STABLE NOTES BY ED GOLDEN SATURDAY, OCT. 29, 2022

•__ TAIBA BREEZES FOR THE BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC • ‘HUMOR’ NO LAUGHING MATTER IN MADDY STAKES • ‘LIGHTNING’ STRIKE IN GOLDEN STATE JUVENILE? • CAST MEMBER CENTER STAGE IN JUVENILE FILLIES • CARMELITA’S MAN EYES FOURTH STRAIGHT IN LURE__

TAIBA, FLIGHTLINE, LIFE IS GOOD PREP FOR CLASSIC Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba had his final major workout for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland next Saturday, going six furlongs at Santa Anita this morning in 1:13 flat under Juan Ochoa in company with Messier, who was also clocked in 1:13.

Messier last raced on May 7, finishing 15th in the Kentucky Derby after setting the pace early.

“He went well,” Bob Baffert said of Taiba, a chestnut son of Gun Runner. “He’s not a great work horse, so he went with Messier. I was happy with it. He’ll ship tonight (for Kentucky).”

As for pulling a major upset and defeating unbeaten and odds-on Classic favorite Flightline, Baffert understandably is keeping things in perspective.

“We’re just focusing on getting Taiba there healthy,” he said.

“That’s all you can ask for. The rest is racing luck.” Meanwhile, at Keeneland today, Flightline and likely Classic second choice Life Is Good each worked five furlongs in 1:00.60.

EXPERIENCE AIDS ‘HUMOR’ IN SEN. KEN MADDY Lexington Humor makes her first start in two months in today’s $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes for fillies three and up at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course. Trainer Jonathan Wong expects a solid effort from the daughter of the Into Mischief stallion Practical Joke.

“There weren’t a lot of options to run,” Wong said in explaining the absence. “We had her in a stake at the beginning this meet here at Santa Anita but she got a little cough, so we had to scratch, but she’s coming into this race really well.

“She had a race down the hill in June (third to Connie Swingle after a slow start) but she was a little green. It was only her second race, her first time shipping, first time down the hill, a bunch of first times we threw at her. Umberto (Rispoli) said she was just really green.”

Lexington Humor gets a new pilot Saturday in Ramon Vazquez and Wong is pleased to have him.

“He’s a very good rider, so hopefully we can get lucky.”

The Maddy is named for the former California Senator who was a staunch advocate of racing during his time in Sacramento from the mid-1970s to the late 1990s.

The Oak Tree Racing Association named a race in honor of the Santa Monica native in 2000. Maddy died Feb.19 that year.

The field for the Maddy, race nine: Freedom Flyer, Juan Hernandez, 4-1; Lexington Humor, Ramon Vazquez, 6-1; Connie Swingle, Kyle Frey, 9-5; Act of Serendipity, Edgar Payeras, 50-1; Lady Jae, Hector Berrios, 30-1; Royal Address, Joe Bravo, 15-1; She’s So Nice, Ricardo Gonzalez, 8-1; Stella Noir, Ryan Curatolo, 15-1; Amy C, Umberto Rispoli, 3-1; and Aqua Seaform Shame, Edwin Maldonado, 12-1.

MIDNIGHT LIGHTNING WON’T BE CAUGHT KNAPPING Midnight Lightning disappointed in the Fasig-Tipton Futurity in his most recent start on June 18 following a front-running maiden allowance win against California-breds June 4 at Santa Anita.

Steve Knapp is looking for improvement from the son of Midnight Storm in today’s $175,000 Golden State Juvenile at seven furlongs.

“Turned out he had an infected hock at Del Mar and I couldn’t run him,” the trainer said. “I’m not happy with the one hole (in the Juvenile), but he’s fit enough now.”

Knapp owns a share of Midnight Lightning with Thomas Halasz and Terry Lovingier.

The Golden State Juvenile goes as race eight: Midnight Lightning, Hector Berrios, 15-1; Passarando, Umberto Rispoli, 4-1; Mystic Flyer, Juan Hernandez, 5-1; Giver Not a Taker, Jose Valdivia Jr., 4-5; Ship and Scam, Mario Gutierrez, 10-1; Golf Drama, Tyler Baze, 5-1; and Merit Song, Ramon Vazquez, 15-1.

CAST MEMBER DOING GREAT FOR JUVENILE FILLIES Cast Member moves from an impressive debut win at six furlongs Sept. 3 at Del Mar to the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies today at seven furlongs.

“She was training quite well, so we were expecting a good race from her,” trainer Tim Yakteen said of the maiden victory, “but for her to win the way she did was a pleasant surprise.”

Cast Member is a bay daughter of Munnings owned and bred in California by George Krikorian.

“She’s going into this race in great shape, worked well, drew well so we’ll see what happens,” Yakteen said.

“The extra furlong shouldn’t be a hindrance, but until they do it, you never know. That said, it should be within her wheelhouse.”

The Juvenile Fillies goes as race six: Cholly, Tyler Baze, 15-1; Chismosa, Edgar Payeras, 9-5; Fun Money, Mario Gutierrez, 8-1; Big Celebration, Edwin Maldonado, 5-2; Sell the Dream, Hector Berrios, 5-2; and Cast Member, Ramon Vazquez, 4-1.

E Z Pharis was scratched.

CARMELITA’S MAN EYES FOURTH STRAIGHT IN LURE California-bred Carmelita’s Man seeks his fourth straight victory and his third stakes win in today’s $80,000 Lure Stakes, a restricted event for three-year-olds and up at one mile on turf.

“It’s a very competitive race,” said Dean Pederson, who trains the five-year-old gelded son of Mucho Macho Man for Lawrence and Ann Jett.

“There are no real toss-outs but I think we’re in the ballpark. When we walk him over there (to race), he’s done his part.

“He’s been very consistent and we’ve been able to manage him properly, and when you put them all together, it’s all good.

“Hopefully, we’ve got another bullet in the holster for this.”

The Lure is named for the son of Danzig that won the Breeders’ Cup Mile in 1992 and 1993, compiled a 14-8-0 record from 25 starts with earnings of $2,515,289, was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2013 and died at the age 28 on Nov. 15, 2017.

The Lure, race one: Carmelita’s Man, Mike Smith, 3-1; Prince Abama, Hector Berrios, 5-2; Gregorian Chant, Umberto Rispoli, 2-1; Lambeau, Victor Espinoza, 15-1; Air Force Red, Juan Hernandez, 502; and Mr. Impossible, Joe Bravo, 12-1.

FINISH LINES: Breeders’ Cup Sprint contender American Theorem breezed five furlongs this morning in 1:01.20 for George Papaprodromou. In all there were 172 recorded workouts Saturday, 47 on the training track . . . With an $18.40 upset win by Bizzy Gal in Friday’s sixth race, Peter Miller opened a 13-9 lead over Phil D’Amato in the race for leading trainer with five days remaining in the meet that concludes on Nov. 6. Ramon Vazquez (20 wins), Juan Hernandez (16) and Umberto Rispoli (14) are the top three among jockeys…Red Baron’s Barn LLC or Rancho Temescal LLC leads owners with five wins, one more than runners-up Gary Barber and Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman…Santa Anita admission gates will open at 8:30 a.m. next Friday and at 7 a.m. on Saturday to accommodate simulcast wagering over the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships from Keeneland.