NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND

LONGSHOT MISS SERENDIPITY NAILS HIGHLY REGARDED EMOLLIENT ON THE WIRE TO WIN GRADE I, $300,000 GAMELY STAKES; MCANALLY & BLANC TEAM FOR VICTORY

A Group I winner in her native Argentina, Ron McAnally’s Miss Serendipity, with Brice Blanc up, notched her first stateside win in a big way Monday at Santa Anita, winning the Grade I, $300,000 Gamely Stakes by a nose over well-fancied Emollient and Rosie Napravnik, while covering 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:46.22.

CALIFORNIA CHROME’S BIGGEST FAN IS LONGTIME ATTENDEE EDDIE ESPINOZA, 71-YEAR-OLD WHITTIER RESIDENT WILL WIN $1 MILLION IF ‘CHROME’ SWEEPS TRIPLE CROWN BY WINNING BELMONT STAKES ON JUNE 7
ESPINOZA IS FIRST-EVER SANTA ANITA DERBY MILLIONAIRE FINALIST


California Chrome’s immediate family aside, no one will be pulling any harder for the California-bred superstar to become racing’s first Triple Crown winner since 1978 than longtime Santa Anita fan Eddie Espinoza, who stands to bank a cool $1 million if “Chrome” wins the mile and one half Belmont Stakes on June 7.

FAVORED CYCLOMETER POWERS HIS WAY TO 2 ½ LENGTH WIN IN GRADE III, $100,000 LOS ANGELES STAKES; LATE SCRATCH OF WILD DUDE RESULTS IN FIELD OF THREE WITH WIN WAGERING ONLY


The complexion of Monday’s Grade III, $100,000 Los Angeles Stakes at Santa Anita changed dramatically with two minutes to post, as it was announced 3-5 favorite Wild Dude had been scratched by the stewards on the recommendation of the track veterinarian. As a result, trainer Bruce Headley’s California-bred Cyclometer inherited the role of favorite and he acted accordingly, powering his way to a 2 ½ length win under Edwin Maldonado while getting six furlongs in 1:09.02.
MAY 25, 2014

SKY HIGH GAL CONCEDES EARLY LEAD & TAKES OVER LATE TO WIN $75,000 MIZDIRECTION STAKES; SMITH GUIDES SADLER FILLY TO 1 ¼ LENGTH SCORE


Ridden by Mike Smith, Sky High Gal popped the gate and went straight to the early lead in Sunday’s $75,000 Mizdirection Stakes, but willingly conceded the pole position to Biorhythm and Drayden Van Dyke going to the half mile pole, rating kindly in second position to the furlong marker before going on to an impressive 1 ¼ length score while getting 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:13.17.