Santa Anita Stable Notes- By Ed Golden – Sunday, February 6, 2022

FLIGHTLINE ‘GOOD AS EVER’ FOR THE SAN CARLOS
SPECHT LOOKS TO THE SWEET LIFE WITH ELLAMIRA
WARD BREEZES SWEET LIFE NOMINEE HAPPY SOUL

FLIGHTLINE IN EFFORTLESS BREEZE FOR SAN CARLOS

Undefeated and unchallenged Flightline, a horse on everybody’s radar, continued to prepare for his four-year-old debut in Santa Anita’s Grade II San Carlos Stakes March 5, working a half-mile Sunday in 47.80 under Juan Leyva.

Former jockey Leyva is assistant trainer to John Sadler, who conditions the undefeated son of Tapit, winner of the Grade I Runhappy Malibu Stakes by 11 ½ lengths on Dec. 26 and his three races to date by a combined margin of 37 ½ lengths.

“He went very well, looked super, as good as he’s ever looked, going a half-mile in 47 and four and (galloping) out (five furlongs) in a minute flat, effortlessly,” Sadler said.

“We’re right on track for the San Carlos (at seven furlongs, the same distance as the Malibu).”

As to Flightline’s growing reputation, Sadler said, “I don’t think it would be braggadocios to say he obviously is on everybody’s radar in racing, because he looks like such an exceptional horse.”

As dominant as he is in his races, Sadler said the $1 million son of Tapit is a sweetheart under the shed row.

“He’s nice around the barn,” Sadler said. “He can be tough on the race track, but around the barn he’s very nice.”

BATTLE-TESTED SPECHT HOPES TO ENJOY SWEET LIFE

Steve Specht will be represented this Saturday in a very salty edition of Santa Anita’s Grade III Sweet Life Stakes for three-year-old fillies at about 6 ½ furlongs on turf.

Headquartered in the Bay Area, the 71-year-old trainer sends out Ellamira in the $100,000 event, but due to recent health issues, the native of Collinsville, Illinois and a battle-tested U.S. Army veteran won’t make the trip from Northern California.

Specht, who saddled his first winner in 1969 at defunct Cahokia Downs in East St. Louis, had surgery recently for a torn retina and is wearing a patch over one eye. Santa Anita-based trainer Mike Puype will saddle the chestnut filly in the Sweet Life.

Owned and bred by Cole Ranch, Ellamira was a troubled fourth last out at 47-1 in the one-mile California Cup Oaks at Santa Anita on Jan.15, but was beaten only four lengths. Prior to that, she won the Golden Gate Debutante by a head.

“She had a tough trip in that stake at Santa Anita,” Specht said by phone Sunday morning. “I thought she could have been right there but she got stood on her head about the eighth pole and had a little trouble leaving the gate.

“She didn’t have a real clean trip but ran a creditable race, came out of it good and worked five-eighths this morning really good, so I’ll send her down there on Tuesday and if she stays healthy, I think she’ll give a good account of herself.”

Specht said he timed the California-bred daughter of Street Boss in a minute and one-fifth, “and one oh one is a good work on this (synthetic Tapeta) track.”

Tyler Baze, who rode Ellamira in the Cal Cup Oaks, will be back aboard in the Sweet Life.

Of noteworthy interest, Cole Ranch, located in Terra Bella, was founded 60 years ago by Andy Williams and his older brother Robert. Andy is the famous singer who made “Moon River” an American standard.

The Williams brothers came from midwestern farming stock and elected to invest in farming land in the California central valley, developing the ranch to raise and show championship Arabian horses.

In early 2005, the ranch was purchased by Steve and Dana Cole who undertook extensive renovations and improvements.

FINISH LINES: Happy Soul, unraced since last June 3 but winner of her two most recent races by a combined margin of almost 23 lengths at Belmont Park, worked five furlongs this morning in 59.40 for trainer Wesley Ward, who has the daughter of Runhappy nominated to Saturday’s Grade III Sweet Life Stakes. In all there were 214 recorded workouts Sunday, 61 on the training track . . . Congrats to trainer Ryan Hanson and his wife, XBTV’s Michelle Yu, as Ryan trained the winners of Saturday’s fourth and fifth races, Fort Bridger and Encroachment…Santa Anita Morning Line Maker Jon White reports Grade II Santa Monica Stakes winner Merneith earned a 102 Beyer Speed Figure, while Grade II San Pasqual winner Express Train got a 101 Beyer and Grade III Thunder Road champ Count Again posted a 95 Beyer…In a racing rarity, both Merneith and Express Train successfully defended their titles in their respective graded stakes yesterday…Santa Anita will be dark for live racing Monday through Thursday. Live action resumes 12:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11…Special early first post time on Big Game Sunday Feb. 13, is at 11 a.m.