Santa Anita Stable Notes Friday, April 4, 2025

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2025

- • JOURNALISM A HEADLINE FAVORITE IN GI SANTA ANITA DERBY - • WORKS: GI WINNER CAVALIERI, ATITLAN, AIR FORCE RED LEAD TAB - • $100K PICK 6 CARRYOVER FOR FRIDAY’S 10-RACE CARD - • GIII MONROVIA, 2 CAL-BRED STAKES PART OF SA DERBY CARD

JOURNALISM A HEADLINE FAVORITE IN GI SANTA ANITA DERBY

Journalism, the morning-line favorite in Saturday’s Grade I Santa Anita Derby, continued with his routine of daily gallops Friday morning at Santa Anita. On Thursday, Journalism also visited the paddock for a schooling session following his morning exercise.

“He’s had a very good week,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “I’m very happy with where we’re at.”

In the Santa Anita Derby, Journalism will look to replicate his scintillating performance in last month’s Grade II San Felipe that has vaulted him to early favoritism for next month’s 151st Kentucky Derby. In the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe, Journalism sat just off the pace set by previously unbeaten Barnes, who also returns in the Santa Anita Derby. Journalism then surged past Barnes inside the final furlong and kicked clear to win by 1 ¾ lengths. The winning effort earned a 108 Beyer Speed Figure, which is the highest posted by an active 3-year-old this year.

For his encore in the Santa Anita Derby going 1 1/8 miles, Journalism will break from the rail in a field of five under regular rider Umberto Rispoli. While generally not an ideal post position, McCarthy didn’t express concern over the inside draw.

“If he can’t handle five in the Santa Anita Derby being inside, it’s going to be hard for him to handle 20 (horses) in the Kentucky Derby,” McCarthy said.

Among Journalism’s rivals on Saturday is last year’s 2-year-old male champion Citizen Bull, the 9-5 second choice, who like Barnes is trained by Bob Baffert. Citizen Bull has won three consecutive graded stakes, including the GIII Robert B. Lewis in February, all while racing alone on the lead. Barnes also brings plenty of early speed to the lineup. The others in the field, Baeza (6-1) and Westwood (20-1), both trained by John Shirreffs, have also done their best work while forwardly placed.

“We’ll leave it up to Umberto, but it looks like there’s some speed to kind of run away from him and hopefully he can tuck in right behind,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy, 54, is seeking his first win in the Santa Anita Derby. While born in Youngstown, Ohio, he was raised in Arcadia near Santa Anita and graduated from Arcadia High School. He also served at Santa Anita as an assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher for several years before striking out on his own in January 2014.

“It would be a great achievement to win the Santa Anita Derby. Some great horses have won this race,” McCarthy said. “My team works hard to make it all possible. This would be a feather in the cap.”

The Santa Anita Derby goes as the 10th race on a 12-race card. First post is 1 p.m. PT. The Derby, which will aired live on CNBC and streamed on Peacock, is slated to go at 4:46 p.m. The field in post position order: Journalism, Umberto Rispoli (6-5); Citizen Bull, Martin Garcia (9-5); Westwood, Tiago Pereira (20-1), Barnes, Juan Hernandez (3-1); Baeza, Hector Berrios (6-1).

WORKS: GRADE I WINNER CAVALIERI, AIR FORCE RED LEAD TAB

Unbeaten Grade I winner Cavalieri and recent graded stakes winners Atitlan and Air Force Red were among 90 horses to record timed workouts Friday at Santa Anita.

Cavalieri, trained by Bob Baffert, worked four furlongs in 47.40 seconds. A 4-year-old Nyquist filly, Cavalieri most recently improved to 4-for-4 when winning the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile on March 8 at Santa Anita to improve to 4-for-4. This was her second work since the Beholder. Previously, Cavalieri won the GIII La Canada in January when making her stakes debut at Santa Anita for owner Speedway Stables.

Atitlan worked for the first time since earning his second graded stakes victory in the GIII San Luis Rey on March 22 at Santa Anita. The 4-year-old colt by The Factor drilled four furlongs in 49.0 seconds for trainer John Shirreffs. Last year, Atitlan earned his first graded win in the GII Twilight Derby at Santa Anita.

Air Force Red worked four furlongs in 48.40 seconds on the synthetic training track. For trainer Leonard Powell. A 7-year-old gelding by Air Force Blue, Air Force Red most recently won the GIII San Simeon sprinting about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course on March 8. It was his second graded win and third stakes win overall. After the San Simeon, Powell said Air Force Red would get a break before returning to racing action.

__$100K CARRYOVER ADDS SPICE TO FRIDAY’S 10-RACE CARD __

A $2 Pick Six carryover of $100,818 awaits horseplayers Friday on a 10-race card. Track officials estimate the pool will exceed $500,000.

With first post Friday at 1 p.m. PT, the Pick Six will starts with the fifth race at approximately 3 p.m. The competitive sequence averages 9.0 starters per race before scratches. Friday’s carryover was generated on Sunday when no one successfully selected all six winners in the Pick Six sequence. For tickets with 5-of-6 winners, the consolation payout was a robust $7,201.20.

The winning horses in Sunday’s Pick Six starting with the fifth race were #6 Allihies ($39), #7 King Stephen ($5.20), #1 Cody Boy ($17.20), #8 Lonesome Stew ($11.80), #9 Divine Rascal ($33.80) and #7 Public Assembly ($9).

Full entries for Friday’s card are available at santaanita.com.

QUEEN MAXIMA

GIII MONROVIA, 2 CAL-BRED STAKES ADD TO DERBY-OAKS CARD

In addition to the GI Santa Anita Derby and GII Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita Oaks, Saturday’s12-race card also includes the GIII Monrovia Stakes and both the Echo Eddie Stakes and Evening Jewel Stakes for horses bred or sired in California, both contested at 6 ½ furlongs on the main track.

First post Saturday is 12 p.m. PT. The Monrovia for older fillies and mares at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course goes as the fifth race at approximately 2 p.m. PT. The key principals are 4-5 favorite Queen Maxima for trainer Jeff Mullins and 5-2 second choice Queen of the Mud, who ships in from the east for trainer Graham Motion.

Queen Maxima most recently won the Wishing Well Stakes sprinting six furlongs on Santa Anita’s flat turf course on Feb. 22, She will be ridden by Santa Anita leading jockey Juan Hernandez. Queen of the Mud will be making her first start since last October when she also shipped to Santa Anita and took down the Swingtime Stakes going a mile on turf. She will have Umberto Rispoli aboard.

The GIII Monrovia field in post position order: Omaha Girl, Antonio Fresu (20-1); Safa, Tiago Pereira (8-1); Ang N Ash, Kyle Frey (15-1); Queen of the Mud, Umberto Rispoli (5-2); Venganza, Kazushi Kimura (4-1); Queen Maxima, Juan Hernandez (4-5).

The Echo Eddie for 3-year-olds goes as the second race at approximately 12:30 p.m. I’m a Bad Boy, ridden by Edwin Maldonado for trainer Luis Mendez, is the 5-2 favorite in a field of eight. The field in post position order: Triple Diamond, Umberto Rispoli (5-1); I’m a Bad Boy, Edwin Maldonado (5-2); R Heisman, Antonio Fresu (6-1); Mr. Machupichu, Armando Aguilar (30-1); Drop Um, Kyle Frey (4-1); Style Cat, Juan Hernandez (3-1); Bro Bro, Mario Gutierrez (8-1); Titanic Thompson, Martin Garcia (8-1).

The Evening Jewel for 3-year-old fillies goes as the sixth race at approximately 2:30 p.m. Installed as the 5-2 favorite is America’s Mark for trainer Mike Puype. She will have Hector Berrios in the irons.

The field in post position order: Om N Joy, Kent Desormeaux (10-1); Big Soiree, Kyle Frey (30-1); America’s Mark, Hector Berrios (5-2); In the Air Tonight, Tiago Pereira (7-2); Going Deep, Edwin Maldonado (6-1); Hot Girl Walk, Antonio Fresu (5-1); Sunset Grazen, Armando Ayuso (8-1); Gold Currency, Serafin Carmona (6-1); Knightwithlouis, Kazushi Kimura (12-1).

FINISH LINES: On Saturday morning, training on the main track will end at 7:30 a.m. and the training track will close at 6:30 a.m…Trainer Jeff Mullins is one win shy of career victory No. 1,800. He has two horses entered Friday, 5-2 morning line favorite Ace Ace Baby in the third race and Honeymoon Suite (9-2) in the fourth race…Friday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:32 p.m. PT with the second race from Santa Anita… Due to Saturday morning’s Derby 5k Run & Walk, which starts at 8 a.m., Baldwin Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic between the 210 freeway and Huntington Drive from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.