Motorious, Runner-up In Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, Returns In Grade II, $200,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes

__MOTORIOUS, RUNNER-UP IN BREEDERS’ CUP TURF SPRINT, RETURNS IN GRADE II, $200,000 JOE HERNANDEZ STAKES ON HILLSIDE TURF COURSE SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA __

ARCADIA, CA (Dec. 21, 2024)—Motorious, who came up a nose short in last month’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar, headlines a field of nine set to go in next Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes at about 6 ½ furlongs on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.

In the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint going five furlongs, Motorious rallied from 10th under Antonio Fresu and was narrowly edged by European invader Starlust. In his previous start, Motorious won the GIII Green Flash going five furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 31.

Motorious, who is trained by Phil D’Amato for owner Anthony Fanticola, has a record of 4: 2-1-1 on Santa Anita’s unique hillside turf course including a win in last year’s GIII San Simeon. The 6-year-old gelding by Muhaarar has an overall mark of 20: 7-5-2 with $687,604 in earnings. He will again have Fresu in the irons.

D’Amato also entered Unconquerable Keen and Sorrento Sky, who most recently were separated by a half-length when running one-two in the five-furlong Stormy Liberal Stakes at Del Mar Dec. 1.

Unconquerable Keen also won the Stormy Liberal in 2023. He is winless in two starts over the hillside turf course.

Umberto Rispoli, who rode Unconquerable Keen in the Stormy Liberal, again has the call. The 5-year-old gelding by the Danehill stallion Clodovil has a record of 20: 7-2-4 with $333,089 in earnings. He is campaigned by CYBT, Omar Aldabbagh and Michael Nentwig.

Sorrento Sky, a 3-year-old, went off the slight 7-2 favorite in the Stormy Liberal. Prior to that effort, he beat older horses in a pair of allowance turf sprints. Sorrento Sky has made one previous hillside start, a fourth-place effort in the Desert Code Stakes in May.

Bred in Ireland, where he made his first two starts, Sorrento Sky is son of the Kodiak stallion Prince of Lir. He is campaigned domestically by Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, McLean Racing Stables et al.

Air Force Red, winner of the 2022 Joe Hernandez, is back this year for trainer Leonard Powell. The 6-year-old ridgling by Air Force Blue most recently was second in the GII Eddie sprinting on the hillside course in September. He will have Juan Hernandez aboard.

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbreds and Holly Golightly, Air Force Red is 21: 6-3-1 with $638,574. He will be ridden by Juan Hernandez.

__THE GII JOE HERNANDEZ WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER __

Race 6 of 10 Approximate post time 2 p.m.

1. Air Force Red – Juan Hernandez – 121

2. Code Duello – Armando Ayuso – 121

3. Sumter – Mike Smith – 121

4. Irideo – Hector Berrios – 121

5. Unconquerable Keen – Umberto Rispoli – 121

6. Motorious – Antonio Fresu – 121

7. Central Dispatch – Flavien Prat – 121

8. Gaslight Dancer – Lanfranco Dettori – 121

9. Sorrento Sky – Kazushi Kimura - 119

   First post next Saturday is 11:30 a.m. PT. Admission gates open at 9:30 a.m.