Stable Notes by Ed Golden for Saturday, May 28, 2022 | Santa Anita ParkSanta Anita Park

SEAN McCARTHY DOUBLE TEAMS GOLD CUP FOES
HESS CONTINUES TO GO GREEN IN HONEYMOON
BURNIN TURF MAKES STAKES DEBUT IN DAYTONA
SANTA ANITA CELEBRATES HUGE MEMORIAL DAY
MANDATORY RAINBOW PICK SIX PAYOUT MONDAY

TRAINER DOUBLE TEAMS GOLD CUP FOES

Defunded will be seeking his first stakes victory and Spielberg his second when Sean McCarthy double teams his rivals in Monday’s Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup for three-year-olds and up at a mile and a quarter.

Defunded, a gelded son of the Mineshaft stallion Dialed In, is coming off an impressive overnight win at a flat mile on May 8, while Spielberg, winner of the Grade II Los Alamitos Futurity as a two-year-old, was a distant third in a field of four behind Stilleto Boy in the Grade II Californian on April 30.

“Both horses are doing well or we wouldn’t be running,” McCarthy said. “The field size is right, so we’re optimistic.”

The 84^th running of the Hollywood Gold Cup goes as race four of 10 with a 1 p.m. first post time: There Goes Harvard, Irad Ortiz Jr., 8-1; Royal Ship, Mike Smith, 6-5; Spielberg, Flavien Prat, 20-1; Defunded, Abel Cedillo, 3-1; and Stilleto Boy, Juan Hernandez, 7-5.

HESS HOPES HONEYMOON CONTINUES ON TURF

Cairo Memories has found a home on turf and Bob Hess Jr. hopes the ideal wedding continues in Sunday’s grassy Grade III Honeymoon Stakes for three-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles.

The gray daughter of Cairo Prince is three for four on turf, including a front-running, four-and-a half length victory in the Grade III Providencia Stakes on April 9.

She was ninth but beaten only 2 ¾ lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf when bumped early last Nov. 5 at Del Mar, and never fired when seventh by 24 lengths in the Grade III Santa Ysabel on dirt March 6.

That’s when the trainer decided to go green in future races.

“Hopefully she gets a good, clean trip and runs one of her better races,” Hess said. “She was flat throughout the Santa Ysabel. She’s got tactical speed, so we’ll play the break and Mike (Smith) can figure it out.”

Cairo Memories is two for two on Santa Anita’s turf course, three for four overall, and one for one at the Honeymoon distance.

The 73^rd edition of the Honeymoon is race seven of nine with a 1 p.m. first post time: Island of Love, Juan Hernandez, 5-2; Ballet Dancing, Drayden Van Dyke, 5-1; Gold Dragon Queen, Kyle Frey, 12-1; Fuente Ovejuna, Edwin Maldonado, 15-1; Cairo Memories, Mike Smith, 6-5; Sterling Crest, Ramon Vazquez, 4-1; and Ellamira, Frank Alvarado, 15-1.

BURNIN TURF DOING ‘REALLY WELL’ FOR DAYTONA

Streaking Burnin Turf makes his stakes debut in Sunday’s Grade III Daytona Stakes for four-year-olds and up at about 6 ½ furlongs on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.

The six-year-old son of Acclimation owned by Next Wave Racing and the Ellwood Johnston Trust has won three straight races, the last two over the unique turf layout, so Dan Blacker feels the gelding deserves the opportunity.

“He’s doing really well,” the trainer said. “It seems like the downhill turf course is his niche. We always thought highly of him and he’s a good horse going a flat mile, but he’s above average going down the hill.

“He’s coming into the race in good shape, so fingers crossed. The rail always concerns you, but I think in a six-horse field, it’s not too bad, although coming down the hill, you can get pinched back a bit, but he’s got enough tactical speed to be sitting behind the pace or one horse off it.

“It looks like (John) Sadler’s horse, Bran, will probably go to the lead, I imagine, and hopefully we’ll be sitting off him. That’s probably the most likely pace scenario.

“I’m lucky I’ve got patient owners, because the horse is a six-year-old now and just kind of coming into his own, and that’s partly because of his pedigree. Acclimations only start getting good as they get older.

“The owners have taken their time with this horse and now they’re reaping the rewards.”

The field for the 13^th running of the Daytona, race three: Burnin Turf, Drayden Van Dyke, 9-5; Homer Screen, Joe Bravo, 8-1; Majestic Eagle, Edwin Maldonado, 6-1; Bran, Juan Hernandez, 8-5; Nero, Ryan Curatolo, 10-1; and Kandarel, Umberto Rispoli, 4-1.

MAJOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IS UNDERWAY

Fans can avail themselves of fabulous racing and fun-filled festivities at Santa Anita this Memorial Day weekend, traditionally one of the most anticipated on America’s Thoroughbred calendar.

Three prestigious Grade I events highlight Monday’s holiday racing program: the $400,000 Hollywood Gold Cup for three-year-olds and up at a mile and a quarter, the $500,000 Shoemaker Mile on turf and the $400,000 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares three and up at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

The Shoemaker is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Race, providing the nominated winner automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Nov.5

The monster Memorial Day weekend begins today with five state-bred stakes, followed by three graded stakes Sunday, the Grade III Daytona for four-year-olds and up at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course; the Grade II Triple Bend for four-year-olds and up at seven furlongs; and the Grade III Honeymoon for three-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

In addition to world class racing over the three-day holiday, Santa Anita’s Infield Carnival returns with a Ferris Wheel, a giant slide, inflatable jumpers and much more.

Sunday, Santa Anita will host the Spring Corgi Nationals, with some of the cutest dogs in the world competing in short sprints.

For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

Memorial Day is also Dollar Day, with $1 beers, sodas and $2 hot dogs offered all day. Additionally, Santa Anita’s Infield Carnival will return May 28, 29 and 30, with a Ferris Wheel, a super slide, fun house and much more.

Fans are encouraged to get their Santa Anita Memorial Day Weekend Infield Carnival tickets at santaanita.com/events.

$5 MILLION MANDATORY PAYOUT LIKELY IN RAINBOW SIX

With three Grade I stakes highlighting an outstanding racing card, fans will get the opportunity to take a shot at what will likely be a $5 million pool with a mandatory payout in the Memorial Day 20 cent Pick Six Jackpot on Monday.

With a Rainbow Six carryover into yesterday of $449,347, track officials project Monday’s pool could top $5 million, providing there was no Single Ticket winner Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

In addition to the prospect of a $5 million Rainbow Six pool on Monday, there will also be guaranteed pools of $500,000 in Santa Anita’s 50 cent Late Pick 5 throughout the holiday weekend on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

First post time for a 10-race card on Monday is 1 p.m., with the Rainbow Six comprised of races five through ten. Fans can download free Equibase past performances for Monday’s races at santaanita.com.

FINISH LINES: Doug O’Neill plans to work Hot Rod Charlie Monday under regular rider Flavien Prat, “then we’re all going to huddle up after” and see if he’s on course for the Grade II Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs on July 2 . . . Tim Yakteen reports both Taiba and Messier in good order after their disappointing Kentucky Derby showings but mentioned no race for their next starts. “They’re doing well and we’re just regrouping,” the trainer said. “We’ll plan on a summer campaign, but they’re doing good.” . . . There were 131 recorded main track workouts Saturday including a six-furlong move in 1:13.60 by Grade II Zenyatta Stakes winner Private Moments for Sean McCarthy. There were 40 workouts on the training track.

LATEST CONTENT FROM XBTV:

FEATURES:

Preview of the Daytona Stakes

Preview of the Triple Bend Stakes

Preview of the Honeymoon Stakes

WORKOUTS:

Ce Ce (Outside) and Quintecents (M.McCarthy) 5-27-22

Lady T (Shirreffs) 5-27-22

Kittyhawk Lass (Ellis) 5-27-22

Oubabe (Sadler) 5-27-22

Tizamagician (Outside) and Naismith (Mandella) 5-27-22

Take Action (Outside) and Royal Ship (Mandella) 5-26-22