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GLATT HAS TWO FOR GRADE III DESERT STORMER
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MANDATORY PAYOUT TODAY IN PICK SIX JACKPOT
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PRAT WORKS UNBEATEN FLIGHTLINE FOR MET MILE
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NEW EQUINE FACES ARE LURED FOR AUTUMN MEET
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HERNANDEZ, PAPAPRODROMOU KEEP ON ROLLING
TRAINER HOPES TO HIT THE MARK IN DESERT STORMER
Mark Glatt plans to enter both his nominees to this Saturday’s Grade III Desert Stormer Stakes, Dance to the Music and unbeaten Ironic Twist.
The Desert Stormer is named for the 1995 winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, who defeated 13 rivals by a neck at 14-1 under Kent Desormeaux for trainer Frank Lyons at Belmont Park.
Saturday’s Desert Stormer is the 26th renewal, offering a $100,000 purse for fillies and mares three and up at six furlongs.
Dance to the Music breezed five furlongs Saturday in 1:00.60; Ironic Twist went the same distance Sunday in 1:00.80.
Both fillies are owned by long-time proponents of California racing, Red Baron’s Barn LLC and Rancho Temescal LLC supplying the colors for Dance to the Music, bred in Kentucky by George Kirkorian.
Al and Saundra Kirkwood not only own Ironic Twist, they also bred the daughter of Distorted Humor, unbeaten in her first two races, both main track sprints at Santa Anita.
Glatt, a 49-year-old native of Spokane, Washington, has an extensive background in the game.
He grew up on a farm in Auburn, Washington, some 30 miles south of Seattle. His father, Ron, trained horses throughout the northwest, and Mark obtained his trainer’s license at 21 right after graduating from Western Washington University in 1994.
Glatt, consistently among the top five at both Santa Anita and Del Mar, is currently tied for fourth in the trainer standings with Bob Baffert at 27 victories through 66 racing days.
$5 MILLION POOL IN JACKPOT’S MANDATORY PAYOUT
With three Grade I stakes highlighting an outstanding 10-race card, fans today have an opportunity to take a shot at what will likely be a $5 million pool with a mandatory payout in the Memorial Day 20 cent Pick Six Jackpot.
The Rainbow Six is comprised of races five through 10 and increased from a carryover Sunday of $588,484. Assigned post time for Monday’s fifth race, the Grade I, $500,000 Shoemaker Mile, is 3:18 p.m.
In addition to prospects of a $5 million Rainbow Six pool, there will also be a guaranteed pool of $500,000 in Santa Anita’s 50-cent Late Pick 5, which covers races six through 10.
Memorial Day is also Dollar Day, with $1 beers, $1 sodas and $2 hot dogs.
Santa Anita’s Infield Carnival concludes today, with a Ferris Wheel and a number of other rides, a Super Slide, Fun House and much more.
Unlimited ride wristbands are available at santaanita.com.
FLIGHTLINE LEAVES FOR NEW YORK TUESDAY
Undefeated Grade I Runhappy Malibu Stakes winner Flightline had his final major breeze Monday morning for the Grade I Metropolitan Mile this Saturday at Belmont Park, going five furlongs in 59.80 under regular rider Flavien Prat.
Winner of his three races by a combined margin of more than 37 lengths, the $1 million son of Tapit leaves Tuesday for New York, according to trainer John Sadler.
The four-year-old bay colt had been scheduled to run in Santa Anita’s Grade II San Carlos Stakes on March 5 before a strained right hock forced cancellation of those plans, which were then altered leading to the Met Mile.
‘SHIP & WIN’ PROGRAM AT SANTA ANITA’S AUTUMN MEET
In a continuing effort to attract out of state horses, Santa Anita Park has announced details of its 2022 Autumn Meet “Ship & Win” program. The upcoming Autumn Meet will offer fans and horsemen at total of 26 stakes, 15 of them graded, beginning opening weekend, Oct. 1 & 2, through closing day Nov. 6.
With the 39th Breeders’ Cup World Championships scheduled to be run at Keeneland Race Course Nov. 4 & 5, Santa Anita will present five Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” Challenge Race qualifiers over the first two weekends.
–In order for a specific horse to be eligible for program bonuses, it must have made its most recent start outside of California and not have started in the Golden State within the past 12 months.
–Horses that qualify for eligibility via Del Mar’s Summer Ship & Win program retain eligibility for one start at Santa Anita providing they not start at any other track between the conclusion of Del Mar’s Summer Meet and the beginning of Santa Anita’s Autumn Meet.
–In all overnight races, eligible horses are guaranteed $5,000 and a 35 percent bonus (of regular purse money earned) will be paid for finishing first through fifth.
–In all stakes races, eligible horses will be guaranteed $5,000, with no additional purse earnings bonus.
For additional information regarding Santa Anita’s 2022 Autumn Meet, please visit santaanita.com or call the Santa Anita Racing Office at (626) 574-6352.
FINISH LINES: Congratulations to trainer George Papaprodromou on winning four races Sunday, with American Theorem‘s victory in the Grade II Triple Bend Stakes highlighting a terrific day for the popular 46-year-old Cypriot native. . . With three more wins Sunday including his fifth stakes victory of the weekend, Juan Hernandez has an 89-72 lead over runner-up Flavien Prat in Santa Anita’s jockey standings, while Phil D’Amato is well on his way to his second straight Santa Anita training title, holding a 48-36 advantage over O’Neill . . . Hot Rod Charlie worked six furlongs this morning in 1:12.60 under Flavien Prat, trainer Doug O’Neill calling the drill “spectacular” but adding there is no immediate race in mind for the son of Oxbow. “The owners will put their heads together in the upcoming days and we’ll make a decision, but the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Nov. 5 at Keeneland) is our ultimate goal,” said O’Neill, who in the past had mentioned the Grade II Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs July 2 as a starting point . . . Santa Ysabel winner Eda worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 for Sean McCarthy. It was one of 125 125 recorded works this morning, 21 on the training track.
LATEST CONTENT FROM XBTV:
FEATURES:
Preview of the Hollywood Gold Cup
Preview of the Shoemaker Mile
Preview of The Gamely
WORKOUTS:
Beyond Brilliant (Shirreffs) 5-29-22
Tripoli (Sadler) 5-29-22
Barristan The Bold (Papaprodromou) 5-29-22
Gregorian Chant (D’Amato) 5-29-22
Desert Dawn (Outside) and Ain’t Easy (D’Amato) 5-28-22
With This Vow (Ellis) 5-28-22
Vanzzy (Blacker) 5-28-22
Ce Ce (Outside) and Quintecents (M.McCarthy) 5-27-22
Lady T (Shirreffs) 5-27-22
Kittyhawk Lass (Ellis) 5-27-22
Oubabe (Sadler) 5-27-22
Tizamagician (Outside) and Naismith (Mandella) 5-27-22
