Santa Anita Stable Notes Saturday, June 7, 2025

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2025

• AFFIRMED: GAMING LOOKS TO GET BACK ON THE BEAM SUNDAY • THOUGHT PROCESS OUT OF GIII SUMMERTIME OAKS, WORKS 5F • 1/ST TV WORKOUT VIDEOS RECEIVE MORE THAN 2.8 MILLION VIEWS • KATHY WALSH ‘CELEBRATION OF LIFE’ SET FOR SUNDAY

AFFIRMED: GAMING LOOKS TO GET BACK ON THE BEAM SUNDAY

With a win in last year’s GI Del Mar Futurity and promising runner-up effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Gaming was made one of three finalists for champion 2-year-old male of 2024, which was ultimately awarded to stablemate Citizen Bull.

Things have not gone as well as a 3-year-old for Gaming. In Sunday’s Affirmed Stakes for sophomores at 1 1/16 miles, the Game Winner colt will be seeking his first win since the Del Mar Futurity. In three starts this year, Gaming finished second-to-last in the GIII Southwest in January, a well-beaten second in the Hot Springs Stakes in March at Oaklawn and a third-place finish in the GII Pat Day Mile on May 3.

In the Affirmed, Gaming is the 4-5 program favorite. He’ll be ridden by jockey Hector Berrios for the first time.

Joining Gaming in the lineup for trainer Bob Baffert is stablemate Nevada Beach. By Omaha Beach, Nevada Beach came from slightly off the pace to score in his debut by a half-length going a mile on April 19 at Santa Anita. The runner-up that day, Rank is also in the Affirmed field. Nevada Beach is 8-5 on the line and will be ridden for the second time by Juan Hernandez.

Completing the field are Westwood (9-2) for trainer John Shirreffs and Rank (6-1), a maiden, for trainer Doug O’Neill.

Westwood most recently was third in the GI Santa Anita Derby when making his stakes debut April 5. Westwood was forwardly placed that day but in the latter stages could not keep up with winner Journalism and runner-up Baeza. By Authentic, Westwood will have regular rider Tiago Pereira aboard.

In his close loss to Nevada Beach, Rank set an uncontested pace before being overhauled late by the winner. It was Rank’s fifth runner-up finish in 12 starts. By Honor A.P. Rank will be ridden by Antonio Fresu.

The Affirmed goes as the third race on a 10-program with post time set for 2:05 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Nevada Beach, Juan Hernandez (8-5); Westwood, Tiago Pereira (9-2); Gaming, Hector Berrios (4-5); Rank, Antonio Fresu (6-1).

THOUGHT PROCESS OUT OF GIII SUMMERTIME OAKS, WORKS 5F

Both Thought Process and Silent Law were scratched from Saturday’s GIII Summertime Oaks. Thought Process, trained by trainer Phil D’Amato, was set to make her first start since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November at Del Mar. Instead, the multiple stakes winner on turf worked five furlongs on the main track in 59.40 seconds Saturday morning.

Also working for D’Amato was Jungle Peace, who most recently finished third as the favorite in the GIII Honeymoon when trying two turns for the first time May 18. Jungle Peace worked three furlongs on the synthetic training track in 37.0 seconds.

Working for trainer Tim Yakteen was Grade I winner Johannes. Off since winning the GII San Gabriel on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, Johannes worked five furlongs on the main track in 1:00.00. It was his fourth work on the comeback trail.

Other notables on the tab included Sugar Fish (3f, 37.0), Happy Jack (4f, 49.60), Mi Hermano Ramon (4f, 49.80) and Air Force Red (4f. 49.60).

1/ST TV WORKOUT VIDEOS RECEIVE MORE THAN 2.8 MILLION VIEWS

Horseplayers, horsemen and women, and fans have watched workouts on 1/ST TV more than 2.8 million times between June 1, 2024, and June 1, 2025. The 1/ST TV team, which has video production crews in Southern California and splitting the East Coast between South Florida and Saratoga, has recorded, logged and uploaded 13,897 workouts during the same dates.

Rebranded 1/ST TV earlier this year, the former XBTV site also offers viewers a free listing of clickable links to workouts when horses are entered in races around the country. The 1ST.TV site houses more than three years of workouts in its vast library, allowing users to compare and contrast how a horse is preparing for a race.

The site is frequented by those looking for a competitive handicapping advantage, along with horsemen and women tracking their own horses and their competition.
For more information, please visit 1ST.TV.

KATHY WALSH ‘CELEBRATION OF LIFE’ SET FOR SUNDAY

Kathy Walsh, the former trainer who died last month at age 85, will be honored with a ‘Celebration of Life’ Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. in the 100-1 room at Santa Anita. In addition, the fifth race is named in Walsh’s honor.

The reception at the 100-1 includes a cash bar and free appetizers compliments of Santa Anita. All are welcome to attend.

Walsh was a trainer from 1970 until her retirement in 2021. She won 1,232 races and earned training titles at Longacres in Washington state and Canterbury Downs in Minnesota. In 2009, Walsh was inducted into the Washington Racing Hall of Fame.

Walsh’s top performers included Grade I winners Georgie Boy and Nany’s Sweep, as well as graded stakes winner Devious Boy and Hanuman Highway, who in 1998 finished seventh in the 1998 Kentucky Derby behind winner Real Quiet.

FINISH LINES: Post time for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes is 4:04 p.m. PT. Among the field of eight is the Santa Anita-based trio of Journalism, Baeza and Rodriguez. In early wagering Saturday morning, Journalism was the 3-2 favorite. Baeza was 7-2 and Rodriguez was 7-1….Saturday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 2:13 p.m. PT with the ninth race from Gulfstream Park…Cestrand blew up the tote board Friday when she won the eighth race, an $8,000 maiden claimer, and paid $90. Apprentice Alfredo Bautista rode Cestrand for trainer Gloria Haley…Jockey Armando Ayuso continued his strong Hollywood Meet with two wins Friday, moving him just one win shy of runner-up Hector Berrios in the jockey’s standings. Ayuso won the first race with Over Attracted ($11.40) for trainer Leonard Powell and the sixth race aboard Mrazek’s Old Dream ($5) for trainer Antonio Garcia…Santa Anita will host four days of racing next week, which is closing week of the Hollywood Meet. The action kicks off with a special Thursday card and concludes on Sunday, June 15…Announcer Pete Aiello will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Sunday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m.