STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024

• JOCKEY SHOWDOWN: FRESU, HERNANDEZ TIED FOR LEADING RIDER • WORKS: GOLD PHOENIX, THE CHOSEN VRON, RUBY NELL LEAD TAB • CINEMA STAKES: FINAL BOSS FAVORED FOR SADLER • CLOSING DAY SUNDAY: FIRST POST 12:30 P.M, MANDATORY PAYOUTS

JOCKEY SHOWDOWN: FRESU, HERNANDEZ TIED FOR LEADING RIDER A late surge by Juan Hernandez has left the race for leading jockey all square with just two days remaining in the Santa Anita Hollywood Meet.

Hernandez, a five-time leading rider at Santa Anita, scored his second hat trick in as many days Friday to draw on even terms with Antonio Fresu in the standings. Both have 32 wins entering Saturday’s action.

Hernandez started the race-week Thursday three wins behind Fresu. After he bagged three victories Thursday, Hernandez Friday scored with Jackstown ($2.80) in the fifth and Midland Money ($2.40) in the seventh, both for trainer Bob Baffert, and Tribal ($10.40) in the 10th and final for trainer Richard Mandella.

Fresu kept pace by winning Friday’s second race on Desert Rhapsody ($4.40) and the seventh aboard Illhaveanotherkiss ($8), both for trainer Doug O’Neill.

Fresu, a 32-year-old native of Sardinia, Italy, has been riding in the U.S. for about 14 months. He is seeking his first domestic riding title.

At the Santa Anita Classic meet, which ended April 7, Hernandez and Fresu finished one-two in the jockey’s standings. Hernandez rode 53 winners while Fresu finished with 46 victories.

Fresu and Hernandez are also deadlocked with four stakes wins each at the Hollywood Meet, which leads all other jockeys. Hernandez, a 32-year-old native of Veracruz, Mexico, holds the edge in purse earnings. His 160 mounts at the stand entering Saturday have banked $1,805,758, while Fresu’s 164 mounts have earned $1,549,492.

Both jockeys will be busy the next two days. Hernandez rides nine of the 11 races Saturday and eight of 12 races on closing day Sunday. Fresu rides 10 of 11 races Saturday and 10 of 12 on Sunday. Fresu is named on six morning-line favorites over the two days while Hernandez is booked on three program favorites.

First post Saturday is 1 p.m. PT.

WORK TAB: GOLD PHOENIX, THE CHOSEN VRON, RUBY NELL LEAD TAB Grade I winner Gold Phoenix and top sprinter The Chosen Vron worked Saturday at Santa Anita. Also returning to the tab was Ruby Nell, who had her first work since being the beaten favorite in the GI Gamely May 27.

Gold Phoenix worked four furlongs on the synthetic training track in 50.20 seconds. It was his fifth work since winning the GII Charles Whittingham Stakes May 4. Trainer Phil D’Amato said this week the 6-year-old gelding is scheduled to defend his title in the GII Eddie Read Stakes July 28 at Del Mar.

The Chosen Vron worked four furlongs on the main track in 47.60 seconds. It was the third-fastest of 72 moves at the distance. The Chosen Vron most recently collected his 17th stakes win when taking the May 25 Thor’s Echo Stakes for California-breds. He is likely to next try and defend his title in the GI Bing Crosby Stakes July 27 at Del Mar.

Multiple graded stakes winner Ruby Nell worked four furlongs on the main track in 48.20 seconds for trainer Richard Mandella. In the Gamely at 1 1/8 miles on turf, Ruby Nell finished sixth as the 5-2 favorite after setting the pace.

Trainer Mark Glatt also had a pair of notable workers. Judge Miller, most recently third in the GII Hollywood Gold Cup May 27, drilled four furlongs in 49.00 seconds. Also working for Glatt was Dr. Venkman. The 4-year-old Ghostzapper gelding went four furlongs on the main track in 48.20 seconds. It was Dr. Venkman’s first work since finishing second as the 4-5 favorite in the GII Triple Bend Stakes following a seven-plus month layoff June 1.

In all, there were 157 timed workouts between the main track and training track.

CINEMA STAKES: FINAL BOSS FAVORED FOR SADLER Fresh off a front-running allowance win at 1 1/8 miles on turf, Final Boss returns to the stakes ranks in the $100,000 Cinema Stakes for 3-year-olds, also at 1 1/8 miles on turf, Sunday at Santa Anita. He is the 8-5 favorite on the morning line.

Trained by John Sadler, Final Boss scored by 1 ¼ lengths in the allowance win under Juan Hernandez May 12 at Santa Anita. This will be his third attempt at a stakes win. Most recently on Feb. 17, the American Pharoah colt tried the Baffle Stakes sprinting on the hillside turf course and finished fourth.

Final Boss will again have Hernandez in the irons. He is 6: 2-1-0 with $91,500 in earnings for owners Talla Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds.

Trainer Michael McCarthy has three entered including stakes-placed Blue Eyed George, the 5-2 second choice on the morning line. He makes his first start at Santa Anita after previously being based with McCarthy’s string in Kentucky. Most recently, the Flameaway colt finished 11th at 42-1 in the GII American Turf at 1 1/16 miles on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 4.

Blue Eyed George, who is 7: 2-1-2 with $116,775 in earnings for owner BG Stable, will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli in his local unveiling.

McCarthy’s other key runner is Gold Foot, the 3-1 co-third choice on the morning line. The Goldencents gelding has won two straight, both at 1 1/8 miles on Santa Anita’s turf course. He is taking a big step up in class. Gold Foot first won a starter/optional claimer on April 27 then came back to win a straight starter allowance from off the pace May 26.

Gold Foot is 8: 3-1-0 with $70,000 in earnings for owner Stepside Farm LLC. He will be ridden by Kyle Frey, who was aboard for his two most recent victories.

British Isles makes his stakes debut for trainer Richard Baltas. He is also 3-1 on the morning line. British Isles went winless in five starts with trainer Bob Baffert to start his career before being transferred to Baltas following a private sale. In his second start for Baltas May 4 at Santa Anita, the Justify colt graduated going 1 1/8 miles on turf.

British Isles, who is 7: 1-2-0 with $64,280 in earnings, will have Antonio Fresu aboard. He is owned by Baltas, Slam Dunk Racing and Jerry McClanahan.

The field in post position order: Gold Foot, Kyle Frey (3-1); Final Boss, Juan Hernandez (8-5); Blue Eyed George, Umberto Rispoli (5-2); Sea Singer, Abel Cedillo (8-1); British Isles, Antonio Fresu (3-1).

CLOSING DAY SUNDAY: FIRST POST 12:30 P.M., MANDATORY PAYOUTS A big 12-race card awaits horseplayers on Sunday, closing day of the 29-day Hollywood Meet. All pools including the $1 Pick Six and Super High Five will have mandatory payouts.

First post Sunday is 30 minutes earlier than usual at 12:30 p.m. PT. Admission gates will open at 10:30 a.m.

Sunday’s card includes the Cinema Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf and the GIII San Juan Capistrano at about 1 ¾ miles on turf. The Cinema goes as the fourth race at approximately 2 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano goes as the sixth race at approximately 3 p.m.

FINISH LINES: Jockey Edwin Maldonado won three races Friday to move into fourth place in the jockey’s standings. He has 25 wins from 135 mounts (16 percent) at the Hollywood Meet…Jackstown earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure for his sharp allowance win in Friday’s fourth race following a 22 ½ month layoff. He is trained by Bob Baffert…Arizona-based trainer Stacy Campo got her first-ever win at Santa Anita in Friday’s third race with longshot Phoenician Ghost ($40), who was ridden by Maldonado…Phil D'Amato is poised for his sixth trainer’s title at Santa Anita. After winning two races Friday, he has 20 wins at the stand, five more than runner-up Mark Glatt …Saturday’s $1 Pick Six starts at 3:35 p.m. PT with the sixth race. The sequence averages a robust 10.3 starters per race before scratches… The father-son duo of horseplayers Duke Matties and Carson Matties will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Sunday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:20 a.m.