Stable Notes

GALLANT SON SET FOR SANTA ANITA DERBY; ESPINOZA ON FEISTY SUANCES

Frank Lucarelli said Saturday morning that Gallant Son was “99 percent sure” to run in the Santa Anita Derby a week from Saturday. The trainer had been considering the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Race Course the same day for the son of Malabar Gold, who won the restricted Pasadena Stakes at one mile on turf at Santa Anita on March 15.

NAKATANI SEEKS RARE SANTA ANITA DERBY DOUBLE ON MR. HOT STUFF

Corey Nakatani has ridden Mr. Hot Stuff three times, and each time the imposing colt has made a late run, finishing third twice and winning once. His form will have to continue advancement in the Santa Anita Derby a week from Saturday if he hopes to upset the likes of The Pamplemousse, Pioneerof the Nile and Chocolate Candy in the Grade I race at 1 1/8 miles.

THE PAMPLEMOUSSE FAVORED FOR SANTA ANITA DERBY

Pace makes the race, and with The Pamplemousse the lone speed in a prospective field of five for the Grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles on April 4, the son of Kafwain looms a solid early favorite in the West Coast’s major prep for the Kentucky Derby on May 2.

“He’ll definitely be the (morning line) favorite,” said Jeff Tufts, who has been providing program odds at Southern California tracks for some 30 years.

‘BIG THREE’ DRILL FOR SANTA ANITA DERBY ON APRIL 4

The Pamplemousse, Pioneerof the Nile and Chocolate Candy, the three favorites for the Grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 4, each worked on Pro-Ride Wednesday as the countdown began in earnest for the West Coast’s major prep for the Kentucky Derby on May 2.

Sham Stakes winner The Pamplemousse, expected to be a slight favorite over Pioneerof the Nile in the mile and an eighth Santa Anita Derby, worked six furlongs under regular rider Alex Solis in 1:13 flat.

BAFFERT SEEKS FIFTH SANTA ANITA DERBY WIN WITH PIONEEROF THE NILE

Bob Baffert is as familiar with winning the Santa Anita Derby as he is with winning training titles at the storied track. He has made his headquarters in Arcadia for nearly two decades, winning the Santa Anita Derby four times, and the training championship eight times, including a record seven years in a row from 1996-97 through 2002-03.

‘CANDY’ ARRIVING FOR SANTA ANITA DERBY; FEISTY SUANCES TO RUN

El Camino Real Derby winner Chocolate Candy was scheduled to arrive at Santa Anita this afternoon from the Bay Area to begin final preparations for the Grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 4.

Expected to be the third choice behind Pioneerof the Nile and The Pamplemousse, Chocolate Candy has not raced since winning the Grade III El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 14. The Santa Anita Derby would be his first race in more than six weeks.

SANTA ANA GRASS IS GREENER FOR VISIT, FRANKEL SAYS

Bobby Frankel says there’s little doubt Visit is better on grass than she is on dirt or synthetic. Thus, the Hall of Fame trainer, Santa Anita’s career leader in victories with 913, expects considerable improvement from the English-bred daughter of Oasis Dream when she runs in Sunday’s Grade II, $150,000 Santa Ana Handicap for older fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

TRAINERS EYE UPSET IN SATURDAY’S SAN LUIS REY HANDICAP

Spring House and Artiste Royal are the starting highweights at 118 pounds in Saturday’s Grade II, $150,000 San Luis Rey Handicap, but trainers Barry Abrams and Steve Knapp feel they have longshot chances with their horses in the 42nd renewal of the mile and a half turf marathon.
Abrams trains the recently acquired On Fire, who was scratched from an earlier race at Santa Anita when it was moved from grass to Pro-Ride. Knapp conditions Bonjour, a 9-year-old New Zealand bred who has shown good form in his last three races.

MIKE SMITH ON ‘SHARP’ MARE FOR SUNDAY’S SANTA ANA HANDICAP

Mike Smith hasn’t ridden Sharp Susan competitively, but the Hall of Fame rider still has considerable respect for the 5-year-old mare based on his one workout aboard her prior to Sunday’s Grade II, $150,000 Santa Ana Handicap for older fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

MITCHELL HAS BACHARACHS’ HORSE IN TUNE FOR SAN LUIS REY

Mike Mitchell has precedent going for him in next Saturday’s San Luis Rey Handicap. The 60-year-old trainer has more than one successful reclamation project on his lofty and lengthy resume, and he hopes to add to it with a 5-year-old gray gelding named You Got Me Rocking in the Grade II turf race at the marathon distance of a mile and one half.