• HALL OF FAME NOW ON SHIRREFFS’ BUCKET LIST

• SPEEDY SOPH COULD FILL VOIDS FOR MANDELLA

• RACING AT SANTA ANITA TOMORROW, 12:30 POST

• FLIGHTLINE JOGS AGAIN, COULD BREEZE IN APRIL

‘EXPRESS TRAIN IS ALL HEART’: SHIRREFFS

John Shirreffs scratched a major to-do item from his diminishing bucket list Saturday when Express Train won the Santa Anita Handicap, presented by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino.

“I just let Victor (Espinoza) ride the race,” the trainer said. “He’s ridden him enough and worked him enough; he knows the horse, has a lot of experience and makes good decisions.

“I was surprised (runner-up) Warrant was so tough (losing by a head), but was overjoyed and pleased with the grit Express Train showed.

“It reminded me of Trevor Denman’s words, ‘the more they asked, the more he gave’ when Express Train won (the San Diego Handicap in July of 2021) at Del Mar.

“The horse is all heart.”

Sunday morning, the 76-year-old Shirreffs was still basking in the victory, not pondering a future race.

“I don’t have anything in mind,” he said, understandably flushed with relief, pride and happiness, all relevant emotions. “The race is over, we’ll watch him for a few days and then decide.

“There’s a lot of pressure going into the race, the high expectations, you’re hoping for the best results, but it’s a horse race and a lot of things happen, so that always factors into it.

“But after the victory, it’s just elation, really, just such a thrill to win the Santa Anita Handicap, one of the most prestigious races in the country.”

Still remaining on his bucket list is election to the Hall of Fame, as Shirreffs is among those eligible for induction this year. Winners will be announced on May 11.

Shirreffs didn’t mince words about possibly being honored.

“Oh, my goodness,” he exclaimed. “That’s a crowning achievement in a trainer’s career. Just to be considered is great.”

But winning, as Shirreffs did in the Big ‘Cap, is everything.

 

MANDELLA EYES RUNHAPPY SANTA ANITA DERBY

Richard Mandella’s Hall of Fame resume has few voids.

Lacking a Kentucky Derby victory is one, as is a win in the Santa Anita Derby.

One or both could be fulfilled this year, if Forbidden Kingdom retains the form he showed winning Saturday’s Grade II San Felipe Stakes, which earned him 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points towards the Run for the Roses on May 7.

At a mile and one-sixteenth, it was the son of 2015 Triple Crown champion American Pharoah’s first two-turn race and he handled it with alacrity and aplomb.

But before Kentucky, the Grade I, $750,000 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles awaits on April 9.

“Right now, the plan is to stay home,” Mandella said Sunday morning, following Forbidden Kingdom’s dominating front-running victory by nearly six lengths in the San Felipe.

“I was surprised by how easy he won,” Mandella said. “I didn’t think he’d overpower them like that. I think he’s getting better. He’s improving.

“That’s the plan (to run in the Santa Anita Derby). I’m not in a hurry to travel him around, now, anyway.”

Subtly reminded he’s never won the Kentucky Derby (from six starters), or the Santa Anita Derby, for that matter, Mandella, in typical self-deprecating fashion, shrugged it off with, “I’m due.”

 

FLIGHTLINE JOGS AGAIN AT SANTA ANITA

Flightline returned to the track for the second straight day Sunday, jogging a mile as he did yesterday.

Flightline won the Grade I Runhappy Malibu Stakes last Dec. 26 by 11 ½ lengths but subsequently was sidelined with a hock injury before yesterday’s return to the track.

Unbeaten in his three starts by a combined margin of 37 ½ lengths, the $1 million son of Tapit is now “in a regular routine, where he’ll be jogging for 10 days to two weeks,” trainer John Sadler said.

“He’ll start breezing in April,” with the Met Mile June 11 as his long-range goal.

 

THERE’S RACING AT SANTA ANITA TOMORROW

With the forecast of inclement weather for Friday’s races two days ago, Santa Anita Park, in consultation with the Thoroughbred Owners of California and the CHRB, shifted that eight-race program to tomorrow, with first post time at 12:30 p.m.

Accordingly, there was no re-draw, with Monday’s races now run as an exact replica of what had been planned for Friday.

With a mandatory payout in Golden Gate Fields’ 20-cent Single Ticket Rainbow Pick Six Jackpot on tap Monday, first post time is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. and will thus run concurrently with Santa Anita.

 

FINISH LINES: Edgeway, a multiple graded stakes-winning daughter of Competitive Edge trained by John Sadler, worked five furlongs this morning in a bullet 59.20 for next Sunday’s Grade III Las Flores Stakes. Sadler also has Livingmybestlife, scheduled to breeze Monday, nominated to the six-furlong race for older fillies and mares. In all, there were 195 recorded workouts Sunday, 45 on the training track . . .  Richard Mandella reports Santa Anita Oaks winner Soothsay will miss the Las Flores with “a splint problem” and be turned out for a few months. The four-year-old Distorted Humor filly owned and bred by Raydelz Stable has not raced since winning the Grade III Indiana Oaks last July 7 but had been working smartly for her return with three bullet drills among her last four.

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