Stable Notes by Ed Golden for Sunday, May 29, 2022 | Santa Anita ParkSanta Anita Park

CECIL HAS A GRADE I DREAM WITH EDDIE’S DREAM
SMOOTH LIKE STRAIT SEEKS SHOEMAKER REPEAT
SANTA ANITA CELEBRATES A HUGE MEMORIAL DAY
HERNANDEZ TAKES FIVE RACES AND FOUR STAKES
DESMOND DOSS EARNS 91 BEYER IN THOR’S ECHO WIN

EDDIE’S NEW DREAM FITS IN GRADE I GAMELY

Eddie’s New Dream, California-bred daughter of the prolifically diverse but pensioned sire Square Eddie, faces the stiffest test of her consistent career in Monday’s Grade I Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares three and up at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Trained by Ben Cecil for principal client Reddam Racing, Eddie’s New Dream will be making her first start in a Grade I route race, having finished fourth in her lone prior Grade I outing, the La Brea Stakes at seven furlongs on dirt Dec. 26, 2021.

“Luckily, there are no Chad Brown’s in there, which is a help,” said Cecil, displaying his innate British sense of humor.

“Seriously, on paper she definitely fits in there. I think the extra furlong (coming off a rallying second in the Grade III Wilshire at a mile on grass) is probably good for her. She runs hard and gives her all every time.”

Her record of 5-4-2 from 14 career starts supports Cecil’s assessment.

“I know she’ll run well,” said the 53-year-old native of Oxford, England. “It will just be a question of if she’s up to it.”

Mario Gutierrez, the go-to rider for the Reddams ever since he won the Kentucky Derby twice for them, in 2012 with I’ll Have Another and 2016 with Nyquist, will extend his streak to 15 of being Eddie’s New Dream’s only jockey.

“She’s such a nice filly,” Cecil added. “You can’t knock her at all. Every time we lead her over, she gives 120 percent. She’ll do the same in the Gamely. We just need a bit of luck, so we’ll see.

“It would be nice for her to get a Grade I win.”

The 58^th running of the Gamely, race 10 of 10 with a 1 p.m. first post time: Going to Vegas, Irad Ortiz Jr., 3-1; Canoodling, Juan Hernandez, 6-1; Ocean Road, Umberto Rispoli, 4-1; Thrumps Dream, Joe Bravo, 20-1; Eddie’s New Dream, Mario Gutierrez, 12-1; Going Global, Flavien Prat, 8-5; Neige Blanche, Edwin Maldonado, 6-1; and England’s Rose, Abel Cedillo, 15-1.

SMOOTH LIKE STRAIT DEFENDS SHOEMAKER VICTORY

Smooth Like Strait seeks his second consecutive win in Monday’s Shoemaker Mile, one of three Grade I races on the prestigious Memorial Day program.

Winner of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Race last year by a length and a half as the 7-10 favorite, the son of 2007 Eclipse Award champion sprinter Midnight Lute has found a home on turf, never finishing worse than fourth in 19 straight races on the green, the last 17 in a row all stakes.

Smooth Like Strait was ninth by 20 lengths with Flavien Prat up in his debut, a six-furlong sprint on Del Mar’s main track Aug. 17, 2019. Transitioned exclusively to turf after that, he’s been worse than third only once, finishing fourth when wide in the Grade II American Turf Sept. 5, 2020 at Churchill Downs.

His last 13 races have been graded, six of them Grade I’s.

“It seems like he’s on top of his game,” said Michael McCarthy, who has trained the horse throughout his career.

Ridden by Umberto Rispoli in his last 11 starts, his most recent being a third place finish, beaten a neck in the Grade I Maker’s Mark Mile (turf) at Keeneland April 15, Smooth Like Strait will be reunited with Prat for the first time since his debut.

Owned and bred by Cannon Thoroughbreds LLC, Smooth Like Strait, a full horse at age five, has career earnings of $1,481,573 boasting a 7-7-3 record from 20 starts.

The 81^st Shoemaker Mile, race five: Masteroffoxhounds, Juan Hernandez, 5-1; Count Again, Irad Ortiz Jr., 5-2; Heywoods Beach, Umberto Rispoli, 10-1; Dance Some Mo, Kyle Frey, 15-1; Smooth Like Strait, Flavien Prat, 4-5; and Restrainedvengence, Edwin Maldonado, 6-1.

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 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

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.

Memorial Day is also Dollar Day, with $1 beers, sodas and $2 hot dogs offered all day. Additionally, Santa Anita’s Infield Carnival is available through Monday, 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.

KUDOS TO JOCKEYS HERNANDEZ AND PYFER

Congratulations to Juan Hernandez on winning five races Saturday at Santa Anita, four of them stakes for California-breds: Carmelita’s Man for trainer Dean Pederson in the Crystal Water; Desmond Doss for Steve Miyadi in the Thor’s Echo; Big Switch for John Sadler in the Melair; and Alice Marble for Phil D’Amato in the Fran’s Valentine.

Hernandez also won the second race aboard Fun to Dream for Sean McCarthy, giving the 29-year-old jockey 87 wins for the meet, 15 more than runner-up and former leader Flavien Prat who left Santa Anita two months ago for greener pastures back east.

Hernandez, a native of Veracruz, Mexico, now also leads in purse earnings with $5,691,196 to Prat’s $5,270,778.

Congrats also are in order for Jessica Pyfer, who won her first stakes Saturday with Bally’s Charm, leading throughout the $150,000 Snow Chief Stakes for trainer Jeff Mullins and winning by nearly six lengths.

Pyfer, the 2021 Eclipse Award winner as outstanding apprentice jockey, did not ride last weekend after she was kicked by a horse in a paddock accident on May 20.

$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.

In addition to a prospected $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 that concludes on 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.

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

FINISH LINES: Santa Anita Morning Line Maker Jon White reports Desmond Doss got a 91 Beyer Speed Figure in winning yesterday’s Thor’s Echo Stakes, Bally’s Charm earned an 88 Beyer in winning the Snow Chief, Carmelita’s Man got an 86 Beyer in taking the Crystal Water and Big Switch and Alice Marble, respective winners of the Melair and Fran’s Valentine Stakes, each posted 81 Beyers…Three-time Kentucky Derby winner and Hall of Fame member Victor Espinoza was listed to ride 5-2 morning line favorite Flintmore for leading trainer Phil D’Amato in today’s fifth race at Santa Anita, but the horse was scratched. Meanwhile, Espinoza is on his way to Texas where he rides in two stakes Monday for John Sadler at Lone Star Park, 7-5 morning line favorite Park Avenue in the $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff Stakes at a mile on turf, and 12-1 morning line chance Got Thunder in the $300,000 Texas Derby at 1 1/16 miles . . . Miracle horse Catemaco, who last raced Aug. 14, 2021, breezed three furlongs at Santa Anita Sunday in 37.60 for trainer and breeder Kristin Mulhall . . . Jeff Siegel, well-versed in all aspects of racing, will be host Tom Quigley‘s guest handicapper at Monday’s simulcast seminar, 11:50 a.m. from the XBTV Studio.