Press Releases

DERBY PROSPECTS COLLIDE IN GRADE II ROBERT B. LEWIS AT 1 1/16 MILES, GRADE II ARCADIA STAKES ATTRACTS 14 HORSES AT ONE MILE ON TURF AS SANTA ANITA CARDS STAKES TRIPLEHEADER ON SATURDAY

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 30. 2013)—Regarded by many as Bob Baffert’s top Derby prospect a year ago, Fed Biz validated his early notices in his 4-year-old debut at Santa Anita on Jan. 12, winning the Grade II San Fernando Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, thus setting the stage for his role as favorite in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Strub Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.

With Mike Smith aboard, Fed Biz fought back gamely in the San Fernando to deny the Steve Asmussen-trained Tritap, with Corey Nakatani up, by a head, while getting the distance in 1:42.20—which earned him a Beyer Speed figure of 99.

The Kentucky-bred colt by Giant’s Causeway has improved in several areas, according to Smith.

“I really like him when I breezed him before the (Malibu Stakes) on opening day and for some reason he got really hot,” said Smith following the San Fernando win. “I hadn’t taken two steps inside the gate and he was over, and he threw me out the back (of the starting gate), and he just wasn’t right after that.

Fed Biz ended up breaking a bit slowly in the Malibu and finished sixth, beaten 6 ¼ lengths.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 31, 2013)—With four Grade I wins and a solid last out Beyer Speed figure of 109 to his credit, Game On Dude towers over four rivals as he defends his title in Sunday’s Grade II, $200,000 San Antonio Stakes for older horses at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita.

A facile gate to wire winner at odds of 1-5 of the Grade III Native Diver Stakes on Dec. 1, Game On Dude was a disappointing seventh in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 3.

THREE WINNING PICK SIX TICKETS PAY $36,467, ONE TICKET ON-TRACK NABS 20 PERCENT BONUS OF $7,293.40, FOR TOTAL SCORE OF $43,760.40

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2013)—Magical Band, headed at the top of the lane, seemed to thrive on the conditions and the competition as he and Victor Espinoza fought off a stout challenge from 6-5 favorite Splendid Fortune and Joe Talamo to take Sunday’s featured $58,000 Jack Disney Retirement Purse by three quarters of a length while getting six furlongs in 1:09.88 on a wet fast strip at Santa Anita.

The Disney, a first-condition allowance for older fillies and mares, was reduced to a field of six following two late scratches and was named for longtime L.A. Herald Examiner sports writer and Santa Anita publicity staffer Jack Disney. Fittingly, Arcadia Mayor Bob Harbicht declared Sunday “Jack Disney Day” throughout the Community of Homes.

Trained by Hector Palma, Magical Band came off a sharp second at the level over a wet fast track on Dec. 29.

“It went beautifully,” said Palma, who picked up his second winner of the day. “Victor rode a fantastic race. He made her relax on the backstretch, he moved on the turn, and then the race was over.”

Magical Band, off as the 2-1 second choice, paid $6.80, $3.20 and $2.20.

“It was pretty much the trip we wanted,” said Espinoza, who sat second to the favorite through splits of 22.17, 45.39 and 57.36. “The speed was inside so I waited as long as possible because the track is a bit slippery and I didn’t want to let her run too soon.”

A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Dixie Union, Magical Band is owned by B G Stable and Palma. With the winner’s share of $34,800, Magical Band increased her earnings to $93,350 and improved her record to 7-2-2-0.

Splendid Fortune finished a half length in front of Egg Drop, who tried to make a run from off the pace after hopping at the break with Garrett Gomez.

Splendid Fortune paid $2.60 and $2.40.

Egg Drop paid $2.80 to show.

The Disney was run as the eighth on a nine-race program. In the finale, longshot Flew Flicker was disqualified for interference and the official winner was 2-1 favorite Prime Issue.

This resulted in three winning tickets in the Pick Six, with each paying $36,467. One of them was purchased on-track for $432.00, and is therefore eligible for Santa Anita’s 20 percent Pick Six bonus. With a bonus of $7,293.40, Sunday’s total on-track Pick Six payout is $43,760.40.

Live racing will resume at Santa Anita on Thursday, with first post time at 1 p.m.