NOTES BY GOLDEN

 

‘RAINBOWS’ SEEKS GOLD AT END OF SAN CARLOS

CORDIALITY DRILLS FOR POSSIBLE WILSHIRE START

FANS CAN SEE JUSTIFY AT SANTA ANITA ON JUNE 23


‘NOW HORSE’ TOUCHING RAINBOWS SET FOR SAN CARLOS

Touching Rainbows seeks his fifth straight victory and his first stakes win in his first attempt in Saturday’s Grade II San Carlos Stakes for three-year-olds at seven furlongs.

Claimed for $25,000 in September of 2016, the California-bred son of Aragorn has ripped off four straight wins under Flavien Prat, who rides again in the San Carlos.

“He’s a horse on the improve,” said Phil D’Amato, who trains the five-year-old chestnut gelding for KM Racing Enterprises. “Each race is better than the last. I’ve been very impressed with his progression. I think he’s the ‘now’ horse and we’re looking forward to running him in his first graded stakes.”

Touching Rainbows, who worked five furlongs Sunday morning in 1:02.60 with Prat aboard, has won six of 12 career starts, earning $230,560.



‘HONEST’ MARE CORDIALITY COULD GO IN WILSHIRE

Cordiality, a five-year-old daughter of Papa Clem, is a possible starter in next Sunday’s

closing day feature, the Grade III, $100,000 Wilshire Stakes for fillies and mares, four and up, at one mile on turf.

Claimed for $32,000 in July of 2016, the consistent and versatile mare has since won

four of 11 starts, including the Fran’s Valentine Stakes last out on May 19.

“We’ll look ahead towards a summer campaign, but if the Wilshire fits into our

plans, yes, we’ll run,” said part owner and trainer Mark Glatt.

“She’s a nice mare, a real nice mare, as honest as they come.”

Cordiality has eight wins, six seconds and a third in 21 lifetime starts, earning $316,095.

Also likely for the Wilshire are Ancient Secret, Flavien Prat; Beau Recall, Joe Talamo; and Storm the Hill, Rafael Bejarano.



JUNE 23 FIRST POST IS 12 NOON TO ACCOMMODATE JUSTIFY

Santa Anita will have a special early first post time of 12 noon this Saturday, June 23, to accommodate an on-track appearance between races by undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify, who returned to his home at The Great Race Place this afternoon.

Winner of the Grade I, $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 7, the Bob Baffert trainee achieved racing immortality winning last Saturday’s Grade I Belmont Stakes as he joined the legendary Seattle Slew in becoming only the second Thoroughbred in history to remain undefeated through the Triple Crown.

Unbeaten in six starts (three of them at Santa Anita, dating back to a rousing 9 ½ length maiden win going seven furlongs Feb. 18), Justify, a striking chestnut colt by the late Scat Daddy, out of the Ghostzapper mare Stage Magic, has earned $3,798,000.

Justify, who is owned by China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, LLC, Starlight Racing and WinStar Farm, currently is thought to be worth between $75 million and $100 million as a stallion prospect.



FINISH LINES: Trainer Phil D’Amato said Sunday morning that multiple graded stakes winner Fault could resume her racing career in the future, if her owners decide to do that. The four-year-old daughter of Blame suffered a non-displaced condylar fracture of her left hind leg on June 3 and had surgery the next day. “She can absolutely run again,” D’Amato said. “It just depends on what the owners choose to do with her in three months, basically. Will they choose to put her through the sale as a racing/broodmare prospect, or campaign? It’s up to them, but she’s in really good health.” . . . Overall, favorites are winning at a 37.91 clip with five racing days remaining in the Spring Meet (127 out of 335), but at an even higher rate, 43.08 percent (84 of 195) on dirt. On turf, the number dips to 30.71 (43 of 140) . . . Santa Anita will be dark for live racing Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week, resuming live racing on Thursday, June 21, at 12:30 p.m. It will be open for simulcast racing Wednesday, with free parking and free general admission. Admission gates open at 10 a.m.