- BALNIKHOV READY FOR PICTURE IN CINEMA STAKES
- SEAN MCCARTHY BREEZES TWO FOR THE AFFIRMED
- NEW EQUINE FACES ARE LURED FOR AUTUMN MEET
- SPRINT ACE DR. SCHIVEL ‘DOING WELL’ FOR RETURN
ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR BALNIKHOV IN CINEMA
The stars seem properly aligned for Balnikhov to win his first United States added money event in today’s $100,000 Cinema Stakes for three-year-olds at 1 1/8-miles on turf.
Blinkers on, added distance, a favorable pace scenario and a trouble-free trip likely would result in victory for the stretch-running Irish-bred gelding, beaten a nose after a slow start in Santa Anita’s restricted Singletary Stakes at a mile in his U.S. debut on April 2, and second again in the Grade II American Turf when squeezed going 1 1/16 miles May 7 at Churchill Downs.
Phil D’Amato, Santa Anita’s leading trainer with a 51-37 edge over Doug O’Neill as only eight racing days remain in the Winter/Spring Meet that concludes June 19, is hoping for an even playing field in the Cinema.
“I just want to give the horse a little extra focus,” D’Amato said in explaining the addition of blinkers. “He’s training really well, came out of his Kentucky race in good shape and I thought this was a good spot.
“For a European, he acclimated very quickly. He’s showed a lot of turn of foot in his breezes and in his races. We just have to hone that talent and get him to the wire first.”
The Cinema is race seven of nine with a 1 p.m. first post time: Red Road, Ricardo Gonzalez, 6-1; Cabo Spirit, Joe Bravo, 4-1; Balnikhov, Juan Hernandez, 4-5; Beef Winslow, Abel Cedillo, 5-1; and War At Sea, Mike Smith, 4-1.
TRAINER HAS TWO FOR THE MONEY IN AFFIRMED
Under the watchful eye of trainer Sean McCarthy, High Connection and Hopper each breezed this morning for the Grade III Affirmed Stakes next Saturday.
Working separately although they were given identical times, High Connection, a chestnut colt by Connect, and Hopper, a son of Declaration of War, went five furlongs in 1:00.40.
McCarthy was pleased with the drills, although he will have to make a decision on jockeys for each since leading rider Juan Hernandez rode both horses last out.
Doppelganger and Newgrange, also nominated to the Affirmed, worked this morning for Tim Yakteen, who likely will enter Doppelganger but was mulling a decision on Newgrange.
Doppelganger, sixth in the Grade II Pat Day Mile on May 7, went five furlongs in a bullet 59 flat, fastest of 46 drills at the distance, while Newgrange, sixth as the 4-5 choice in the Grade II Rebel on Feb. 26, went the same distance in 59.80.
The $100,000 Affirmed for three-year-olds will have its 44th running and be decided at 1 1/16 miles.
Following a 10-length debut win on March 26, High Connection had an eventful outing next out when he stumbled and was bumped finishing second as the 7-10 favorite in a $100,000 optional claimer at a mile and one-sixteenth May 8.
“It didn’t help him,” trainer Sean McCarthy said of High Connection’s unfortunate issues, muffling a guffaw. “Hopper is stretching out from a seven-furlong maiden win (May 7), but I don’t think that will be an issue. He should like the distance.”
The Affirmed is named for the 1978 Triple Crown winner trained by Hall of Fame member Laz Barrera. Affirmed was ridden through his 3-year-old campaign by Steve Cauthen, who at 19 became the youngest jockey to win the Triple Crown.
Owned by Harbor View Farm, Affirmed won 22 of 29 starts and among his most accomplished progeny as a sire were female turf champion of 1992 and 1993 Flawlessly and multiple graded turf stakes winner The Tin Man, who won 13 of 30 starts including the Grade I Shoemaker Mile in 2007, earning more than $3.6 million under Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella.
‘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: Mark Glatt reports Dr. Schivel “has been back in training for a few weeks now and he’s doing well” after finishing third in Dubai’s Golden Shaheen March 26. While the speedy son of Violence has not breezed since his return, Glatt, enjoying another solid meet at Santa Anita with 28 wins, good for fourth in the standings, has the Grade I Bing Crosby at Del Mar July 30 as a long-range goal. Winner of the Grade II Santa Anita Sprint Championship last Oct. 2 and beaten a desperate nose Nov. 6 by Aloha West in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar, Dr. Schivel won the Bing Crosby last summer . . . There were 162 recorded workouts at Santa Anita today including a five-furlong training track drill in 1:02.20 by Leggs Galore, winner of her last three races, all stakes, including the Grade II Buena Vista on March 5 for owner/breeder William Sims. Phil D’Amato trains the daughter of 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern who has nine wins from 14 career starts . . . On a glorious Memorial Day, fans bet $4,584,692 in new money producing a total 20-cent Rainbow Pick Six Jackpot pool of $5,173,176 for the mandatory payout, resulting in 4,595 winning tickets each worth $889.60…Seven-time NBA Champion Robert Horry will present today’s Grade II Desert Stormer trophy, while actor Al Kaplon, famous for his role as the referee in the hit movie “Dodgeball,” will present today’s Cinema Stakes trophy.
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