Santa Anita Stable Notes Friday, October 29, 2021 | Santa Anita ParkSanta Anita Park

MILLER READY FOR FINALE AND BREEDERS’ CUP
FLAGSTAFF WILL BE RETIRED AFTER BC SPRINT
VALDIVIA’S GRANDDAD ALL-TIME TRAINING KING
SAM SPEAR, ICONIC BAY AREA RACING FIGURE, PASSES AT 72
FIRST POST TIME ON SATURDAY & SUNDAY IS AT 12:30 P.M.
$5 MILLION RAINBOW POOL POSSIBLE CLOSING DAY, SUNDAY

MILLER EYES VICTORIES DOWN THE ROAD

Peter Miller has two major players for Santa Anita’s closing weekend stakes, Zero Tolerance in Saturday’s Grade III Autumn Miss Stakes for three-year-old fillies at a mile on grass, and None Above the Law in Sunday’s Grade II Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Beyond that, the 55-year-old trainer is in prime pouncing position for Breeders’ Cup victories Nov. 5 and 6 at Del Mar, his “home track” since he resides in Encinitas, six miles from the seaside oval as the crow flies.

But first things first.

None Above the Law, a California-bred son of the Bernstein stallion Karakontie who was based in Japan, won his first graded stakes Sept. 4 at Del Mar, rallying along the rail to take the Grade II Del Mar Derby by three-quarters of a length at odds of 10-1.

Owned by Downstream Racing LLC and bred by J. Kirk and Judy Robison, the gray gelding has a 6-2-1 record from 14 starts with earnings of $454,060.

“He’s doing really well,” Miller said. “He worked a solid three-quarters last Saturday (at Miller’s San Luis Rey Downs headquarters) in 1:13.60 and we’re expecting a big race from him.

“He’s a pretty cool horse; he does it all (with victories in sprints, routes and on dirt and turf). He’s a utility player.”

Zero Tolerance has won two of her three starts (all sprints) including Santa Anita’s restricted Unzip Me Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs on turf Oct. 3.

“She broke her maiden on dirt but has run really well twice on the grass,” said Miller, a threat to capture the training title at any meet in which he competes full time.

“The distance will be the question she needs to answer, whether she can go two turns.”

Looking ahead to the Breeders’ Cup, Miller has Mo Forza set for the Mile and C Z Rocket for either the Sprint or the Dirt Mile, with Commander (Turf Sprint) and Time to Party (Juvenile Turf Sprint) waiting in the wings.

“We’re going to cross-enter C Z Rocket, with our first preference probably the Sprint,” Miller said. “Both horses are doing super, both worked last Saturday (at San Luis Rey, Mo Forza going five furlongs in 1:01.60 and C Z Rocket four furlongs in 48.80).

“We’re in good shape as long as they stay in good shape. We love Del Mar and we love the Breeders’ Cup. Having the two combined, it doesn’t get any better than that.”

The Autumn Miss, race eight of 10 with a 12:30 p.m. first post time: Eddie’s New Dream, Mario Gutierrez, 12-1; Freedom Flyer, Mike Smith, 20-1; Burgoo Alley, Umberto Rispoli, 4-1; Javanica, Drayden Van Dyke, 8-1; Ego Trip, Victor Espinoza, 5-1; Madone, Juan Hernandez, 7-2; Spanish Loveaffair, Abel Cedillo, 7-2; and Zero Tolerance, Flavien Prat, 3-1.

FLAGSTAFF TO BE RETIRED AFTER BC SPRINT

Flagstaff, a seven-year-old millionaire gelding by 2004 Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Speightstown out of the A.P. Indy mare Indyan Giving bred in Kentucky by Summer Wind Farm, will be retired after the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 6.

Owned by Lane’s End Racing and Hronis Racing, the durable sprint campaigner has earned $1,107,585 with a 7-6-4 record from 22 starts dating back to May 19, 2018. He was second last out in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Oct. 2.

“This is his last year,” said trainer John Sadler. “He’ll probably go home after this race. He’s made over a million dollars, he’s won a Grade I this year (the Churchill Downs Stakes), he’s been terrific.

“We just love him. I’m going to miss him when he retires in Kentucky. I’m not sure where it will be yet, but he’s going to have a high-end retirement, trust me.”

VALDIVIA’S GRANDFATHER ALL-TIME TRAINING LEADER

Last Friday, Oct. 23, Steve Asmussen passed Dale Baird to lead in all-time North American training wins with 9,446, but overall, he trails 71-year-old Juan Suarez who had 9,886 wins as of that date and is averaging an astounding 315 victories a year.

Turns out Suarez is the grandfather of Santa Anita-based jockey Jose Valdivia Jr., like Suarez a native of Peru.

Valdivia proudly points out that his grandfather has won the most prestigious race in Peru, the Group 1 Derby Nacional, a record eight times.

SAM SPEAR, ICONIC BAY AREA RACING FIGURE, PASSES AT 72

Northern California racing fans and horsemen were to learn of the passing of Bay Area media legend Sam Spear at age 72 following a lengthy illness. Spear, born Nov. 3, 1948 in Oakland and raised in Alameda, was a lifelong horse racing fan who passed away this past Saturday at 1 a.m. After graduating from St. Joseph’s Alameda and San Francisco State, he quickly became a major fixture at Thoroughbred racetracks throughout

Northern California.

Spear was employed in the racing industry for over four decades. He served as media relations director at Golden Gate Fields and Bay Meadows, assisting media personnel, horsemen, front side staff, owners, breeders, horseplayers, and fans. Sam thoroughly enjoyed helping others and was devoted to creating the best possible experience for those he encountered on and off the track. His affable personality quickly made him a “fan favorite” amongst fans and horsemen, and he was often seen chatting it up with turf club patrons and railbirds alike.

A close friend and confidant of legendary San Francisco native Joe DiMaggio, Spear often drove “Joe D.” to and from both Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields and ensured he was well taken care of throughout many race days in both the press box and Turf Club.

One would be hard pressed to find an individual who did more to promote Northern California racing than Sam Spear. Sam hosted and produced Bay Area racing’s popular race replay show on KTSF-Channel 26 that began in 1978 and ran until 2017. He also hosted “At the Track with Sam Spear,” a weekly radio program every Sunday morning that attracted a large following of listeners and some of racing’s biggest names as guests on the show. Spear had contacts with every newspaper and news station in the Bay Area, and successfully promoted horse racing through these channels.

Whenever leaving a voice mail, he would invariably tag each message with the admonition, “And we’ll see YOU at-the-races.”

Spear was described as a “human encyclopedia” for all things horse racing and Bay Area Sports–Giants, A’s, 49ers, Raiders, Warriors and more. His uncanny ability to remember specific races, names, dates, and statistics was second to none. Sam was a natural storyteller and enjoyed sharing memories from the past using humor, wit, and charm. Spear was also a big supporter of the younger generations and a mentor to many journalists, television/radio personalities and race callers who have gone on to be very successful in their respective fields of work.

The Golden Gate Fields racing community will never forget Sam Spear and the countless contributions he made to Northern California horse racing and the community at large.

A funeral Mass is scheduled for Sam Spear on Monday, Nov. 1 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Isadore Catholic Church in Danville, where Spear had resided for the past 20 years with his longtime partner, Barbara O’Neill.

FINISH LINES: First post time on Saturday and Sunday is at 12:30 p.m…Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World breaks from post eight versus nine rivals in Sunday’s contentious Grade II Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf, and wears blinkers for the first time in his seven-race career . . . Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit worked six furlongs at Santa Anita this morning in 1:11.60 for Bob Baffert in preparation for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. In all there were 89 recorded workouts, 21 on the training track . . .Tom Quigley’s pre-race simulcast handicapping guest for Friday is XpressBet/1 ST Bet Ambassador Tyler Frausto and on Saturday he’ll have 20-time NHC qualifier Trey Stiles. Seminars begin 70 minutes prior to first post time. Sunday is closing day of Santa Anita’s 16-day Autumn Meet and there will be mandatory payouts in all exotic wagers, including the popular 20-cent Rainbow Pick Six Jackpot, which if there is no single ticket winner Saturday, could produce a total pool that reaches $5 million…Fans are encouraged to play Sunday’s Rainbow Pick Six via 1/ST BET or Xpressbet and receive a free $10 bet. Details are available at xpressbet.com/promotions. Santa Anita is also offering free closing day past performances and expert analysis at santaanita.com.