Stable Notes by Ed Golden for Friday, March 4, 2022 | Santa Anita ParkSanta Anita Park

BALTAS A BUSY TRAINER ON BIG ‘CAP PROGRAM
CANADIAN PRIDE MAKES BELATED STAKES DEBUT
RACING RARELY GETS ANY BETTER THAN THIS DAY
FORECAST MOVES FRIDAY’S RACING TO MONDAY
1/ST RACING SISTER TRACKS OFFER MEGA-DAY SATURDAY

BALTAS HAS 33 PERCENT OF KILROE LINEUP

Best case scenario for Richard Baltas in Saturday’s Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile is he hits the Superfecta.

The trainer sends out four horses in the prestigious turf race, three of them from back-to-back-to-back post positions.

Whisper Not drew post five, while Flavius, Bob and Jackie and Vanzzy are on the extreme outside in the field of 12, at 10, 11 and 12, respectively.

“I’m not happy with Bob and Jackie’s post, but the horse is doing great,” said Baltas, sixth among Santa Anita’s trainers with 13 victories, eight behind leaders Phil D’Amato and Bob Baffert.

“Flavius is a recent purchase bought by Michael Iavarone (an owner, along with Jules Iavarone, Abbodanza Racing LLC and Donald Durando),” Baltas said.

The seven-year-old War Front ridgling previously was trained by Chad Brown.

“I’ve had the horse for about a month now,” said Baltas, who experienced a 12^th-place finish with Flavius in the Grade I Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 29 in which the bay was a pace factor until the stretch in the mile-and-an-eighth race.

Baltas also has 3-1 morning line favorite Going to Vegas in the very contentious Grade II Buena Vista Stakes for older fillies and mares at a mile on turf.

“She got cooked in the Breeders’ Cup,” Baltas said, explaining her distant finish in the 1 3/8-mile Filly & Mare Turf last Nov. 6 after leading until the turn for home.

“We gave her a short rest (three months) and now we’re going to start her back this year.”

In addition, Baltas sends out 4-1 morning line chance Shooters Shoot under Victor Espinoza in the seven-furlong San Carlos Stakes presented by Fan Duel.

The five-year-old gelded son of Competitive Edge was crowded last out in the Grade III Palos Verdes Jan. 29 when finishing second by a neck at 20-1 after being claimed for $50,000 one race earlier, on Jan. 2.

“He draws the outside (post nine of nine) which is good,” Baltas said. “Victor can see how the race unfolds, see what’s going on, but he can pretty much be wherever he wants.”

As for Idol, who won last year’s the Santa Anita Handicap for Baltas but has been sidelined since finishing sixth in the Grade I Awesome Again Stakes last Oct. 2, the son of Curlin is preparing for his return.

“He worked a half-mile the other day at San Luis Rey (Downs),” Baltas said. “He’s doing good.”

The Kilroe, race 10 of 11 with a 12 noon first post time: Delaware, Mike Smith, 20-1; Subconscious, Juan Hernandez, 5-1; Beyond Brilliant, Victor Espinoza, 8-1; Count Again, Flavien Prat, 7-2; Whisper Not, Ramon Vazquez, 15-1; Law Professor, Abel Cedillo, 6-1; Tell Your Daddy, John Velazquez, 6-1; Space Traveler, Jamie Spencer, 5-1; Team Merchants, Mario Gutierrez, 20-1; Flavius, Umberto Rispoli, 6-1; Bob and Jackie, Jose Valdivia Jr., 20-1; and Vanzzy, Edwin Maldonado, 30-1.

The Buena Vista, race five: Closing Remarks, Joe Bravo, 8-1; Tony Ann, Umberto Rispoli, 6-1; Keeper of Time, Mike Smith, 10-1; Madone, Ryan Curatolo, 15-1; Leggs Galore, Ricardo Gonzalez, 7-2; Fast Jet Court, Juan Hernandez, 20-1; Avenue de France, Drayden Van Dyke, 15-1; Canoodling, Roimes Chirinos, 12-1; Javanica, Tyler Baze, 20-1; Going to Vegas, Flavien Prat, 3-1; and Mucho Unusual, John Velazquez, 4-1.

SAN CARLOS TIMING SEEMS RIGHT FOR CANADIAN PRIDE

Canadian Pride makes his stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade II San Carlos Stakes presented by Fan Duel, and it looks like it couldn’t be a more challenging spot.

But Peter Eurton made a dialectic decision and feels the son of Creative Cause, gray like his multiple stakes-winning sire, deserves the chance.

“There aren’t many options with races that might fill,” the trainer said, “and the way he ran the other day, he deserves the opportunity Saturday.”

Owned by Eurton’s longtime clients Lee and Susan Searing who campaign as C R K Stable LLC, Canadian Pride won a 6 ½-furlong overnight race by 2 ¼ lengths on Feb. 4, despite Flavien Prat losing his whip at the eighth pole.

Edwin Maldonado, who rode the five-year-old gelding in his first two starts, will be aboard in the San Carlos.

“He worked him the other day and he loved him, so we’ll see if we can get him to do better in back-to-back starts,” Eurton said. “He’s always been a horse that will run a good one, then doesn’t run as great. But it’s always about timing, so we’ll see if we have the right timing now.”

Eurton understandably is more than pleased with the success he’s enjoyed with C R K.

“We’ve been together at least seven or eight years,” he said. “They’re great to work for and good friends of ours as well.”

The Searings, of Claremont, California, were high school sweethearts and have been married 43 years. They named their stable after their three children’s initials–Christina, Richard and Katherine.

The San Carlos, race four: Brickyard Ride, Juan Hernandez, 3-1; Canadian Pride, Edwin Maldonado, 5-1; Cezanne, Flavien Prat, 5-2; Principe Carlo, Kyle Frey, 15-1; Eight Rings, John Velazquez, 3-1; Phantom Dance, Ramon Vazquez, 20-1; Wicked Trick, Abel Cedillo, 20-1; and Shooters Shoot, Victor Espinoza, 4-1.

American Theorem was scratched.

EARLY 12 NOON FIRST POST ON 1/ST SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA

Santa Anita and Gulfstream’s inaugural 1/ST Saturday, featuring a total of 15 bicoastal stakes and 11 races locally, will start early, with first post time set for 12 noon. Admission gates will open Saturday at 10 a.m.

Santa Anita’s first stakes race, the Grade II, $200,000 San Carlos Stakes presented by Fan Duel, has been carded as race four. The 1/ST Saturday program will reach a crescendo with the 11^th and final race on the card, the 85^th running of the Grade I, $650,000 Santa Anita Handicap Presented by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino.

Fans will be treated to virtually non-stop action throughout the festive afternoon, to wit: the Grade II Buena Vista Stakes for older fillies and mares at a mile on turf in race five; the Grade II San Felipe Stakes for Triple Crown hopefuls in race six; the Grade I Beholder Mile in the ninth event; and the Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile on turf in the 10^th race.

Santa’s Anita’s six 1/ST Saturday stakes offer a combined $2.45 million in prize money, with races four through six to air on national television.

TODAY’S SANTA ANITA’S RACES WILL RUN MONDAY

When today’s weather forecast called for a 90 percent chance of rain in Arcadia, Santa Anita Park, in consultation with the Thoroughbred Owners of California and the CHRB, shifted Friday’s eight-race program to this Monday, March 7, with first post time at 12:30 p.m.

Accordingly, there will be no re-draw, with Monday’s races now run as an exact replica of what had been planned for Friday.

Although rain was predicted throughout the afternoon on Friday, Monday’s Arcadia forecast is for sunny skies with a high temperature of 68 degrees.

With a mandatory payout in Golden Gate Fields’ 20-cent Single Ticket Rainbow Pick Six Jackpot on tap Monday, first post time is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. and will thus run concurrently with Santa Anita.

1/ST SATURDAY LOOMS AS HUGE BICOASTAL DAY

Tomorrow’s 1/ST Saturday is an unprecedented racing day for 1/ST Racing sister tracks Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park.

The Grade I Santa Anita Handicap presented by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino will be but one of three Grade I events to be decided at The Great Race Place, the others being the Beholder Mile for fillies and mares four and up, and the Frank E. Kilroe Mile on turf for four-year-olds and up.

Supporting the prestigious program are three Grade II races, the San Felipe Stakes for three-year-old Triple Crown prospects at 1 1/16 miles; the San Carlos Stakes presented by Fan Duel for sprinters four and older at seven furlongs; and the Buena Vista Stakes for fillies and mares four and older at a mile on grass.

Santa Anita’s six graded stakes offer a combined $2.45 million on an 11-race program that has a 12 noon first post time.

The $400,000, Grade II Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth headlines the program at Gulfstream Park, providing three three-year-old prospects a steppingstone to the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (Grade I) on April 2 and the 2022 Triple Crown.

The 76th running of the tradition-rich stakes will also be featured in a mega promotion between Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita, which will play host to a combined 15 graded stakes worth $4.15 million that day.

Gulfstream will offer nine graded stakes worth $1.7 million in purses, while Santa Anita’s card will be graced by six graded-stakes worth $2.45 million.

A Coast to Coast All Turf Stakes Pick 5 and a Coast to Coast All Dirt Stakes Pick 5, each with legs run at Gulfstream and Santa Anita, will be among the highlights of the 1/ST promotion. A free contest will offer a $5 million jackpot for an entry or entries with all 15 graded/stakes winners.

In addition to the Fountain Youth at Gulfstream, the $200,000 Davona Dale (Grade II), a mile race for 3-year-old fillies; $200,000 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile (Grade II), a mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up; and the $200,000 Mac Diarmida (Grade II), a 1 3/8-mile turf stakes for older horses will be offered.

The following Gulfstream stakes support Saturday’s program: the $150,000 Canadian Turf (Grade III), a mile race for four-year-olds and up; $150,000 Honey Fox (Grade III), a mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares; $150,000 The Very One (Grade III), a 1 3/8-mile turf test for older fillies and mares; $125,000 Herecomesthebride (Grade III), a mile turf event for three-year-old fillies; and the $125,000 Palm Beach (Grade III), a mile turf stakes for three-year-olds.

FINISH LINES: There were 42 recorded works Friday, with 15 on the training track, five by horses conditioned by Jeff Mullins and four by Hall of Fame member Neil Drysdale…A reminder, all of Santa Anita’s races continue to be streamed via livestream at santaanita.com/live.

LATEST CONTENT FROM XBTV:

FEATURES:

Preview of Race 4, The San Carlos Stakes

Preview of Race 5, The Buena Vista Stakes

Preview of Race 6, The San Felipe Stakes

Preview of Race 9, The Beholder Mile

Preview of Race 10, The Frank E. Kilroe Mile

Preview of Race 11, The Santa Anita Handicap

WORKOUTS:

Smuggler’s Run (Outside) and Speedcuber (Baltas) 3-2-22

Fortunata Tensio (Polanco)(Outside) and Barraza (Cerin) 3-2-22

Mucho Unusual (Yakteen) 3-2-22