STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2024

• • JEFF SIEGEL NAMED SANTA ANITA’S NEW MORNING LINE MAKER
• __• SNOW CHIEF: FAVORITE SHADY TIGER GETS 2-TURN TEST __
• • SATURDAY’S $1 COAST-TO-COAST PICK 5 STARTS AT 2:01 P.M. PT
• • GII SANTA MARGARITA, GIII DAYTONA HEADLINE SUNDAY’S CARD

JEFF SIEGEL NAMED SANTA ANITA’S NEW MORNING LINE MAKER

Jeff Siegel, the dean of Southern California’s handicappers and one of the most respected analysts in the sport, has been named Santa Anita Park’s Morning Line Maker effective with the start of the Autumn meet on Sept. 27. He will take over from longtime Morning Line Maker Jon White, who earlier this week announced his retirement will begin at the conclusion of the current Hollywood Meet June 16.

“The very definition of respect is to hold someone in high esteem or regard,” said Nate Newby, Santa Anita’s Senior Vice President and General Manager. “Jeff is universally respected by his peers, be them horseplayers, horsemen, or his fellow analysts. We are excited that Jeff will be expanding his role at Santa Anita in taking on this important role.”

While horse racing features pari-mutuel wagering, where the final odds are determined by the public betting, the Morning Line Maker is tasked with prognosticating what those final odds will be when betting closes. The Morning Line is often referenced in determining fair value.

“I’ve enjoyed working with Santa Anita in various capacities for nearly 30 years, but this will be my first as an official price maker and I’m really looking forward to embracing the responsibility associated with the position,” said Siegel. “I’ll do my best to produce an accurate and balanced morning line that can be referenced with confidence by my fellow horseplayers.”

Siegel began his career in horse racing 50 years ago this year. He is widely regarded as one of the most respected public handicappers, with daily selections having appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the San Diego Union Tribune, on santaanita.com and xbtv.com.

Siegel is a longtime contributor and analyst for Santa Anita television productions, including being an integral part of the Eclipse Award-winning team in 1999 for local television for “The Best of Santa Anita,” and was with HRTV from its inception to its sale to TVG, when he transitioned to XBTV at that time.
In addition to his handicapping duties, Siegel was instrumental in the development of the ownership syndicate model, co-founding, owning and serving as Vice-President/Racing for Team Valor and its predecessor, Clover Racing Stable. During his 20-year involvement, the organization became the most prolific general partnership stable in North America, winning more than 100 stakes races (including 20 Grade 1’s).

SNOW CHIEF: FAVORITE SHADY TIGER GETS 2-TURN TEST FOR D’AMATO

Among the five stakes on California Gold Rush Day Saturday at Santa Anita is the $125,000 Snow Chief presented by Citi National Bank for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

The 5-2 favorite in a competitive 10-horse field is Shady Tiger, has reeled off three-straight wins versus statebreds for trainer Phil D’Amato. He is also the only horse in the lineup with a stakes victory to his credit, which came last out on April 6 when airing by 5 ½ lengths in the Echo Eddie Stakes going 6 ½ furlongs on dirt.

Shady Tiger also has a turf win to his credit, which came here when going six furlongs in a first level statebred allowance Feb. 17. Such a resume certainly makes him a formidable contender. However, the skeptical handicapper will note he’s never raced beyond 6 ½ furlongs. Distance is the question mark for the favorite.

As D’Amato sees it, the added real estate isn’t a major concern.

“He acts like a horse who wants to go two turns. He definitely shows that in the morning,” D’Amato said. A gelding by Smiling Tiger, Shady Tiger races as a homebred for Rusty Brown. He will break from the rail under Juan Hernandez, who has been aboard for all four previous starts.

In addition to Shady Tiger, D’Amato will also saddle Final Storm (6-1). The Blame gelding will also be trying two turns for the first time.

Final Storm graduated versus $50,000 statebred maiden claimers when going 5 ½ furlongs on dirt March 10 at Santa Anita. He returned on turf in a six-furlong allowance for statebreds April 28 and scored by a neck.

Bred by Larry Jet, Final Storm is out of Miss Star Maker, by Pioneerof the Nile. “The dam won long on the grass, which is part of the reason we put him on the grass last time. It seemed like he had the pedigree for it and he was ready to go,” D’Amato said. “I I’ve trained him in the morning with long gallop-outs in his breezes. It seems like he’ll handle the added distance just fine.”

The Snow Chief goes as the eighth race on a 10-race card. Post time is set for 4:46 P.M. PT. The field in post position order: Shady Tiger, Juan Hernandez (5-2); Size Does Matter, Umberto Rispoli (6-1); Takes Three, Armando Ayuso (12-1); Two by Four, Hector Berrios (6-1); Curlin’s Kaos, Diego Herrera (3-1); Stay On the Fence, Ricky Gonzalez (10-1); Tamarando Star, Geovanni Franco (15-1); Final Storm, Kyle Frey (6-1); Stolen Treasure, Mario Gutierrez (12-1); Keep Movin’ On, Antonio Fresu (20-1).

SATURDAY’S $1 COAST-TO-COAST PICK 5 STARTS AT 2:01 P.M. PT

The $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 on Saturday starts with the ninth race from Gulfstream Park at 2:01 p.m. PT. Also part of the sequence is the 11th from Gulfstream and races four, six and eight from Santa Anita.

The ninth from Gulfstream is the Mr. Steele Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The 7-5 favorite in a field of eight is Main Event, who will be ridden by Edgar Zayas for trainer Fernando Abreu. The 11th from Gulfstream is an allowance/optional claimer at a mile on turf. In a field of nine, Fredo with jockey Luca Panici is the 8-5 favorite for trainer Antonio Sano.

The fourth from Santa Anita is the $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes for California-breds going one mile on turf. Kings River Knight with jockey Juan Hernandez is the even-money favorite in a field of nine for trainer John Sadler.

The sixth from Santa Anita is the $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf. Stay and Scam, who drew the far outside in a field of 11, is the 5-2 morning line favorite for trainer Doug O’Neill. She will be ridden by Mario Gutierrez.

The eighth from Santa Anita is the $125,000 Snow Chief Stakes presented by Citi National Bank for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Shady Tiger, who has never raced around two turns, is the 5-2 favorite in a field of 10. Hernandez rides Shady Tiger for trainer Phil D’Amato.

The $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 features a player-friendly 15 percent takeout rate. It is offered every Saturday and Sunday through the end of the Santa Anita Hollywood Meet June 16.

FINISH LINES: Sunday’s features are the GII, $200,000 Santa Margarita Stakes featuring multiple Grade I winner Adare Manor, and the GIII, $100,000 Daytona Stakes on the hillside turf course led by tepid 4-1 favorite First Peace for trainer Mark Glatt…On Memorial Day Monday, Santa Anita will host the GI Shoemaker Mile, GI Gamely and GI Hollywood Gold Cup. Additionally, on-track patrons will receive $1 beers and sodas and $2 hot dogs…Clocker Andy Harrington of National Turf will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Saturday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m. PT.