STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2023

• • GRADE I WINNER AMERICAN THEOREM RETURNS AFTER 7 MONTHS
• • HOLLYWOOD MEET TRAINER’S TITLE UP FOR GRABS IN FINAL WEEK
• • TOP SPRINTER STRAIGHT NO CHASER IS ON THE SHELF
• • BRICKYARD RIDE, JUSTIQUE AMONG NOTABLE THURSDAY WORKERS
• • $1 MILLION SINGLE TICKET RAINBOW 6 PAYOUT POSSIBLE SATURDAY
• • MANDATORY RAINBOW 6 PAYOUT ON TAP FOR SUNDAY
• • HOLLYWOOD MEET AT SANTA ANITA CLOSES JUNE 18

GI WINNER AMERICAN THEOREM RETURNS FRIDAY AFTER 7 MONTHS

Grade I winner American Theorem, sidelined since an off-the-board effort in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland Nov. 5, makes his long-awaited return Friday in a competitive classified allowance going six furlongs on dirt.

Trained by George Papaprodromou, American Theorem is the 9-5 morning-line favorite for his comeback. Regular rider Joe Bravo will be in the irons.

American Theorem has worked six times at Santa Anita since May 8, which includes a sharp five-furlong gate move in 59.60 seconds here Sunday. It was the second-fastest of 44 moves at the distance.”

“He’s training well and going good,” Papaprodromou said Thursday morning from Clocker’s Corner.

American Theorem’s comeback, which goes as the fourth race on an excellent 10-race card on Friday, is being used as a prep for a potential title defense in the GI Bing Crosby at Del Mar July 29. Among American Theorem’s rivals Friday are 5-2 co-second choices Kid Corleone, off since the running sixth in the GII Santa Anita Sprint Oct. 1 for trainer Doug O’Neill, and Cyberviking, an ascending sprinter for trainer Phil D’Amato.

“It’s a little salty, but eventually he was going to need to get started,” Papaprodromou said of the comeback spot. “He’ll probably need a race. But hopefully he runs well and we’ll go from there.”

Owned by Kretz Racing, American Theorem is a 6-year-old ridgling by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Last year, he won the GII Triple Bend at Santa Anita in May prior to his score in the six-furlong Bing Crosby July 30. He then ran second in the GII Pat O’Brien going seven furlongs at Del Mar prior to the Breeders’ Cup.

In the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, American Theorem was never a factor and finished eighth.

Post time for Friday’s fourth race is scheduled for 2:34 p.m. The field in post position order: Affable, Armando Aguilar (6-1); Escape Route, Antonio Fresu (6-1); Brazenly, Kyle Frey, (20-1); Disco Ball, Drayden Van Dyke (10-1); Cyberviking, Umberto Rispoli (5-2); American Theorem, Joe Bravo (9-5); Kid Corleone, Juan Hernandez (5-2).

HOLLYWOOD MEET TRAINER’S TITLE UP FOR GRABS IN FINAL WEEK

With three racing days left in the Hollywood Meet, Phil D’Amato holds a slim one-win lead in the trainer’s standings. Doug O’Neill, Peter Miller and Mark Glatt are hot on his heels.

D’Amato, who won the Classic Meet trainer’s title earlier this year, has 14 wins at the current stand. O’Neill has 13 wins and Miller has 12 wins. Also within striking range are Glatt, Peter Eurton, and George Papaprodomou, each of whom has 11 wins.

D’Amato figures to be tough to overhaul given his sheer number of starters this week. With Sunday’s card still to be drawn later Thursday, D’Amato on Friday and Saturday has 15 horses combined entered in 11 races.

O’Neill has eight horses entered in seven races on Friday and Saturday. Miller has four set to run over the next two days. D’Amato’s biggest threat could come from Glatt, who has 14 horses entered in nine races Friday and Saturday.

Highlighting Sunday’s closing-day card will be the GIII San Juan Capistrano at about a mile and three quarters on turf and the Possibly Perfect Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 ¼ miles on turf.

TOP SPRINTER STRAIGHT NO CHASER SIDELINED WITH ‘AREA OF CONCERN’

A recent PET scan at Santa Anita revealed an “area of concern” in the left front fetlock of graded-stakes winner Straight No Chaser, trainer Dan Blacker said Thursday. The 4-year-old Speightster colt will be sent to the farm for a 90-day break.

Straight No Chaser emerged this winter and spring as a top sprinter for owner My Racehorse. After running third in the GIII Palos Verdes here Feb. 5 in his seasonal bow, Straight No Chaser was sent to Oaklawn Park where he romped by 7 ¼ lengths in a six-furlong allowance race. He then went to Pimlico for the GIII Maryland Sprint on the Preakness Stakes undercard May 20 where he again aired, this time by 7 ½ lengths.

Straight No Chaser had not worked since the Maryland Sprint. Blacker said the 4-year-old Speightster colt recently underwent a medical examination after an undisclosed party agreed to purchase a minority interest in the colt.

“It was a routine pre-purchase exam. As part of it they did a PET scan and they found an area of concern,” Blacker said. “It’s mild. The horse is sound. But nevertheless, we thought it would be a good time to give him a break.”

Blacker later added the “area of concern” was in Straight No Chaser’s left front fetlock.

Straight No Chaser will get the summer off before returning to training later this year.

“We’ll probably give him 90 days at the farm and bring him back after Del Mar,” Blacker said. “He won’t run again until around Christmas time.”

Straight No Chaser was a $110,000 auction purchase as a 2-year-old by My Racehorse. He has earned $245,800 with a record of 4-0-1 in seven starts.

BRICKYARD RIDE, JUSTIQUE AMONG NOTABLE THURSDAY WORKERS

Top California-bred Brickyard Ride and stakes winner Justique were among 88 workers Thursday on another drizzly morning at Santa Anita.

Brickyard Ride, winner of the GIII Kona Gold here April 22, worked for the first time since running third in the Thor’s Echo Stakes here May 28. The 6-year-old horse by Clubhouse Ride worked four furlongs in 47.60 seconds for trainer Craig Lewis.

Justique has not started since a fourth-place finish in the GIII Santa Ysabel here March 5 for trainer John Shirreffs. The 3-year-old Justify filly was given a brief freshening before returning to the work tab April 27. After a string of four-furlong drills, Justique on Thursday worked five furlongs in 1:02.20. Last year, Justique won the seven-furlong Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar and was third in the GII Chandelier at Santa Anita.

There were a combined 88 workouts on the main track and training track this morning.

FINISH LINES: Trainer Bob Baffert reported National Treasure and Arabian Lion were back at Santa Anita and doing well after competing on last Saturday’s Belmont Stakes card at Belmont Park. Arabian Lion won the GI Woody Stephens and National Treasure, winner of the Preakness, was sixth in the Belmont…Providing there is no Single Ticket Rainbow Six winner on Friday, Santa Anita will guarantee a $1 million payout in the event there is a Single Ticket winner on Saturday…There will be a mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 Jackpot on Sunday, closing day of the Hollywood Meet. The carryover pool entering Friday’s card stands at $192,461…On Friday, on-track patrons will receive free parking and admission plus $3 beers and $5 margaritas…The Santa Anita Infield will host a Family Fun Zone this Saturday and Sunday. Attractions include inflatable jumpers, arts and crafts, face painting, pony rides, carnival games and more.