Santa Anita Stable Notes Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN __SATURDAY, JAN. 18, 2025 __

Photo: Ernie Belmonte

• WORKS: STRONGHOLD GEARS UP FOR PEGASUS WORLD CUP • SANTA ANITA 3-YEAR-OLDS AMONG TOP KENTUCKY DERBY HOPEFULS • GIII LA CANADA, GIII LAS CIENEGAS TOP 11-RACE CARD SUNDAY __• PRAT DOMINATES WITH 4 WINS ON 8-RACE CARD FRIDAY __

WORKS: STRONGHOLD GEARS UP FOR PEGASUS WORLD CUP Stronghold, last year’s GI Santa Anita Derby winner, continued his preparations for next Saturday’s Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park with a five-furlong work in 1:02.60 on Friday. He was among 192 horses to have timed workouts at Santa Anita.

Trained by Phil D’Amato, Stronghold most recently finished second in the GI Malibu on Dec. 26 following a three-plus month layoff. Also working towards a potential start in the Pegasus was Imagination, who finished third in the Malibu. Imagination worked six furlongs in company with Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Citizen Bull. Imagination was clocked in 1:12.40 and Citizen Bull went in 1:12.00, which was the fastest work at the distance.

Baffert also worked some of his other top 3-year-olds. Recent maiden winner Madaket Road drilled five furlongs in 1:00.80. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up Gaming, most recently third in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity, worked five furlongs in 1:01.00. Maiden San Saba worked five furlongs from the gate in a sharp 59.40 seconds, which was the second-fastest of 68 moves at the distance.

Also working for Baffert was top 3-year-old filly Tenma. The Grade I winner, who most recently took down the GII Starlet at Los Alamitos, earned a bullet when working five furlongs in 59.20 seconds.

Returning to the work tab for trainer Michael McCarthy were graded-stakes winners Bullard and Look Forward. Bullard, most recently third in the GII San Vicente Jan. 4 at Santa Anita, drilled four furlongs in 47.40 seconds. It was the second-fastest of 60 works at the distance. Look Forward, winner of the Fasig-Tipton Santa Ynez on Jan. 5, drilled four furlongs in 48.80 seconds.

J B Strikes Back, winner of the GII Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes on Dec. 26, worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds for trainer Doug O’Neill. The 4-year-old Goldencents colt is slated to run in the GI Santa Anita Handicap on March 1.

Kopion, a dynamite winner of the GI La Brea on Dec. 26, worked five furlongs in 1:00.00 for trainer Richard Mandella.

SANTA ANITA 3-YEAR-OLDS AMONG TOP KENTUCKY DERBY HOPEFULS Of the 39 3-year-olds listed in this weekend’s Kentucky Derby Future Wager, 11 hail from Santa Anita. Leading that group is Barnes, recent winner of GII San Vicente at Santa Anita, who is tabbed as the overall Kentucky Derby favorite at 10-1.

Wagering on the Kentucky Derby future pool is now available on-track at Santa Anita and across various online platforms including Xpressbet. The pool closes on Sunday at 3 p.m. PT.

Below is a rundown of the top Kentucky Derby prospects stabled at Santa Anita. They are listed in alphabetical order and with morning-line odds included.

Barnes (10-1)—The Into Mischief colt is a perfect 2-for-2 for trainer Bob Baffert and owner Zedan Racing Stables. In the seven-furlong San Vicente Jan. 4, Barnes romped by 5 ½ lengths under Juan Hernandez.

Bullard (20-1)—Trained by Michael McCarthy, Bullard suffered his first loss when finishing third behind Barnes in the San Vicente. Prior to that, the Gun Runner colt won two starts at Del Mar including the GIII Bob Hope going seven furlongs in November.

Citizen Bull (20-1)—He is expected to be named champion 2-year-old of 2024 following wins in both the GI American Pharoah at Santa Anita and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar. Baffert recently said the Into Mischief colt will likely make his 3-year-old debut in the GIII Robert B. Lewis going a mile at Santa Anita on Feb. 1.

Gaming (30-1)—After winning the GI Del Mar Futurity in September, the Game Winner colt was second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and third in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity. He is likely ticketed for next Saturday’s GIII Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, according to Baffert.

Getaway Car (50-1)—He has lost four straight since taking the GIII Best Pal at Del Mar back in August. Most recently, the Curlin colt finished second in the Los Alamitos Futurity.

Journalism (20-1)—McCarthy’s second Derby prospect, Journalism was an impressive 3 ½-length winner of the Los Alamitos Futurity in December. The Curlin colt reportedly got sick after the Futurity and has yet to work back.

Madaket Road (50-1)—Also trained by Baffert, the Quality Road colt recently broke his maiden going six furlongs at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. He has had three works since graduation day.

Rodriguez (20-1)—The Authentic colt was stretched to a mile for his second start Jan. 4 and promptly romped by seven lengths to earn his diploma at Santa Anita. He is also trained by Baffert.

Romanesque (50-1)—This Baffert pupil was beaten 5 ½ lengths by Barnes in the San Vicente, which was his second start. He is a son of Practical Joke.

San Saba (50-1)—The Justify colt flashed speed in his debut going six furlongs and then faded to third behind stablemate Madaket Road in a Santa Anita maiden race Dec. 26.

Varney (40-1)—This is an unraced son of Vekoma trained by Baffert. On Monday, Varney worked five furlongs from the gate in a sharp 59.60 seconds.

GIII LA CANADA, GIII LAS CIENEGAS HIGHLIGHT 11-RACE CARD SUNDAY Santa Anita has an 11-race card set for Sunday led by the GIII La Canada Stakes and GIII Las Cienegas Stakes. First post is at 11:30 a.m. PT.

The La Canada for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles is carded as the eighth race with post time set for approximately 3 p.m. A field of six is signed on led by 8-5 morning line favorite Cavalieri. Trained by Bob Baffert, Cavalieri will be making her stakes debut after rolling to a pair of victories going a flat mile. The 4-year-old Nyquist filly will have Juan Hernandez aboard.

The La Canada field in post position order: Alpha Bella, Flavien Prat (9-5); Chatalas, Antonio Fresu (8-1); Che Evasora, Tiago Periera (30-1); Musical Mischief, Umberto Rispoli (2-1); Big Hug, Mike Smith (20-1); Cavalieri, Juan Hernandez (8-5). The Las Cienegas is for fillies and mares at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course. It goes as the ninth race at approximately 3:30 p.m. The 8-5 morning line favorite is eastern invader Toupie for trainer Graham Motion. Toupie will have Flavien Prat in the irons.

The Las Cienegas field in post position order: Just Nails, Edwin Maldonado (2-1); Nadette, Juan Hernandez (10-1); Anywho, Hector Berrios (15-1); Laulne, Antonio Fresu (12-1); Ma Rae’s Girl, Kazushi Kimura (30-1); Toupie, Flavien Prat (8-5); Hamwood Flier, Mike Smith (8-1); Vitalera, Tyler Baze (20-1); Miss Lizzy, Umberto Rispoli (5-1).

FINISH LINES: Kazushi Kimura is off all mounts again Saturday. The 25-year-old native of Japan hasn’t ridden since being injured in the starting gate Thursday…Flavien Prat won four races from five mounts on Friday’s eight-race card. Prat, a 2024 Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding jockey, won the first race with favorite Prime and Ready ($4.20) for trainer Richard Baltas, the third race on Clampett ($6.20) for trainer Doug O’Neill, the fifth on favorite Thirty Four Coupe ($5.20) for trainer Steve Miyadi and the eighth on Kid Azteca ($7.20) for trainer Peter Miller. Saturday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:49 p.m. PT with the tenth race from Gulfstream Park…Equine scout Larry Zap will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Sunday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 10:20 a.m. PT…Santa Anita will host a special Martin Luther King Jr. holiday card Monday. First post is 12 p.m. On-track fans will receive $1 beers and sodas and $2 hot dogs.