Santa Anita Stable Notes Friday, February 2, 2024

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024

- GIII ROBERT B. LEWIS: NYSOS LEADS A TRIO FOR BAFFERT - GIII THUNDER ROAD: GREAT KING AND DETTORI OFFER INTRIGUE - FRIDAY’S 3 TURF RACES MOVED TO MAIN TRACK AFTER RAINSTORM - $74K PICK 6 CARRYOVER AWAITS BETTORS FRIDAY - 1/ST RACING TOUR: SIX GRADED STAKES AIR ON CNBC SATURDAY - EARLY FIRST POST SATURDAY OF 12:15 P.M. PT

GIII ROBERT B. LEWIS: NYSOS LEADS A TRIO FOR BAFFERT After winning the last five editions of the GIII Robert B. Lewis for 3-year-olds, trainer Bob Baffert has three chances to extend the streak on Saturday.

Leading the Baffert trio in the Lewis, which this year was shortened to a mile, is unbeaten morning-line favorite Nysos (4-5). By 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, Nysos won his debut by 10 ½ lengths going six furlongs Oct. 21 and came right back to air by 8 ¾ lengths in the GIII Bob Hope at seven furlongs Nov. 19. Both wins came at Del Mar.

The Lewis will be Nysos’ first time racing around two turns. He has worked seven times since Dec. 10 for his sophomore bow, which includes a pair of bullet six-furlong drills.  

“He’s been working well, but still has to answer the question of two turns,” said Baffert, who won last year’s Lewis with Newgate. “He should be able to do it, but you never know for sure until they do.”

Nysos will break from the far outside in post six under Flavien Prat, who was also aboard in the Bob Hope.

Baffert’s other two starters are 5-1 second choice Coach Prime and 6-1 co-third choice Wine Me Up. Both colts most recently earned minor awards in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity going 1 1/16 miles Dec. 16.

Coach Prime was dispatched as the 4-5 favorite in the Futurity following a 7 ½-length maiden win going a mile at Del Mar Nov. 10.  The Quality Road colt raced wide throughout under Prat in the Futurity before mounting a mild rally late. He finished a length adrift of winner Wynstock, another Baffert runner who is entered in Saturday’s GIII Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Owned by Zedan Racing, Coach Prime was purchased for $1.7 million at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He will race without blinkers for the first time Saturday.  

“He’s still learning how to run and we’re still trying to figure him out,” Baffert said of the equipment change.

Coach Prime will have Frankie Dettori aboard for the first time Saturday.

Wine Me Up was fourth beaten 3 ¼ lengths in the Futurity under Juan Hernandez, who will again be in the irons Saturday. Prior to the Futurity, the Vino Rosso colt was eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Nov. 4 and second in the GI American Pharoah Oct. 7, both at Santa Anita. “He’s been working well. We’re still trying to figure out what he’s best at,” Baffert said.

The Lewis is one of four graded stakes on Saturday’s card. It goes as the fifth race with post time scheduled for 2:23 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Wine Me Up, Juan Hernandez (6-1); Ace of Clubs, Edwin Maldonado (20-1); Better Than Gold, Mike Smith (6-1); Moonlit Sonata, Geovanni Franco (20-1); Coach Prime, Frankie Dettori (5-1); Nysos, Flavien Prat (4-5); Stronghold, Antonio Fresu (6-1); McVay, Umberto Rispoli (20-1); Scatify, Hector Berrios (6-1).   

GREAT KING AND DETTORI OFFER INTRIGUE IN GIII THUNDER ROAD An encouraging effort from Great King in his local debut Jan. 7 has trainer Simon Callaghan feeling optimistic ahead of Saturday’s GIII Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf.

Great King is listed as the 4-1 co-fourth choice in a competitive field of eight signed-up for the Thunder Road. After spending all of 2022 and 2023 racing in the east with trainer Jorge Delgado, Great King resurfaced here Jan. 7 with Callaghan in a second-level allowance at a mile on turf.

Dismissed at 13-1 for his Santa Anita unveiling, Great King dropped back to last under Frankie Dettori while eventual winner Goliad, who is also entered in the Thunder Road, was allowed to race on an uncontested lead. Great King took aim at the leader in the stretch, but his rally proved too late. He crossed the wire a half-length back of Goliad after making up 3 ½ lengths in the final furlong.

“I thought he ran a really good race,” Callaghan said Friday morning. “One more jump and he would have got them.”

Owned by Amo Racing USA, Great King figures to benefit from added pace help in the Thunder Road. In addition to Goliad, the 5-2 morning-line favorite Tio Magico also has multiple front-running victories on the resume for trainer Phil D’Amato.

“He’s continued to work well and we’re looking for a good effort Saturday,” Callaghan said of Great King. “There looks to be a lot speed in there. I imagine Frankie will drop him down and save ground before they make their run.”

The Thunder Road goes as the eighth race on a nine-race card set for Saturday. Prince Abama (4-1), the second of three D’Amato runners in the field, is also entered in Sunday’s GIII San Marcos at 1 ¼ miles.

The field in post-position order: Ah Jeez, Hector Berrios (15-1); Prince Abama, Juan Hernandez (4-1); Balnikhov, Antonio Fresu (8-1); Dandy Man Shines, Umberto Rispoli (3-1); Tio Magico, Flavien Prat (5-2); Goliad, Kazushi Kimura (3-1); Time to Party, Drayden Van Dyke (8-1); Great King, Frankie Dettori (4-1).  

FRIDAY’S 3 TURF RACES MOVED TO MAIN TRACK AFTER RAINSTORM All three turf races scheduled for Friday have been moved to the main track, the racing office announced shortly after 7 a.m. this morning. The move comes after a rainstorm hit Santa Anita Thursday.

Moving from the turf to the main track are the first race, third race and sixth race, the latter two of which are part of Friday’s Pick Six sequence that features a $74,328.67 carryover.

All three races remain at their originally scheduled distances.

$74K PICK 6 CARRYOVER AWAITS BETTORS FRIDAY As noted above, there is a $74,328.67 carryover for Friday’s $1 Pick Six after there were no winning tickets on Sunday. Friday’s Pick Six kicks off with the third race at approximately 1:32 p.m. PT.

Earlier Friday, the racing office announced the two turf races in the sequence, races three and six, would be moved to the main track after a rainstorm hit Thursday. 

In Sunday’s Pick Six sequence, there was just one winning favorite—Girl Of My Dreams ($7) in the ninth and final for trainer Doug O’Neill. The other winning horses in the Pick Six. starting with the fourth race, were Princess Of Time ($16.80), The Bullion Bomber ($8.40), Cornell ($16.80), Irideo ($40.60) and Sweet Hello ($10.20).

There were 15 tickets Sunday with five of six winners, each of which paid a $2,123.60 consolation payout.

This is the second Pick Six carryover of the Classic Meet.

1/ST RACING TOUR: SIX GRADED STAKES TO AIR ON CNBC SATURDAY This year’s 1/ST Racing Tour kicks off Saturday with a combined six graded stakes from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, which will be broadcast live on CNBC beginning at 1 p.m. PT.

Highlighting Saturday’s action are the GIII Robert B. Lewis from Santa Anita and GIII Holy Bull from Gulfstream. Both serve as potential preps to the 150th Kentucky Derby on May 7. The Holy Bull features the return of Fierceness, last year’s champion 2-year-old male and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile for trainer Todd Pletcher.

In addition to airing on CNBC, all six graded stakes will also be streamed live on Peacock.

Here is the full slate with post times: GIII Swale Stakes from Gulfstream (1:11 p.m.); GIII Forward Gal from Gulfstream (1:41 p.m.); GIII Megahertz from Santa Anita (1:54 p.m.); GIII Kitten’s Joy from Gulfstream (2:11 p.m.); GIII Robert B. Lewis (2:26 p.m.) and GIII Holy Bull from Gulfstream (2:50 p.m.).

FINISH LINES: First post Saturday is 12:15 p.m. PT…Flavien Prat and Juan Hernandez are tied atop the jockey’s standings with 18 wins apiece at the Classic Meet… The $1 Coast-To-Coast Pick 5 returns Saturday starting at 1:38 p.m. PT… Highlighting Sunday’s card are the GIII Las Virgenes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on dirt and GIII San Marcos for older horses at 1 ¼ miles on turf…Clocker and bloodstock agent Gary Young will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Saturday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:05 a.m. PT…Every Friday during the Classic Meet on-track fans receive free parking and admission plus $3 beers and $5 margaritas.