Santa Anita Stable Notes Saturday, January 1, 2022 | Santa Anita ParkSanta Anita Park

JOHNNY V. BEGINS 2022 STRONG AT SANTA ANITA
WONG HOPES FOR A HAPPY START IN NEW YEAR
$50,000 BOOSTS SUNDAY’S LATE PICK FIVE POOL

AGENT HAS VELAZQUEZ ATOP STANDINGS

John Velazquez turned 50 last Nov. 24, but his talent on horseback and dealing with horsemen and the media hasn’t diminished one iota due to his age.

Riding regularly now at Santa Anita after being based mainly in New York since 1990, the native of Puerto Rico is well atop the jockey standings after three racing days, with nine wins from 17 mounts, leading in purse earnings as well with $653,900.

It’s no surprise to those in the know, particularly his agent, Ron Anderson, whose savvy extends well beyond horse racing.

“He’s without a doubt one of the greatest riders we’ve seen in a very, very long time,” said the 67-year-old Anderson, who became a world-class agent soon after he started in 1973, and also represents future Hall of Famer Joel Rosario.

Anderson’s admiration of “Johnny V.,” as Velazquez is known to friends and fans alike, is understandable and deserved.

“John devotes considerable time as president of the Jockeys’ Guild, which involves much more than meets the eye,” Anderson said. “Overall, he’s in a league by himself, a great rider and a complete professional in every facet of his life.”

Anderson is reticent when it comes to beating the drums on his own behalf, but his record speaks for itself.

“I’ve won 38 Breeders’ Cup races,” Anderson noted sans fanfare. “Nobody’s even close.

“I’ve been doing this long enough that we’ve got it figured out,” he said, “but the bottom line is these guys make it easy for me, because I get opportunities to put them on good horses.”

He has represented a Who’s Who of Hall of Fame jockeys in his nearly 49 years as an agent, namely Velazquez, Jerry Bailey, Garrett Gomez, Gary Stevens, Chris Antley and Kent Desormeaux, with Rosario waiting in the wings.

Ron Anderson may not own up to it, but you could say this: he’s been Colonel Parker to all of those jocks.

TWO WONGS COULD MAKE IT RIGHT IN BLUE NORTHER

Jonathan Wong had five horses entered in what appeared to be a busy start to the New Year Sunday, but with erratic weather creating unstable track conditions, the 31-year-old trainer was in somewhat of a holding pattern.

That said, he had Mimajoon and Shoppingforpharoah entered in the $100,000 Blue Norther Stakes for three-year-old fillies scheduled at a mile on turf, and Boise and Unreal entered in the $100,000 Eddie Logan Stakes for three-year-olds also set for a mile on turf.

Both are in from Golden Gate Fields where Wong was based full time and still has horses at the Bay Area track, but now has a full complement of horses in Southern California as well.

Mimajoon won her last two races wire to wire, including a division of the Golden Gate Debutante at six furlongs on the synthetic Tapeta surface Nov. 26 in a 16-1 upset, while Shoppingforpharoah came up empty after leading in her division of the race, finishing seventh as the 3-5 favorite.

Boise closed with a furious rush to win the Gold Rush as the 17-10 favorite at Golden Gate on Dec. 4, while Unreal was a 4 ½ length debut winner at 7-1 Nov. 20 at Golden Gate.

“They’re all coming into their races good,” said Wong, who scratched Unreal from the race. “Hopefully, Boise will get a good trip. He doesn’t need to be as far out of it as he was.

“This is a big step up in class for Mimajoon and the distance is a big question,” Wong continued. “Hopefully she’ll be able to make an easy lead and take them as far as she can.”

The Blue Norther, race eight of 10 with a 12 noon first post time: Mimajoon, Kyle Frey, 6-1; Fortunata Tensio, John Velazquez, 12-1; Fuente Ovejuna, Brice Blanc, 4-1; Miss Bellatrix, Juan Hernandez, 6-1; Helens Well, Umberto Rispoli, 5-2; Bellabel, Flavien Prat, 3-1; and Shoppingforpharoah, Ricardo Gonzalez, 4-1.

The Eddie Logan is the 10^th and final race: Street Artist, Drayden Van Dyke, 15-1; Barsabas, Tyler Baze, 6-1; Cabo Spirit, Victor Espinoza, 6-1; Maglev, Umberto Rispoli, 5-2; Handy Dandy, Kent Desormeaux, 5-1; C’mon Man, Juan Hernandez, 15-1; Bally’s Charm, Jessica Pyfer, 15-1; Boise, Flavien Prat, 4-1; Derecho Dandy, Joe Bravo, 12-1; and Unreal, Abel Cedillo, 8-1.

C’mon Man races with blinkers on.

SUNDAY’S LATE PICK 5 HAS $50,000 IN ‘SEED MONEY’

Sunday’s 50 cent Late Pick 5, comprised of races six through 10, will get a substantial boost as Santa Anta will “seed” the pool with $50,000 in appreciation of tremendous support by horseplayers and horsemen opening week in the face of adverse weather conditions.

With the infusion of $50,000, it is hoped this will help to stimulate incremental handle and therefore benefit owners by driving additional funds to the Winter/Spring purse account.

FINISH LINES: For the fifth time in his last 10 races, Beer Can Man starts from the inside post position in today’s Grade II Joe Hernandez Stakes, named for Santa Anita’s track announcer from the time it opened on Christmas Day 1934 until he fainted at the microphone on Jan. 27,1972. During that time, he called 15,587 races in a row. His signature cry of “There they go!” echoed over a number of notable races including Seabiscuit‘s win in the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap and Johnny Longden‘s last ride in 1966. Beer Can Man, however, has won from the number one post twice before . . . Tapwater, nominated to next Sunday’s Grade III Las Cienegas Stakes for older fillies and mares at about 6 ½ furlongs on turf, worked four furlongs this morning in 50:80 for Richard Mandella. In all there were 81 recorded workouts, 30 on the training track . . . Heartfelt condolences to Pat Turner, wife of trainer Billy Turner, who passed away on Dec. 31 at age 81 after a lengthy battle with prostate cancer. Renowned the world over as the original trainer of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, Turner was overruled by “Slew’s” owners who wished to run him in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park on July 3, 1977, a race in which he was defeated for the first time by J.O. Tobin, who was trained by retired HOF jockey Johnny Adams and was ridden by Bill Shoemaker. Seattle Slew was then transferred to Doug Peterson for his 4-year-old campaign…First post time for a 10-race card on Sunday is at 12 noon. Admission gates open at 10 a.m.