- DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN FOR NORAH’S SISTER
- PERIBAN HAS NO ‘REGRETS’ WITH MAIDEN ROMP
- LONGTIME CALIFORNIA OWNER/BREEDER MILLARD PASSES
- ECLIPSE CHAMP CE CE BREEZES FIVE FURLONGS
HISTORY REPEATS IN FRIDAY’S THIRD RACE
History repeated itself in a strong sense when Norah’s Princess won Friday’s third race, a 5 ½-furlong dash for fillies and mares three and up bred in California.
By Clubhouse Ride out of the Tribal Rule dam Jen’s Tribute, trained by Craig Lewis for owner/breeder Robert Englekirk and ridden by surging Juan Hernandez, Norah’s Princess is a full sister to Dancing Dana, who coincidentally, won a week ago Friday, taking the sixth race for the same connections.
The prolific Clubhouse Ride stands this year for $5,000 at Legacy Ranch in Clements, California.
“We knew Noah’s Princess had talent, but she was pretty green,” said Lewis, who trained the multiple graded stakes winner Clubhouse Ride. “We wanted to see what she could do, and she didn’t disappoint.”
Noah’s Princess, who had two bullet works prior to her debut race, was piloted by Hernandez, currently seeking to overtake departed Flavien Prat for Santa Anita’s riding lead.
“I’ve been lucky with Juan,” Lewis said, humbly putting his own contributions aside. “The filly showed that she had talent early on. She just needs some seasoning.”
Seems like that will be in the pot soon.
DAYLIGHT VICTORY NO SURPRISE TO PERIBAN
Jorge Periban was beyond optimistic for the debut of Tom’s Regret, and the bay filly bred in California didn’t disappoint with a smashing 11 ½-length victory in Friday’s third race.
“She showed me talent and ability in her works,” said the 62-year-old Periban, who has 12 head at Santa Anita and has been training since 1983. “She didn’t surprise me; she’s a nice filly.
“That’s what I thought before the race and she confirmed my confidence. As for what’s next, I will talk with the owners (a group of four partners) but she is nominated for a race at Churchill Downs early in May.
“She’s a Cal-bred, but I feel she’ll do well in open company.”
A bay daughter of Tom’s Tribute out of the Quality Road dam Pure, Tom’s Regret was purchased for $20,000 out of the Fasig-Tipton California yearling sale last October.
“I liked several things about her,” Periban said. “She wasn’t straight in her conformation, but she’s a good-looking filly, she’s sound, and I saw something in her that caught my eye.”
So far, Periban’s vision looks like it’s 20/20.
LONGTIME CALIFORNIA OWNER/BREEDER MILLARD PASSES
Longtime California owner/breeder Marianne Millard, co-founder of Here Tis Ranch in Hemet, has passed away at the age of 91, according to an account posted on the CTBA’s website.
Best known as the co-owner and breeder of the multiple graded stakes winning and unbeaten California-bred Champion Melair, Millard, along with her late associate Bea Rous, were active California owner/breeders for several decades.
Melair, who garnered national attention on July 5, 1986 when she defeated an outstanding field of colts that included Santa Anita Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Snow Chief in the Grade II Silver Screen Stakes going a one-turn mile at Hollywood Park, was trained by John Sadler and ridden by Patrick Valenzuela.
Following her Silver Screen triumph, Melair sustained a bout with colic and retired unbeaten in five starts with earnings of $336,500.
A foal of 1983 by Debonair Roger out of the Viking Spirit mare Melrose Nugget, Santa Anita honors the memory of Melair annually with the $150,000 Melair Stakes, for three-year-old California-bred fillies at 1 1/16 miles. This year’s Melair will be run on Saturday, May 28.
FESTIVE SPRING CARNIVAL RUNS THROUGH SUNDAY
Families are welcome at Santa Anita during the track’s Infield Spring Carnival which is in full swing through Sunday.
A myriad of activities are available, including Pony Rides, a Ferris Wheel, Roller Coaster, Train Rides, Face Painting and much more, including the San Gabriel Valley’s largest Easter Egg Hunt tomorrow, Easter Sunday.
Fans are encouraged to visit santaanita.com/events for ticketing and to take advantage of big savings on Infield admission and unlimited ride wristbands.
For additional Spring Carnival information, please visit santaanita.com or call 626 574-RACE.
FINISH LINES: There were 148 recorded workouts at Santa Anita Saturday, including a five-furlong move in 1:01 by Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint champion Ce Ce trained by Michael McCarthy for owner/breeder Bo Hirsch. There were 31 works on the training track, among them two for Phil D’Amato, the meet’s leading trainer with 34 victories, two more than runner-up Doug O’Neill. Among jockeys, Juan Hernandez trails recently departed Flavien Prat by only 72-61.
LATEST CONTENT FROM XBTV:
FEATURES:
Preview of Race 2
Preview of Race 5
Preview of Race 9
WORKOUTS:
Varda (Outside) and Velvet Slippers (S.McCarthy) 4-15-22
Law Abidin Citizen (Glatt) 4-15-22
Miss Bella Ciao (Drysdale) 4-15-22
Queen Goddess (M. McCarthy) 4-15-22
As Luck Happens (Outside) and Queen’s Code (Gaines) 4-14-22
Bold Endeavor (Outside) and Dance to the Music (Glatt) 4-14-22
Chaos Theory (Hess, Jr.) 4-14-22
Defunded (Outside) and Spielberg (S. McCarthy) 4-14-22
Eight Rings (S. McCarthy) 4-14-22
Fashionably Fast (Pederson) 4-11-22
