STABLE NOTES BY ED GOLDEN

STABLE NOTES BY ED GOLDEN – SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2019

ESPINOZA IS BACK AND IN CHAMPIONSHIP MODE

JACKPOT IS $956,875 AT END OF THE ‘RAINBOW’

ARCADIA AND SANTA ANITA HONOR TIM CONWAY

FASIG-TIPTON SALE WEDNESDAY AT SANTA ANITA

ESPINOZA IN SEARCH OF HIS NEXT CHAMPION

The fairytale saga that is Victor Espinoza’s moves ever forward, chapter by chapter.

His riding career in serious jeopardy following a training accident at Del Mar last July,

the 47-year-old Triple Crown winner and Hall of Fame member remains his ever-affable self after a recovery just short of miraculous, back riding winners like nothing ever happened.

But it did.

“I’m doing well right now and things are moving along quite nicely,” said Espinoza,

whose 13 victories from 49 mounts–a lofty 27 percent–place him firmly among the top 10 riders at the spring portion of Santa Anita’s current meet.

“I’m trying to win as many races as I can and looking forward to my next champion. I hope by riding every day I can reach that goal.”

Should he achieve it, Espinoza would add to a resume that includes a Triple Crown sweep with Horse of the Year American Pharoah in 2015 and a near-sweep with two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome, who finished in a dead-heat for fourth in the 2014 Belmont Stakes after winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.
Following his arduous recovery, Espinoza had to prove himself riding-worthy all over again to fans and horsemen alike.

“That was understandable after such a serious accident,” Espinoza said. “Everyone was waiting to see how I would do, but now things have returned to normal. Owners and trainers have confidence in me and are working with me like they did before.
“I’m riding as many races as possible, trying to win every one.”

On Saturday, Espinoza returns to the scene of his greatest triumph, Belmont Park, where he captured the Triple Crown on American Pharoah. He rides promising maiden winner Ce Ce (pronounced see see) for trainer Michael McCarthy in the Grade I, $700,000 Acorn Stakes at a one-turn mile.

“Victor worked her the other morning, a nice, solid move in a minute and three-fifths,” said McCarthy, who conditions the daughter of Quality Road for owner/breeder Bo Hirsch.

“To see where Victor is today from 10 months ago is inspiring. What happened then was frightening, and for him to dig down and make a major commitment to getting fit not only physically but mentally, and coming back, was extremely courageous.”

SINGLE TICKET RAINBOW PICK SIX JACKPOT AT $956,875

Santa Anita’s popular 20 cent Single Ticket Rainbow Pick Six Jackpot went unsolved yet again Saturday, resulting in a Jackpot carryover into Sunday of $956,875.

With $269,789 in “new” money wagered, Saturday’s total Jackpot pool reached $1,164,897. Although there was no Single Ticket winner, there were 47 consolation tickets with six wins, each worth $3,100.75.

Today’s Rainbow Six begins with race four, and an approximate post time of 2:31 p.m.

TODAY IS ‘TIM CONWAY DAY’ IN ARCADIA

Today is “Tim Conway Day” in the City of Arcadia and the late comedic giant will be memorialized with the sixth race named in his honor at Santa Anita, following which, Tim Conway, Jr. will be presented with a proclamation from the city in a Winner’s Circle ceremony.

“I can’t think of a better place for all of us to come visit Dad’s money than right here at The Great Race Place,” said Tim Jr., who hosts the popular “Tim Conway Jr. Show” weeknights from 6 to 10 p.m. on KFI, AM 640.

“Although he seldom cashed, he had so many great moments here, and at Hollywood Park and Del Mar. I truly believe he’d be thrilled to know that a bunch of us are going to be getting together and trying to bet on the winner of his race!”

The “Tim Conway-Dorf Half Cup” is carded as Sunday’s sixth race, with a Winner’s Circle ceremony to follow. Born Dec. 15, 1933 near Cleveland, Ohio, Tim Conway, who at one time aspired to be a jockey, passed away following a lengthy illness at age 85 on May 14.

A tireless advocate for injured riders, Conway and his wife Charlene, along with Chris and Judy McCarron, founded the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockeys Fund in 1987 and raised money to assist more than 2,000 jockeys over a distinguished 25-year-run.

One of the most naturally funny American-born comedians of all time, Conway, through one of his characters, jockey Dirk Dorf and in numerous other appearances on national television, brought continued high-profile exposure to Santa Anita and Thoroughbred racing.

A video honoring Conway, which includes time spent at Santa Anita, will be part of the Sunday’s Winner’s Circle ceremony.

FASIG-TIPTON 2-YEAR-OLD SALE AT SANTA ANITA THIS WEDNESDAY

Santa Anita’s first ever Fasig-Tipton Two-Year-Old in training sale takes place this Wednesday, June 5, at 1 p.m. in Santa Anita’s Seabiscuit Walking Ring.

The Under-tack Preview will take place tomorrow, beginning at 10 a.m. on the main track. The Preview is open to the public and all breezes will be videotaped, courtesy of XBTV and available up to and through the sale, on track and on demand, at fasigtipton.com.

For additional information, visit fasigtipton.com or call 626 574-RACE.

SANTA ANITA HOSTS JOCKEY BENEFIT JUNE 22

On June 22, a once a year fundraising event known as Jockeys and Jeans will be held at Santa Anita for the first time.

Started by retired riders for the benefit of their peers who have experienced catastrophic injuries, it will be the sixth annual event which to date has raised more than $1 million for fallen riders, with all proceeds benefitting the Permanent Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF).

The event schedule at Santa Anita: autograph signing from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. near the Paddock starting gate; Silent Auction available to all on-track fans, 11 a.m. throughout the day near the Paddock Starting Gate; and a Chandelier Room Party starting at 12 noon.

Cost to enter is $65. Cost for a guaranteed seat is $100, while a premium ticket guaranteeing seating, morning barn tour and a signed Justify pennant are $200. Tickets include buffet lunch from 12 to 3 p.m., racing program, wagering tip sheet, specialty silent and live auction items, ceremonial festivities, and more.

Those unable to attend may make a donation to the PDJF of $25 via santaanaita.com.

LATEST CONTENT FROM XBTV:

McKinzie (Outside) in company with Inshannity worked 4 furlongs. 6-2-19 (Baffert)

Guiliana worked 4 furlongs. 6-2-19 (Powell)

Kanthaka worked 4 furlongs. 6-2-19 (Hollendorfer)

Caribou Club worked 6 furlongs. 6-2-19 (Proctor)

Peter Eurton & Leonard Powell Discuss: Beloved Veterans, Ashleyluvssugar & Soi Phet

A Day in the Life: Santa Anita Park’s Bugler Jay Cohen Part 2

Weekend Watch: Highlighting weekend action at Santa Anita Park starting on June 1st, 2019

 Rijeka worked 3 furlongs. 5-29-19 (Baltas)

Dr. Dorr (outside) and Victory Element worked 4 furlongs. 5-29-19 (Baffert)

Once on Whiskey (outside) and Hot Sean worked 5 furlongs. 5-29-19 (Baffert)

Mika the Mistress worked 4 furlongs. 5-29-19 (Metz)

Lippy worked 5 furlongs. 5-31-19 (O’Neill)

Ce Ce (Inside) worked 5 furlongs. 5-31-19 (McCarthy)

All Good (Outside) and Reedley worked 5 furlongs. 5-31-19 (Baffert)

Pavel works 6 furlongs in preparation for Belmont Park’s Met Mile. 6-1-19 (O’Neill)

Nolo Contesto in company with Flagstaff work 5 furlongs. 6-1-19 (Sadler)

Executive Cat (outside) works 4 furlongs 6-1-19 (Glatt)

Campaign works 6 furlongs. 6-1-19 (Sadler)

FINISH LINES: Leading rider Flavien Prat will be in the Blue Grass State Saturday to receive a trophy for winning the Kentucky Derby. Prat also would ride Affirmed Stakes winner Draft Pick that day for Peter Eurton in the Grade II Stephen Foster if the connections decide on running. The Grade II, $600,000 Stephen Foster is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Race providing the winner a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 . . . Joe Talamo won two races Saturday to close within seven of Prat, 24-17, with 10 racing days remaining in the spring portion of Santa Anita’s meet. Doug O’Neill holds a 19-15 advantage over Richard Baltas among trainers, but with the triumph by Lady Prancealot in the Honeymoon Stakes, Baltas leads in stakes wins with four, one more than Phil D’Amato . . . Favorites this meet are winning at a 34.12 percent clip (72 of 211) but more frequently on dirt than turf, 38.33 percent (46 of 120) to 28.57 percent (26 of 91), according to figures from stat guru Jason Hom . . . Omaha Beach, the pre-race favorite for the Kentucky Derby who missed the classic due to an entrapped epiglottis, remains at WinStar Farm in Lexington recovering from the surgery. “He’s progressing slowly, there’s a plane each week for California, and when he’s good enough, we’ll bring him back,” trainer Richard Mandella said Sunday morning. “He’s not quite good enough yet, but when he comes back here, he should be ready to train.” . . . Trainer John Sadler has Santa Anita Handicap winner Gift Box ticketed for the Grade I TVG Pacific Classic on Aug. 17, with the San Diego Handicap July 20 as a possible steppingstone. “He came out of the Gold Cup (at Santa Anita May 27) in good shape, no problems,” Sadler said . . . Prepping for the Met Mile at Belmont Park this Saturday, multiple Grade I winner McKinzie worked four furlongs in company this morning under Drayden Van Dyke in 47.60 for Bob Baffert. Stablemate Inshannity was clocked in 48.20 . . . Santa Anita is dark for live racing this Monday through Thursday. Live action resumes 1 p.m. Friday, June 7. Simulcast racing is offered Thursday with free General Admission and free parking. Admission gates open at 10 a.m. . . . On an overcast Sunday morning, Paddy Gallagher was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed savoring yesterday’s sweet victory by German-bred La Force over 1-5 favorite Paradise Woods in the Santa Maria Stakes. Paradise Woods had conquered La Force by 10 ½ lengths in the Santa Margarita April 27, but the Gallagher trainee won her first stakes yesterday in her 25th start. The six-year-old mare had finished second eight times, three times in Grade I races. “My cup of tea didn’t need any sugar this morning,” the trainer said.