- ‘KINGDOM’ BREEZES FOR RUNHAPPY DERBY
- ANNUAL SPRING CARNIVAL STARTS TOMORROW
- POPULAR RUNHAPPY 5K RUN RESUMES APRIL 9
- SUMTER FINDS GRASS GREENER IN SINGLETARY
- BUCHDAHL PINCH HITS TODAY FOR MIRAHMADI
- EARLY POST TIME OF 12 NOON SET FOR DERBY DAY
‘KINGDOM’ WORKS WELL FOR RUNHAPPY SANTA ANITA DERBY
Probable Runhappy Santa Anita Derby favorite Forbidden Kingdom had his final important breeze Thursday for the West Coast’s major steppingstone to the Kentucky Derby on May 7, going seven furlongs under Nestor Capitaine in 1:26.60.
“He went very well,” said Richard Mandella, who could give the son of 2015 Triple Crown champion American Pharoah a three-furlong blowout in advance of the race.
“We’ll see about that,” said the Hall of Fame trainer, who is seeking his first Santa Anita Derby victory and would be in pursuit of his first win in the Run for the Roses with what would be his seventh starter.
Forbidden Kingdom’s forte is speed. The chestnut colt owned by MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm has been in front at some point in all five of his races, leading throughout the last two, the San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs Jan. 29 and the San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16-miles March 5, each a Grade II event.
The $750,000 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles offers the winner 100 qualifying points to the Kentucky Derby, 40 to the runner-up, 20 to the third-place finisher and 10 to the fourth.
Forbidden Kingdom currently is tied for fourth in qualifying points with 50.
FESTIVE SPRING CARNIVAL TOMORROW UNTIL APRIL 17
While the Grade I Runhappy Santa Anita Derby will be the centerpiece of a seven-stakes racing bonanza April 9, five of them graded, attending fans can avail themselves of a myriad of other activities at Santa Anita’s annual Spring Carnival all weekends starting tomorrow, April 2, through April 17.
It includes a Winner’s Circle BBQ Championship (April 2 & 3), a Ferris Wheel, Zipper, Train Ride and much more, namely carnival games and snacks, and the San Gabriel Valley’s largest Easter Egg Hunt on April 17.
For additional Spring Carnival information, please visit santaanita.com or call 626 574-RACE.
RUNHAPPY 5K RUN RESUMES ON APRIL 9
Santa Anita’s popular Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Day 5K Run & Walk returns Saturday, April 9, following a two-year absence due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Runners and walkers from five to 90 will begin their 5K journey from Santa Anita’s South Lot B, which adjoins the Westfield Santa Anita Mall and proceed west to Gate 8 and turn north onto Baldwin Ave.
From there, they will turn left into the LA County Arboretum prior to retuning to Baldwin Ave, from where they will proceed east into Santa Anita’s Gate 7 and onto the backside of the track en route to an Infield finish on the inner training track.
Accordingly, Baldwin Ave. will be closed to vehicular traffic between the 210 Freeway and Huntingdon Drive from 7:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
“We’re thrilled that the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Day 5K Walk & Run is back,” said Pete Siberell, Santa Anita’s Director of Community Services and Special Projects. “For thousands of people, this has been a Derby Day tradition since 1994.
“We also want to thank the City of Arcadia, which is providing police and fire staffing to help ensure the safety of everyone involved.”
To register, fans are encouraged to ensure visit www.derbyday5k.com. Participants can also register in person from April 2-6 at Run With Us, located at 235 N. Lake Ave. in Pasadena or at the Promenade at Westfield Santa Anita on Friday, April 8 from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
There will also be Race Day registration available in Santa Anita’s South Lot B April 9 from 6:30 a.m.to 7:45 a.m. For additional information, visit santaanita.com or call 626 574-RACE.
SUMTER ‘DOING GREAT’ FOR SINGLETARY STAKES
As his breeding strongly suggested it would, Sumter has found a home on turf and is expected to continue in his comfort zone Saturday in the $100,000 Singletary Stakes for three-year-olds at a mile on grass.
The son of the Danzig stallion War Front out of the More Than Ready dam A Little Bit Sassy, has two seconds and two wins in four starts on turf after fading to fifth by nearly 23 lengths in his debut race, a 5 ½ furlong dash on Del Mar’s main track last July.
“He’s doing great; he worked last Saturday (five furlongs in 59), pretty easy,” said Richard Mandella, who trains the colt for Perry Bass II and Ramona Bass, bred in Kentucky by Bass Stables LLC.
Exercise rider Nestor Capitaine was aboard. The breeze was tied for second-fastest of 52 at the distance, with the Vladimir Cerin-trained Hear My Prayer topping the list at 58.80.
Santa Anita’s runaway riding leader Flavien Prat has piloted Sumter in his last two starts, including a front-running three-quarter length win last out in the Pasadena Stakes on Feb. 19, but with Prat not riding at Santa Anita today or tomorrow following his second-place finish on Hot Rod Charlie in last Saturday’s Dubai World Cup, Mandella has engaged Mike Smith.
The Singletary is named for the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner at Lone Star Park owned by Little Red Feather Racing, trained by Don Chatlos and ridden by David Flores.
The Singletary, race three of nine with a 1 p.m. first post time: Almanera, Abel Cedillo, 8-1; Handy Dandy, Ryan Curatolo, 4-1; Durante, Diego Herrera, 6-1; Balnikhov, Juan Hernandez, 8-5; and Sumter, Mike Smith, 6-5.
FINISH LINES: Veteran race caller Alan Buchdahl will pinch hit today for Track Announcer Frank Mirahmadi, who is under the weather…There were 113 recorded workouts Friday, including seven by horses for trainer Michael McCarthy, among them Grade I Shoemaker Mile winner Smooth Like Strait, and three by fellow trainer and namesake Sean McCarthy . . . TVG host and analyst Rich Perloff will be Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest today, while Bill Strauss, part owner of Hot Rod Charlie, will do honors Saturday, each day at 11:50 a.m. from the XBTV Studios…Fans are advised there will be special early first post time of 12 noon on Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Day, Saturday, April 9.
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WORKOUTS:
Forbidden Kingdom (Mandella) 3-31-22
Spielberg (Outside) and Eight Rings (Baffert) 3-31-22
Liberal (Mullhall) 3-31-22
As Luck Happens (Gaines) 3-30-22
Fast Enough (Yakteen) 3-30-22
Soy Tapatio (O’Neill) 3-27-22
Ce Ce (McCarthy) 3-26-22
Gold Dragon Queen (Baltas) 3-26-22
