September 27th Part II Super Saturday California Style At Santa Anita

[Man o Taz]

We do have two coasts with Super Saturday festivities...

Here is what we are looking at from the Breeders Cup host venue.

Remember last year, the G1 Awesome Again was a tune up for eventual BC Classic winner Mucho Macho Man. Its a shame he is not here to contest the race again this year. He will be missed.

But the Awesome Again is not the only "awesome" race (pun intended) on the card that day...

Three year old defending champion Beholder is featured in the Lady Secret/Zenyatta...I don't know what they are calling the race anymore.

Past Performances are available for all nominees below:
http://www.santaanita.com/stakes-schedule/

G1 Frontrunner Stakes, 8.5 Furlongs (I believe Bondholder won this race last year.)

American Pharoah
Calculator
Conquest Pantera
Daddy DT
Lord Nelson
Red Button
Reflected Star
Sky Preacher
Skyway

RACE 7 RODEO DRIVE S. (GRADE I)  POST TIME - 3:30 PM

ENTRIES PLUS  PPS & SELECTIONS
$1 Exacta / $1 Trifecta $2 Low Takeout Rolling Double/ $1 Rolling Pick Three (Races 7-8-9) $1 Superfecta (.10 min)

Santa Anita Park STAKES

Purse $300,000. For Fillies And Mares, Three Years Old And Upward. One And One Fourth Miles. (Turf)

PP   Horse   Virtual
Stable   A/S   Med                                                   Jockey        Wgt                  Trainer
1   Cozze Up Lady (KY)           5/M   L   K J Desormeaux       119   J K Desormeaux
2   Famous Alice (KY)           3/F   L   D Van Dyke       116   T F Proctor
3   Moulin de Mougin (KY)        4/F   L   M E Smith               119   R E Mandella
4   Bee Brave (GB)                   4/F   L   T Baze               119   S Callaghan
5   Scarlet Strike (KY)           4/F   L   J Talamo               119   J Hollendorfer
6   Rusty Slipper (KY)           4/F   L   A T Gryder             119   H G Motion
7   Emollient (KY)                   4/F   L   R Napravnik       121   W I Mott
8   Parranda (FL)                   5/M   L   E Trujillo               119   J Hollendorfer
9   Irish Mission (ON)           5/M   L   C S Nakatani       119   C Clement
10   Charlie Em (GB)                   4/F   L   M Garcia               119   P Gallagher
11   Stormy Lucy (KY)           5/M   L   R Bejarano               119   E Moger, Jr.
12   Bunairgead (IRE)           4/F   L   V Espinoza               119   J M Cassidy
13   Miss Serendipity (ARG)        6/M   L   B Blanc               124   R L McAnally
14   Queen of The Sand (IRE)        4/F   L   A O Solis               119   P Gallagher

Owners: 1 - Martin Rcg Stb., LLC, Morgan Thbrds., Farfellow Farms, Et Al ; 2 - George Krikorian ; 3 - Ran Jan Racing, Inc. ; 4 - Eclipse Thbrds. Partners or Green Lantern Stb., LLC ; 5 - Carver or Hollendorfer or Smith ; 6 - Zanim R. Meahjohn ; 7 - Juddmonte Farms ; 8 - Campbell, Clark or Gatto, Et Al ; 9 - Robert S. Evans ; 10 - Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners ; 11 - Steve Moger ; 12 - DP Racing, LLC ; 13 - Matias Cavalieri ; 14 - Derrick Fisher

Breeders: 1 - Farfellow Farms Ltd.; 2 - Kenneth L. Ramsey & Sarah K. Ramsey; 3 - Ran Jan Racing, Inc.; 4 - PSB Holdings Ltd; 5 - Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC; 6 - Woodford Thoroughbreds, LLC.; 7 - Juddmonte Farms, Inc.; 8 - Kinsman Farm; 9 - Sam-Son Farm; 10 - Highfield Farm LLP; 11 - Mercedes Stable, LLC; 12 - J. S. Bolger; 13 - Anselmo Emilio Cavalieri; 14 - R. Coffey

Equipment Changes: 2 - Famous Alice - Blinkers On;7 - Emollient - Blinkers On

RACE 9 - POST TIME - 4:30 PM UNZIP ME S.

ENTRIES PLUS  PPS & SELECTIONS
$1 Exacta / $1 Trifecta /$2 Low Takeout Rolling Double $1 Rolling Pick Three (Races 9-10-11) $1 Superfecta (.10 min)

Santa Anita Park STAKES

Purse $75,000. (Plus $22,500 – CBOIF - California Bred Owner Fund). For Fillies, Three Years Old. FREE nominations close Friday, September 19, 2014. $1,500 supplementary nominations close at time of entry. All horses pay $300 to start with $75,000 Added. The added monies and all fees to be divided 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 12% to third, 6% to fourth and 2% to fifth. 122 Lbs. Non-winners of a sweepstakes of $25,000 allowed 2 Lbs.; non-winners of two races other than Maiden, Claiming or Starter, 4 Lbs.; $25,000 since July 4, 6 Lbs. (Maiden, Claiming and Starter races not considered for allowances.) Highweights preferred, followed by Graded Stake Winners, followed by Graded Stakes placed horses, followed by highest earners. Starters to be named through the entry box by the usual time of entries. About Six And One Half Furlongs. (Turf)

PP   Horse   Virtual
Stable   A/S   Med   Jockey   Wgt   Trainer
1   Wonderfully (IRE)      3/F   L   D Van Dyke 122   T F Proctor
2   Cal Gal (CA)              3/F   L   T Baze     116   D F O'Neill
3   Alexis Tangier (KY)      3/F   L   V Espinoza     118   R E Mandella
4   On the Backstreets (PA)   3/F   L   R Bejarano     122   P Miller
5   Concave (ON)              3/F   L   M Gutierrez 122   D F O'Neill
6   Meinertzhageni (CA)      3/F   L   A Delgadillo 120   J Bonde
7   Kool Kat (KY)              3/F   L   M E Smith     118   J M Cassidy
8   Stars Above Me (GB)      3/F   L   E Trujillo     122   H G Motion
9   Gender Agenda (GB)      3/F   L   J Talamo     120   C Gaines

Owners: 1 - Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, Inc. ; 2 - Cam Allard ; 3 - Ran Jan Racing, Inc. ; 4 - Brewer Rcg Stb. Lanzman Rcg Stb. Inc., Rockingham Rnc, Et Al ; 5 - Reddam Racing, LLC ; 6 - Carranza or McGovern, Metanovic, Et Al ; 7 - DP Racing, LLC ; 8 - Elite Racing Club, UK ; 9 - Brackpool or Ossop or Ritvo

Breeders: 1 - Massarra Syndicate; 2 - Liberty Road Stables; 3 - Ran Jan Racing, Inc.; 4 - Justice Farm & Greg Justice; 5 - Windways Farm Limited; 6 - Robert Harmon; 7 - Jody Guida & Anthony Guida; 8 - Elite Racing Club; 9 - Middle Park Stud Ltd

RACE 10 CHANDELIER S. (GRADE I)  POST TIME - 5:00 PM

ENTRIES PLUS  PPS & SELECTIONS
$1 Exacta / $1 Trifecta $2 Low Takeout Rolling Double/ $1 Superfecta (.10 min)

Santa Anita Park STAKES

Purse $300,000. For Fillies, Two Years Old. One And One Sixteenth Miles.

PP   Horse   Virtual
Stable   A/S   Med   Jockey   Wgt   Trainer
1   Sunday Sonnet (KY)      2/F   L   J Talamo           122   K J Breen
2   Conquest Eclipse (KY)      2/F   L   C S Nakatani   122   M E Casse
3   Danette (KY)              2/F   L   K J Desormeaux   122   J K Desormeaux
4   Angela Renee (KY)      2/F   L   R Bejarano           122   T A Pletcher
5   Sharla Rae (KY)              2/F   L   D Van Dyke   122   D F O'Neill
6   Maybellene (KY)              2/F   L   R Napravnik   122   B Baffert
7   Morning Coffee (KY)      2/F   L   M Gutierrez   122   D F O'Neill
8   Manahatta (KY)              2/F   L   T Baze           122   J Hollendorfer
9   Cruisingtheharbor (KY)   2/F   L   E A Maldonado   122   P Miller
10   Dad's Princess (KY)      2/F   L   M E Smith           122   J M Cassidy
11   Majestic Presence (KY)   2/F   L   E Trujillo           122   J Hollendorfer
12   Lutine Belle (KY)              2/F   L   A O Solis           122   J Hollendorfer

Owners: 1 - George & Lori Hall ; 2 - Conquest Stables, LLC ; 3 - Don't Tell My Wife Stables ; 4 - Siena Farm, LLC ; 5 - W. C. Racing, Inc. ; 6 - Natalie J. Baffert ; 7 - Reddam Racing, LLC ; 8 - Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Ltd. or Peachtree Stable ; 9 - Altamira Racing Stable ; 10 - DP Racing, LLC ; 11 - Mark DeDominico, LLC & North American Thbrd. Rcng. Comp., Inc. ; 12 - KMN Racing, LLC

Breeders: 1 - PTS Ranch, LLC; 2 - Tapestry Stud LLC & Spendthrift Farm LLC; 3 - Alexandra Gross, Peter Gross & AlfonsoMazzetti; 4 - Siena Farms LLC; 5 - Mr. & Mrs. Richard S. Kaster &Frederick C. Wieting; 6 - Colts Neck Stables LLC; 7 - Sierra Farm; 8 - Dr. O. M. Patrick; 9 - Doug Branham; 10 - Robert Gentry Family Partnership, Ltd.; 11 - Judy B. Hicks; 12 - WinStar Farm, LLC & John R. Penn

G1 Zenyatta, 8.5 furlongs

Beholder
Iotapa
Tiz Midnight
Tiz The Key
Wittgenstein
Yahilwa

Is this another walkover? Can Iotapa really challenger Beholder?

G1 Awesome Again, 9 furlongs

Bird E House
Fed Biz
Footbridge
Imperative
Majestic Harbor
Mystery Train
Shared Belief
Sky Kingdom

Does not seem like much of a field for Shared Belief, but it will be interesting to see how he handles the dirt at Santa Anita in preparation for the Breeders Cup Classic. If he has any vulnerability it may be this. I would love to have seen his closing speed vs. Game On Dude's early speed when the Dude was at the top of his game.

[Man o Taz]

I have an idea - with the Lady Secret - Zenyatta - why not call it the Lady Zenyatta...representing both horses...just a thought.

[peeptoad]

This card is on my agenda for this evening. The only race I've looked at so far is the Chandelier. The Pletcher horse should go off as a deserving favorite in there. He shipped her out for this one due to it being a wide open affair and there is no/low risk of s sloppy track.
I am going with Maybellene though. I'll take a chance at hopefully a decent price, she broke the maiden going 2 turns at DMR and has a pedigree that could do well on dirt. Bejarano did jump off onto the Pletch horse, which is understandable, but I'd rather take a shot with a better price in this one.

[Man o Taz]

http://www.hrtv.com/videos/weekend-stakes-picks-92714/?VideoCategoryId=0
HRTV's Picks Show

Starts at about minute mark - 24

Race 5 - Zenyatta - 2:30
Michele Hu - Beholder
Other Guy - Tiz The Key

Race 6 - Frontrunner Stakes - 3:00
MH - American Pharoah
OG - American Pharoah

Race 7 - Rodeo Drive - 3:30
MH - Parranda
OG- Irish Mission

Race 8 - Awesome Again - 4:00
MH - Shared Belief/Majestic Harbor
OG - Shared Belief/Footbridge

Race 9 - Unzip Me - 4:30
MH -
OG -

Race 10 - Chandelier - 5:00
MH -
OG - Dad's Princess

[Man o Taz]

Here's a nice article about Mr. Hollendorfer and his charge, Shared Belief.

Jerry Hollendorfer's Patience Pays With Shared Belief
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-shared-belief-dwyre-20140925-column.html

I didn't know Mr. Ward was an assistant of Mr. Frankel.

Here's an article on three year olds...
http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/horses/2014/09/25/shared-belief-fellow-year-olds-lead-breeders-cup-chase/16222227/

[The Tin Man]

Here's a nice article about Mr. Hollendorfer and his charge, Shared Belief.

Jerry Hollendorfer's Patience Pays With Shared Belief
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-shared-belief-dwyre-20140925-column.html

I didn't know Mr. Ward was an assistant of Mr. Frankel.

Here's an article on three year olds...
http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/horses/2014/09/25/shared-belief-fellow-year-olds-lead-breeders-cup-chase/16222227/

Nice to see Dan The Man get a mention for once ...

[Man o Taz]

Always good to read Dan. TTM you owe me an e-mail. 

[Man o Taz]

First, congratulations to Shared Belief for his victory in the Awesome Again. He is really showing himself to be a special horse, though the field is very much the same field he bested in the Pacific Classic, his ability to not only best elders, but also do it on a dirt track that he had never run over after being taken wide is a credit to he and his connections. I loved this horse at 2, and I still love him at 3. I do hope some of the musings that I have read from the punditry regarding his stumbling coming back to the winner's circle are not a worry at all and he is fit as a fiddle for the Breeders Cup Classic where he'll face his stiffest test yet.

Second, I have watched Victor Espinosa carrying Shared Belief wide several times and I, frankly, see nothing wrong with it. If he had bumped the horse, or otherwise created a dangerous situation I could understand that, but I think its nothing more than gamesmanship unless it creates a dangerous situation. Just my opinion.   

[peeptoad]

Second, I have watched Victor Espinosa carrying Shared Belief wide several times and I, frankly, see nothing wrong with it. If he had bumped the horse, or otherwise created a dangerous situation I could understand that, but I think its nothing more than gamesmanship unless it creates a dangerous situation. Just my opinion.

I completely disagree and Espinoza got 7 days suspension for his ride. Ask the owners of Sky Kingdom how they feel about it.... their horse was ridden solely to give another horse a tough trip and not to win (and that alone goes against the rule book anyhow). I think Victor deserves his suspension, but he was possibly acting on orders from the trainer (despite the fact that Baffert says not).

[Man o Taz]

I have not read anything from the owners of Sky Kingdom. If you find anything I would like to read it.

I also did not have any problem with John Velazquez's ride on To Honor and Serve that pushed Mucho Macho Man wide in the 2013 Woodward Stakes.

Where is there evidence that there was a preconceived plan?

Where is there evidence that Mr. Espinosa's conduct was reckless or dangerous?

Did Mr. Espinsoa touch Shared Belief? Not that I saw.

Just because the steward's acted and handed out a fine demonstrates that they were right?

That would suggest that the steward's have never been wrong and can never be wrong.

They didn't take Game On Dude down in the 2011 Santa Anita Handicap where I thought he should come down.

They didn't take Main Sequence down for running into Twilight Eclipse in the Joe Hirsch.

And Mr. Hollendorfer did not make anything of it...

http://www.horseracingnation.com/news/Shared_Belief_Fine_After_Awesome_Again_Mugging_123

asked about the incident just after the race was official, Hollendorfer said, "We're all big boys . . . It's no big deal for me. Mike will have to settle with Victor. It's not the worst thing in the        world to have a tough race and be double-fit for the Breeders' Cup. That race will be tougher so we need to be tougher, too."

He confirmed those thoughts Sunday morning. "We're big boys out here racing and as long as we won, we overcame a lot, so I'm grateful to get the win."

Were they right in all those instances? Not necessarily - and that does not mean they were right here. 

[peeptoad]

I have not read anything from the owners of Sky Kingdom. If you find anything I would like to read it.

I also did not have any problem with John Velazquez's ride on To Honor and Serve that pushed Mucho Macho Man wide in the 2013 Woodward Stakes.

Where is there evidence that there was a preconceived plan?

Where is there evidence that Mr. Espinosa's conduct was reckless or dangerous?

Did Mr. Espinsoa touch Shared Belief? Not that I saw.

Just because the steward's acted and handed out a fine demonstrates that they were right?

That would suggest that the steward's have never been wrong and can never be wrong.

They didn't take Game On Dude down in the 2011 Santa Anita Handicap where I thought he should come down.

They didn't take Main Sequence down for running into Twilight Eclipse in the Joe Hirsch.

And Mr. Hollendorfer did not make anything of it...

http://www.horseracingnation.com/news/Shared_Belief_Fine_After_Awesome_Again_Mugging_123

asked about the incident just after the race was official, Hollendorfer said, "We're all big boys . . . It's no big deal for me. Mike will have to settle with Victor. It's not the worst thing in the        world to have a tough race and be double-fit for the Breeders' Cup. That race will be tougher so we need to be tougher, too."

He confirmed those thoughts Sunday morning. "We're big boys out here racing and as long as we won, we overcame a lot, so I'm grateful to get the win."

Were they right in all those instances? Not necessarily - and that does not mean they were right here. 

The ride was not reckless, but Espinoza did not ride his mount to win. It was definitely a premeditated/intentional move. Smith even said after the race he was trying to take back on Shared Belief to get inside and Victor wouldn't let him. Every time he let up on SB or accelerated with him, Victor did the exact same thing with Sky Kingdom. He clearly violated the rule book (which I don't have time to look for right now, but an excerpt was posted on DRF yesterday).

[Man o Taz]

The ride was not reckless, but Espinoza did not ride his mount to win. It was definitely a premeditated/intentional move. Smith even said after the race he was trying to take back on Shared Belief to get inside and Victor wouldn't let him. Every time he let up on SB or accelerated with him, Victor did the exact same thing with Sky Kingdom. He clearly violated the rule book (which I don't have time to look for right now, but an excerpt was posted on DRF yesterday).

OK - but what was the difference between what Victor did and what CJ's Awesome and Protonico did boxing in California Chrome. Javier Castellano would not let Chrome get by no matter what.

So, if you are taking a horse wide from the inside its a careless ride, but if you are boxing a horse in from the outside, its OK - gamesmanship what have you.

Its a judgment call.

If you get away with it - its sharp riding - and if you get caught its bad. Johnny V took Much Macho Man way wide with To Honor and Serve at the close of the Woodward Stakes and it was an incredible ride. 

I just think it has to be called both ways and all ways or not at all. I have no doubt he violated the rules - but I think you can always find a violation in the rule book if you want to.

I do think the stewards may have been doing what I read somewhere and can't find - in sending a message that was not sent to outside riders coming to California for the BC that riders who interfere will be taken down.

[Senator L]

I'm in total agreement with Man o taz and now I don't have to type a thing :chickendance:
Junior Alvarado almost got someone killed and all he did was get taken off his mount.
California Chrome gets boxed in and its race riding.
It should be the same rules on a 10k claimer and million dollar horse
all that said I would probably be pissed if that was my horse

[peeptoad]

I'm in total agreement with Man o taz and now I don't have to type a thing :chickendance:
Junior Alvarado almost got someone killed and all he did was get taken off his mount.
California Chrome gets boxed in and its race riding.
It should be the same rules on a 10k claimer and million dollar horse
all that said I would probably be pissed if that was my horse

Wow. That was reckless riding at its worst... he should definitely get a suspension imo.


Taz, one of the differences between what happened to Chrome at PARX and what happened to SB has to do with ground loss (I would have to watch the MMM Woodward race again to comment; I don't recall that race clearly enough). Chrome lost no ground and, in fact, was running on the optimal part of the PARX track (just not on the lead). Victor deliberately rode his horse to compromise another horse in the race. Yes, it's a judgement call, but I think the stewards made the correct call. If I owned Sky Kingdom and paid the entry fees and saw that I would be livid. The horse was a long shot, but he had absolutely no chance at all with that ride.
Alavarado should most definitely have been handed a suspension for his ride on Moreno. That was even more flagrant since Maragh's life was potentially at stake.

[Man o Taz]

I think Mr. Alvarado has or will be suspended.

There is no doubt his riding (or lack thereof) contributed to a dangerous situation adn we say the result with Mr. Miragh's serious injury.

I get the lost ground theory, but how does it translate for a horse being boxed in where no ground is lost.

If that is the case, a horse on the inside will never get the benefit of the doubt because boxed in he/she will never lose any ground, even though the boxing in could be much worse than the carrying a horse wide.

I guess you want to discourage both types of behavior and since its all but impossible to discourage the boxing in, the only way to do it is to punish the outside drifters.

However, I do think the stewards were at a minimum serving two purposes in handing out their penalty - focusing just as much if not more on the BC and sending a message, as they were in penalizing Victor...if they really felt that Victor's actions were that bad he would have received more than a week's suspension.