance at a mile on dirt. It features a potential standout in 6-5 program favorite Cavalieri. Trained by Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old Nyquist filly went gate-to-wire when winning her debut by two lengths going a mile on dirt Aug. 29 at Del Mar. Juan Hernandez rides Cavalieri.

The second leg is the 9th race from Gulfstream Park, an allowance at 1 1/16 miles on turf which has an overflow field of 14 entered. The 5-2 program favorite is Battle Call for trainer Sandino Hernandez Jr. with Emisael Jaramillo in the irons.

The third leg is the 10th from Gulfstream, an allowance at six furlongs on dirt. In a field of eight, Adios Babe is the 8-5 program favorite for trainer Victor Barboza Jr.

The fourth leg is the fifth from Santa Anita, an allowance at 1 1/8 miles on turf. A field of seven is signed on led by 2-1 program favorite Eye On Ry, trained by Ron Ellis with Victor Espinoza in the irons.

The anchor leg is the seventh from Santa Anita, an allowance at one mile on turf. In a competitive field of nine, Hannah Buckle is a tepid 7-2 program favorite for trainer Leonard Powell. Armando Ayuso rides.

The Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 is offered every Saturday and Sunday through the end of the Santa Anita Autumn Meet on Oct. 27.

FINISH LINES: Jockey Umberto Rispoli rode three winners Friday to move into a tie for second in the jockey’s standings. He scored in the third with Ocasek ($5) for trainer George Papaprodromou, the fourth with Sbagliato ($5.60) for trainer Phil D’Amato and the eighth with Lahaina Flavor ($6.40) for trainer Paddy Gallagher…Trainer Francisco Garcia won his first race at Santa Anita with favorite Nene Diamond ($4.80) in Friday’s sixth race…According to Daily Racing Form’s Steve Andersen, GI California Crown winner Subsanador will miss this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic due to an ankle injury…Santa Anita will host a special holiday card Monday featuring the Swingtime Stakes for fillies and mares at one mile on turf. On-track patrons will also receive $1 beers and sodas and $2 hot dogs…Sunday’s feature is the $100,000 California Flag Handicap for fillies and mares at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course. Johnny Podres with Umberto Rispoli up is the 9-5 favorite in a nine-horse field for trainer Librado Barocio …TOC President Bill Nader will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Sunday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m. PT.