STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN __SUNDAY, SEPT. 29, 2024 __

• MANDELLA: SUBSANADOR ‘DOING GREAT’ AFTER CALI CROWN WIN • CABO SPIRIT ‘LIKELY’ FOR BC TURF AFTER GII JOHN HENRY UPSET • FIRST PEACE IFFY FOR BREEDERS’ CUP AFTER WINNING GII EDDIE D • AFTER 2 STAKES WINS SATURDAY, JOCKEY SMITH OFF TO OKLAHOMA

MANDELLA: SUBSANADOR ‘DOING GREAT’ AFTER CALI CROWN WIN

Subsanador was bright and alert the morning after his thrilling win in Saturday’s GI, $1 million California Crown Saturday at Santa Anita

“He’s doing great. All is well,” Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella said from his stable office Sunday.

In the inaugural California Crown going 1 1/8 miles, Subsanador and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith prevailed by a head in a three-way photo with Grade I winners National Treasure and Newgate. It was the second stakes win in a row for Subsanador, who arrived in the U.S. from his native Argentina late last year. Last month at Monmouth Park, the 5-year-old horse by Fortify was a comfortable winner of the GIII Philip H. Iselin going 1 1/16 miles.

“We saw a lot of courage yesterday,” Mandella said. “He was in tight. We hadn’t had him in that position before, so it was really nice to see him fight that hard.”

According to Daily Racing Form’s Brad Free, Subsanador, runner-up National Treasure and Newgate all earned 102 Beyer Speed Figures.

Also with the California Crown victory, Subsanador earned an automatic berth to the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 2 at Del Mar. “That’s the plan,” Mandella said of going in the 1 ¼-mile Classic.

Subsanador, a Group 1 winner on turf in Argentina, improved his overall record to 17: 9-2-1 with $1,003,124 in earnings. He made his first two starts in the U.S. for trainer John Sadler, including finishing second by a head to Newgate in the GI Santa Anita Handicap March 3. Subsanador was then sold privately to Qatar-based Wathnan Racing and transferred to Mandella.

Mandella, who is in his fifth decade training at Santa Anita, also offered his thoughts on the first-ever California Crown Day at Santa Anita.

“They put on a hell of a show,” Mandella said. “It might take a year or two to introduce, but I think it can be a success. I was sure impressed with the effort they made.”

CABO SPIRIT ‘LIKELY’ FOR BC TURF AFTER JOHN HENRY UPSET

Trainer George Papaprodromou did it again. Last year, the 47-year-old native of Cyprus took the GII John Henry Turf Championship with loose-on-the-lead winner Balladeer. On Saturday, it was Cabo Spirit’s turn to do the same.

Sent off as a 24-1 longshot, Cabo Spirit went straight to the front under Abel Cedillo in the 1 ¼-miles John Henry and gamely held off all comers to score by a length. It was Cabo Spirit’s first win since the 2022 GII Twilight Derby at Santa Anita, a span of 11 straight losses.

“Abel did a great job. He got to the lead and then put them too sleep,” said Papaprodomou, himself a former jockey.

According to Daily Racing Form, Cabo Spirit earned a solid 97 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

Next up for Cabo Spirit, who is owned by longtime Papaprodromou client Kretz Racing, could be a crack in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar.

“I don’t know yet,” Papaprodromou said of the Breeders’ Cup. “I still need to talk to the owners, but most likely.”

In last year’s 1 ½-mile Breeders’ Cup Turf, Balladeer under Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza led until the final quarter mile before fading to finish ninth. Papaprodromou, who has saddled 322 winners in a career dating back to 2003, has never won a Breeders’ Cup race.

A 5-year-old gelding by Pioneerof the Nile, Cabo Spirit is now 27: 5-3-6 with $1,035,336 in earnings.

FIRST PEACE IFFY FOR BREEDERS’ CUP AFTER WINNING GII EDDIE D

Trainer Mark Glatt reported First Peace was doing well the morning after his sharp win under Hall of Famer Mike Smith in Saturday’s GII California Crown Eddie D Stakes sprinting on the hillside turf course.

“He pulled up great,” Glatt said from Clockers’ Corner Sunday morning.

The Eddie D was First Peace’s third stakes win and first at the graded level. It also improved his record to 6: 3-3-0 on Santa Anita’s unique hillside turf course. A 4-year-old colt by Funtastic, First Peace’s previous stakes wins came in July at Del Mar in the restricted Wickerr Stakes going a mile on turf at Del Mar and last year’s John Shear Memorial at Santa Anita on the hillside course.

First Peace improved his overall record to 15: 5-5-2 with $778,520 in earnings for owners Rancho Temescal, Red Baron’s Barn and Rodney E. Orr.

The win by First Peace could possibly propel him to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 2. However, with the race being only five furlongs, Glatt indicated it was unlikely First Peace would take that path.

“I don’t think so,” Glatt said. “I’m not sure that really fits him best, but we’ll take a look at it.”

JOCKEY SMITH IS OFF TO OKLAHOMA AFTER BIG SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA

The morning after winning Saturday’s GI, $1 million California Crown and GII, $750,000 Eddie D Stakes at Santa Anita, Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith was off to Remington Park where he is set to ride Santa Anita-based E J Won the Cup in Sunday’s GIII, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby.

Smith’s win aboard First Peace in the Eddie D came via an exquisite rail-skimming ride from off the pace by the 59-year-old reinsman. In the California Crown, Smith enjoyed a pocket trip aboard Subsanador before finishing best of all to prevail in a three-horse photo.

Saturday’s two big-money wins by the jockey they call “Big Money Mike” pushed his career earnings to $352,372,102, which ranks third all-time behind fellow Hall of Famers John Velazquez ($486,165,720) and Javier Castellano ($403,530,166). His 5,764 career wins ranks 24th all time.

In the Oklahoma Derby, Smith and E J Won the Cup, trained by Doug O’Neill, are the 4-1 third choice in a field of eight. Also set to run in the Oklahoma Derby is Santa Anita-based Indispensable for trainer John Sadler. Indispensable is the 3-1 second choice on the morning line.

Smith, a native of Roswell, New Mexico, won the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding jockey in 1993 and 1994. He was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Spring, N.Y. in 2003.

FINISH LINES: Unbeaten Gaming, winner of the GI Del Mar Futurity Sept. 8, worked four furlongs in 48.40 seconds for trainer Bob Baffert…GII Pat O’Brien winner Raging Torrent worked four furlongs in 48.60 seconds for trainer Doug O’Neill…Today’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 2:06 p.m. with the ninth race from Gulfstream Park…With three winning favorites, Saturday’s $2 Pick Six returned $19,652.60 for five winning tickets …Next Saturday is set to be another blockbuster day at Santa Anita. Five stakes are on tap including the GI American Pharoah for 2-year-olds, GII Oak Leaf for 2-year-old fillies and GII Rodeo Drive for older fillies and mares on turf. All three races provide the winner an automatic berth in this year’s respective Breeders’ Cup races Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar…Next Saturday is also Oak Tree Day at Santa Anita. On-track patrons will receive a free Oak Tree stein commemorating “Decades of Oak Tree Champions,” plus get a free chance at a $30,000 Cherry Tree with $5,000 grand prize.