SANTA ANITA
NOTEBOOK
FEBRUARY 3, 2005
by Bernard T. Moore
The return of the Sunshine Millions on Saturday at Santa Anita Park also
marked the re-emergence of sunny skies to the Los Angeles area. An on-track crowd
of 17,533 came to witness the four races for Florida- and California-bred
runners. This is the third year of the Sunshine Millions, which consists of eight
stakes events pitting California- and Florida-bred runners against each other. A
remarkable $3.6 million in purse money is awarded during a nationwide telecast,
which certainly lends excitement and anticipation to an otherwise ordinary
winter day in January.
The first race of the day in the series of four races at Santa Anita Park was
the Sunshine Millions Oaks for three-year-old fillies going six furlongs. The
Sunshine Millions, while still in its infancy, has been thrilling to say the
least, as upsets have been commonplace in both runnings thus far. When HOT STORM
(Stormy Atlantic) was able to rally to win from off the pace despite a wide
trip, it was a harbinger of things to come for the remaining Sunshine Millions’
races.
Ridden by Jerry Bailey, Hot Storm, a 21-1 longshot in the field of
12, raced within striking distance of the leaders
while outside rivals down the backstretch. Trained by Dallas Stewart, the Fair
Grounds invader seized the lead in the stretch, and was able to fend off the
late challenges of both She’s a Jewel (Successful Appeal) and Memorette (Memo
[Chi]),
who finished second an third, respectively, despite drifting in the stretch under
pressure. Brooke’s Halo (Southern Halo), making her first start for trainer Jeff
Mullins, was dispatched as the 5-2 favorite. She attended the early pace before
weakening to finish a well-beaten 10th.
The second Sunshine Millions’ race on the Santa Anita Park card was the six
furlong Padua Stables Sprint for four year olds and up, and it produced yet
another surprising result. RED WARRIOR (Benchmark) closed resolutely after
racing towards the back of the pack early on to post well deserved one-length
victory over runner-up Full Moon Madness (Half a Year). Both rivals bided their
time before making their run, as there was a suicidal speed duel on the front
end. When the pacesetters began their meltdown on the far turn, both runners
moved in unison, with Full Moon Madness a bit quicker of the two at this point.
Once jockey Garrett Gomez was able to straighten the course of Red Warrior in
the stretch, the Cal-bred chestnut was able to rally smartly in the drive, slowly edging away from
the competition in deep stretch. Areyoutalkintome (Smokester) acquitted himself
quite well as the favorite in the race, finishing a close up third despite
contesting a torrid early pace in a strong showing.
The only turf race in the Sunshine Millions series at Santa Anita was up
next, and it featured the return of A to the Z (Benchmark) to the racing wars.
He had not been seen under silks since a sharp second place finish in the
Citation H. (G1) at Hollywood Park in late November, and as a result of
that effort, was bet down to 2-1 favoritism. Despite a field of 12 runners,
STAR OVER THE BAY (Cozzene) was able to clear from his extreme outside
post to dictate the early pace.
The seven-year-old gelding once again proved how
difficult he is to overhaul when he is unoccupied on the front end as eventual
second place finisher A to the Z tried in vain to corral the pacesetter in the
stretch. Saddled by Mike Mitchell, Star of the Bay relaxed nicely on the lead
for jockey Tyler Baze, who seems to get along quite nicely with the gray
gelding. When Star of the Bay was headed in the stretch, there more than enough
gas left in the tank to turn back all challenges, as the East coast invader
Silver Tree (Hennessy) closed belatedly for the show despite racing in traffic
in the bulky field.
The Distaff for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles was the final race of the
Sunshine Millions. All three winners returned double-digit payoffs thus far, and
it would be interesting to see if the trend toward upsets, which was so
prevalent throughout the day, would continue as the 10 distaffers took their
positions in the starting gate. When Yearly Report, (General Meeting) the
prohibitive choice in the race, lacked her customary early zip and was racing
in mid-pack, you had the feeling that another implausible result was on the
horizon.
That sentiment came to fruition when SWEET LIPS (Kris S.), donning
blinkers for the first time in her career, came barreling through the stretch to
run down the beleaguered pacesetters to win going away. Stretching out to a
distance of ground off a non-descript ninth-place finish, the Bobby Frankel-trained runner was full of run as the early pacesetters began to wilt in the
stretch. She was forced to alter course under jockey Rene Douglas for clear
sailing while in the midst of her rally in the stretch, but remained undeterred,
closing resolutely to win going away by 1 1/2 lengths at nearly 13-1. Fencelineneighbor (Wild
Rush) attended the early pace from the outset, held gamely to save the place
over an oncoming Dream of Summer (Siberian Summer) at 39-1.
Yearly Report was never a
serious threat and simply failed to fire. A suspensory injury was discovered
after the race and the four-year-old filly has been retired.
Favorites continued to take it on the chin in stakes events on Sunday as well
when SALT CHAMP (Arg) (Salt Lake) closed strongly in the final yards to defeat
the favored Island Fashion (Petionville) in the Santa Monica H. (G1). Making her first start in the United States for
trainer Richard Mandella, the lightly raced five-year-old was unhurried early
under rider Gary Stevens. She found her best stride leaving the far turn and
continued to accelerate in the stretch, collaring the runner-up in deep stretch
before edging away late.
Island Fashion gave a good account of herself despite returning
from a layoff. She was in a bit tight shortly after the start and
then was forced to wait for
racing room down the backstretch. Once clear, she dispensed a bold move around
the far turn to join the front-runners, but could not contain the winner late in
a game effort. Resplendency (Tale of the Cat) held well for third after vying
for the early lead.
Douglas and Baze continue to duke it out for leading rider honors,
with Douglas holding a two-win margin over his younger counterpart. Jon Court
continues to hold down the third spot in the standings, followed by Gomez and Victor Espinoza.
Doug O’Neill’s lead in the trainer’s race stands at nine, as Mullins is
now solidly in second. Richard Mandella and Bob Baffert
hold down the third and fourth spots, respectively.
The main track favored early speed virtually the entire week in sprint
contests, with Friday being the day when the bias appeared to be at its
strongest, and distance races seemed to play more fairer. There did not appear to
be any path bias all week. The turf course was quite fair as well, with no
particular running style enjoying an advantage.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (1/26)
4TH – GOT THE MESSAGE (Memo [Chi]) got an absolutely brutal trip off the
Sanford Shulman claim.
He raced extremely wide on the far turn, losing valuable ground, and
continued widest all in the stretch run while closing very well late under a 10
lb. apprentice rider who was merely a passenger.
7TH – BOASTING (Kris S.) was an unlucky second off
a layoff vs. a minor stakes winning favorite. The New York invader from Frankel
was trapped along the inside
while tracking a dawdling pace down the backstretch and around the far turn. Forced to
alter course as the pace quickened in the stretch, she kicked into gear once
clear to just miss in a sharp effort.
Thursday (1/27)
2ND – RAN FOR THE DOUGH (Bertrando) had modest success employing rating tactics
here off a brief rest. She displayed an even effort while racing one-paced throughout
and definitely
needs to see the lead to be at her best.
6TH – DOWNTIME (Favorite Trick) needed this useful sprint sharpener off a layoff.
He rated
far back early before being forced widest of all entering the stretch and closed with good energy late. May be stretched out in second start off the
shelf.
7TH – KATDOGAWN (GB) (Bahhare) was a very unlucky third on the drop. She raced in
extremely cramped quarters entering the stretch and was forced to check sharply to
avoid clipping heels in the midst of a rally. Bumped soundly by another rival
who lugged in, she straightened out under Douglas to muster another rally
and closed with a flourish when finally clear.
Friday (1/28)
5TH – FRANKELSTEIN (Bertrando) displayed an improved effort while making his second start off a
freshening. He held well for second after chasing a very hot pace for the distance.
7TH – ARGENTINISIMA’s (Arg) (Candy Stripes) fourth-place finish is better than it
appears. She broke a bit slowly from the gate and was forced to steady along the inside on
the backstretch and again on the far turn. She failed to reduce her deficit in the
stretch over a speed conducive track and was not abused late. May be switched
back to the grass in next start.
Saturday (1/29)
4TH – Areyoutalkintom was part of a four-horse speed duel for
the lead. He continued on gamely to the wire, giving ground grudgingly in deep stretch
to fresh closers.
5TH – A to the Z may have been best in a sharp second-place
finish off the shelf. He was forced to take the overland route when dispensing an
eye-catching move on the far turn to draw on even terms with a loose speed who
wired the field. Obviously paid for that explosive run in the stretch as the
rustiness from the layoff began to show.
Sunday (1/30)
8TH – Island Fashion once again exhibited her affinity for the
Santa Anita Park main track with a troubled second off a layoff, while suffering
her first defeat at the tricky seven-furlong distance. Tough as nails
five-year-old mare will probably be stretched out to two turns in subsequent
starts.