Santa Anita Stable Notes Friday, December 22, 2023

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2023

• NEW TRAINING TRACK ON COURSE FOR MID-JANUARY OPENING • TUESDAY’S OPENING DAY CARD TO BE REVEALED FRIDAY • NEW MINIMUMS FOR TRIFECTA, PICK 3 WAGERS • FIRST POST OPENING DAY IS 11 A.M. • FREE WALL CALENDAR, OTHER PROMOS AWAIT OPENING DAY

NEW TRAINING TRACK ON COURSE FOR MID-JANUARY OPENING A major change coming to Santa Anita this winter is the transformation of its infield training track.

As part of a larger $32 million improvement plan for Santa Anita announced this summer, Santa Anita’s training track is changing from a sand-based surface to all-weather synthetic produced by Tapeta Footings. The surface change is designed to improve safety while also helping to limit weather-related training disruptions.

“The main thing is having synthetic will alleviate a complete stoppage of training because of weather,” said Jason Egan, Santa Anita Director of Racing and Racing Secretary.

This week has provided a perfect example of the potential impact of a synthetic training track at Santa Anita. With back-to-back rainstorms hitting the area, the main track was “sealed” on Tuesday and has since been closed entirely for training.

“We have some unique situations in California with rules as it relates to weather,” Egan said. “Like with the rain this week. It either closes our racetrack entirely or limits what our training activities can be.”

With the worst of this week’s rainstorms having passed, Santa Anita’s main track is expected to be unsealed Friday. Per rules of the California Racing Board, only joggers will be allowed on the track Saturday. Full training is slated to resume on Sunday given the current forecast.

“Having a synthetic training track, we can continue on with workouts, gallops, that sort of thing. I think it will be a big assist,” Egan added.

Santa Anita’s training track has been closed for construction since Nov. 12. Prior to this week’s rainstorms, its conversion to synthetic had been ahead of schedule, track officials said. As things stand, the training track remains on course to reopen in mid-January.

TUESDAY’S OPENING DAY CARD TO BE REVEALED FRIDAY Entries will be taken and post positions drawn for Tuesday’s opening day card on Friday. An 11-race program is expected for opening day, which includes six graded stakes. First post Tuesday will be 11 a.m. PT.

The start of this year’s Classic Meet will mark Santa Anita’s 89th year in operation. The 49-day stand runs through April 7 and will be followed by the 29-day Hollywood Meet starting on April 19.

Highlighting Tuesday’s opener are three Grade Is each carrying a $300,000 purse. In the GI Malibu for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs on dirt, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has five horses nominated including top contenders Speed Boat Beach, Fort Bragg and National Treasure. Baffert, who won last year’s Malibu with Taiba, is seeking his sixth win the Malibu, which would tie fellow Hall of Famer Richard Mandella for most Malibu wins all time. The Malibu was first run in 1952.

In the GI La Brea for 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs, Clearly Unhinged for trainer Michael McCarthy is a leading contender. The Grade I-placed daughter of Into Mischief was most recently sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Spring here Nov. 4.

Baffert, who has won the last two La Brea’s and a record nine overall, nominated stakes winner Fast and Shiny.

In the GI American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 ¼ miles on turf, Grade I winner Anisette looms large for trainer Leonard Powell. The Irish-bred daughter of Awtaad won the GI Del Mar Oaks and GII San Clemente at Del Mar earlier this year. Most recently, Anisette was second in both the GII Rodeo Drive at 1 ¼ miles on Oct. 7 and GIII Autumn Miss going a mile Nov. 5, both at Santa Anita.

Complementing the three Grade Is opening day are a trio of Grade IIs each carrying a $200,000 purse. The GII San Gabriel for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on turf attracted 12 nominees led by Easter for trainer Phil D’Amato. Easter won his first start for D’Amato in the GII Seabiscuit going 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar Nov. 25. The 5-year-old Australian-bred by Exosphere was previously based in New York with trainer Graham Motion.

The GII San Antonio is for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on dirt. Nominees include Stilleto Boy, winner of the GI Santa Anita Handicap earlier this year for trainer Ed Moger Jr.; graded-stakes winner Newgrange for Phil D’Amato; stakes winner Tahoe Sunrise for Baffert and top California-bred Brickyard Ride for trainer Craig Lewis.

Perhaps the most intriguing nominee in the San Antonio is South American import Subsanador for trainer John Sadler. The 4-year-old Fortify colt won 7-of-12 starts in Argentina and was a multiple Group I winner. Subsanador has worked eight times at Santa Anita since late October and shows three bullets on the tab including a six-furlong move in 1:11.80 on Dec. 4. He has since worked seven furlongs in 1:25.80 Dec. 11 and six furlongs in 1:13.20 on Monday.

The GII Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds attracted 12 nominees include Grade II-placed Almendares for D’Amato, stakes winner Dandy Man Shines for trainer Jeff Mullins and Grade III-placed Panic Alarm for John Sadler.

NEW MINIMUMS FOR TRIFECTA, PICK 3 WAGERS AT CLASSIC MEET
Starting with opening day of the Classic Meet on Tuesday, Santa Anita has raised the minimum bet for both Trifectas and Pick 3’s.

Previously 50-cent base wagers, Trifecta and Pick 3 bets will now cost a minimum $1, which should lead to increased mutuel payouts for horseplayers.

Other highlights of the wagering menu are a traditional $1 Pick 6 and 50-cent early Pick 5 featuring a player-friendly 14 percent takeout rate. Additionally, Santa Anita will offer a $3 All-Turf Pick 3 on the final three grass races of each day. Santa Anita will also again team with Golden Gate to offer the $1 Golden Hour Pick 4 and $5 Golden Hour Double. Both have a player-friendly 15 percent takeout rate.

FINISH LINES: On-track fans opening day will receive a free wall calendar while supplies last with paid admission. Other opening day highlights include a Craft Beer Festival on the Grandstand apron, Whiskey in Winter Chandelier Room Party, Infield Family Fun Zone, restaurant specials at Frontrunner and SILKS and much more...The Santa Anita Jockey Colony is stacked with world-class talent, with defending champ Juan Hernandez, Flavien Prat, Frankie Dettori, Joel Rosario, Antonio Fresu, Kazushi Kimura, Umberto Rispoli and others all committed to ride full-time here this winter… Due to rain this week at Santa Anita, there was no training on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The main track is set to reopen for joggers on Saturday, with regular training resuming Sunday…After opening day Tuesday, live racing will resume at Santa Anita on Friday, Dec. 29 and continue through Monday, Jan. 1...Every Friday during the Classic Meet fans will enjoy free admission and parking plus $3 beers and $5 margaritas.