Santa Anita Stable Notes Sunday, October 31, 2021 | Santa Anita ParkSanta Anita Park

HOT ROD CHARLIE ON EDGE FOR BC CLASSIC
MACKINNON IN ‘REALLY GOOD’ BC BREEZE
MUCHO UNUSUAL HEADED TOWARDS $1 MILLION
$796,177 PICK 6 CARRYOVER BOOSTS FINAL
BREEDERS’ CUP VIDEO PORTAL IS ON XBTV

HOT ROD ‘HEADING RIGHT WAY’ FOR CLASSIC

Hot Rod Charlie, a leading contender for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar this Saturday, worked seven furlongs at the seaside track yesterday in 1:26.80 under regular rider Flavien Prat.

“He had a good work and cooled out well,” said Santa Anita’s overwhelming leading trainer, Doug O’Neill, speaking by phone from Del Mar. “By all accounts Flavien was happy as well so we’re one day closer.

“We just have to keep him injury-free and we’re heading the right way.”

As to the remarkable success Team O’Neill has enjoyed at Santa Anita’s 16-day meet, Doug said, “The races have come up right and we’ve had some really tremendous rides.

“The game goes in cycles and right now we’re in a pretty good cycle, so we’re grateful and optimistic it will keep going.”

O’Neill won two more races yesterday, and going into today’s final program, holds a 19-10 lead over runner-up Peter Miller with a winning average of 26 percent.

MACKINNON DRILLS FOR JUVENILE TURF

Zuma Beach Stakes winner Mackinnon worked at Santa Anita Saturday for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar this Friday, Nov. 5.

“He went really good,” Doug O’Neill said. “He went six furlongs and the clockers gave him 1:14 and four-fifths. He finished up great, galloped out good and cooled out well.”

Exercise rider Sal Santiago was aboard the two-year-old chestnut colt by American Pharoah who won the Zuma Beach on Oct. 3 by 2 ¼ lengths under Juan Hernandez despite clipping heels on the first turn in the one-mile turf event.

CALIFORNIA-BRED MUCHO UNUSUAL CLOSING IN ON $1 MILLION EARNINGS MARK

A gutty nose winner of Saturday’s first race, a $65,000 allowance for fillies and mares at a mile and one eighth on turf, George Krikorian’s homebred Mucho Unusual will now be pointed to the Grade I Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 28, with the primary objective to get her over the $1 million mark in career earnings, according to trainer Tim Yakteen.

“Our primary focus is to get her over a million dollars,” said Yakteen, who has orchestrated a terrific career for the 5-year-old California-bred mare by Mucho Macho Man. “She’s getting close now ($933,415) and if all goes well in the Matriarch, we’ll try to run again in the Frankel (Grade III Robert J. at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Dec. 31) and follow a similar path to what we’ve done this year.”

A win or second place finish in Del Mar’s $400,000 Matriarch, to be contested at one mile on turf, would put Mucho Unusual over the $1 million dollar mark and further enhance her residual value as a broodmare.

With an overall race record of 21-7-5-4, Mucho Unusual, who took the Grade I Rodeo Drive Stakes here on Sept. 26, 2020, is out of the outstanding producer Not Unusual, who is by Unusual Heat. A winner of the Grade III Frankel here on Dec. 27, 2020 and of the Grade III Megahertz on Jan. 18, 2021, Mucho Unusual has four graded stakes wins and five overall stakes victories, all on turf, to her credit.

Mike Willman

MANDATORY JACKPOT COULD NEAR $5 MILLION

With a carryover from Saturday of $796,177, Sunday’s final-day total Rainbow Pick Six pool will likely approach $5 million with a mandatory payout.

As an additional bonus, fans are encouraged to wager on Sunday’s Rainbow 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 past performances on Sunday’s program and expert analysis at santaanita.com.

Sunday’s Rainbow Pick Six covers races five through 10, with approximate post time for the fifth race 2:33 p.m.

XBTV INTRODUCES 2021 BC VIDEO PORTAL

1/ST Technology’s XBTV, racing’s premier online destination for video workouts, has unveiled its 2021 Breeders’ Cup Portal to provide handicappers, horsemen and fans free access to exclusive videos in advance of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships this Friday and Saturday at Del Mar.

As racing’s most comprehensive library of racing workouts, XBTV will be on site at Santa Anita, Del Mar and Belmont Park through the Breeders’ Cup to ensure that viewers can watch as key contenders prepare for racing’s highly anticipated event.

In addition, the XBTV team will interview top jockeys, trainers and owners as they prepare their horses for Del Mar.

To visit XBTV’s Breeders’ Cup Portal, please visit https://www.xbtv.com/breeders-cup/

In order to watch videos on XBTV, a free 1/ST account is required. 1ST is the leading name in horse racing, and, in addition to XBTV’s free video library, a 1ST account gives customers access to online betting with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet, as well as BETMIX handicapping software.

FINISH LINES: Zenyatta Stakes winner Private Mission worked five furlongs Sunday in a bullet 58.80 for Bob Baffert who is preparing the daughter of Into Mischief for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. In all, there were 165 recorded workouts this morning, 40 on the training track . . . John Sadler’s undefeated Flightline, idle since taking a six furlong allowance at Del Mar by 12 ¾ lengths on Sept. 5, had his first work in preparation for the Grade I Malibu Stakes Dec. 26, going three furlongs this morning in 37.80… Flavien Prat once again is Santa Anita’s runaway jockey leader, holding a 28-15 lead over runner-up Juan Hernandez going into today’s final program. Even more remarkable, perhaps, is Prat’s winning average of 37 percent.

LATEST CONTENT FROM XBTV:

FEATURES:

Eddie Olczyk’s Hat Trick 10-31-21

Preview of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

Preview of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff

Preview of the Breeders’ Cup Mile

Preview of the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf

Preview of the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

Preview of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

Preview of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

Preview of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint

Preview of the Breeders’ Cup Classic