Santa Anita Stable Notes Saturday, March 22, 2025

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2025

Photo: Zoe Metz

- • JOURNALISM, BAEZA WORK FOR GI SANTA ANITA DERBY - • SANTA ANITA OAKS CONTENDERS, EAGLES FLIGHT ON WORK TAB - • DERBY FAVE JOURNALISM NOT THE 1st STAKES WINNER WITH NAME - • JOCKEY KIMURA RETURNS A WINNER FRIDAY AFTER LEG INJURY - • SUPER HIGH 5 CARRYOVER OF $12K FOR SATURDAY’S 9th RACE

JOURNALISM, BAEZA WORK FOR GI SANTA ANITA DERBY

Journalism and Baeza each worked five furlongs Saturday at Santa Anita in preparation for the GI Santa Anita Derby on April 5.

Journalism worked in company with stablemate Endlessly, a veteran of last year’s Kentucky Derby who is on the comeback trail for trainer Michael McCarthy. Journalism was clocked in 1:01.40.

“It was a maintenance work, looking to keep him in his routine,” McCarthy said. “I was very pleased with what I saw.”

Journalism emerged as this year’s early Kentucky Derby favorite following an eye-catching win in the GII DK Horse San Felipe March 1 at Santa Anita when making his 3-year-old debut. By Curlin, Journalism is 4: 3-0-1 with $338,800 in earnings for breeder Don Alberto Stable and co-owners Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC and Robert V. LaPenta.

Baeza, trained by John Shirreffs, worked in a time of 1:03.40 with jockey Hector Berrios aboard.

“Just keeping him on schedule,” Shirreffs said. “He had a real big gallop two days ago and I didn’t want to overdo it.”

Baeza most recently was a dominant 4 ¾-length maiden winner going a mile Feb. 14 at Santa Anita. By McKinzie out of the Big Brown mare Puca, Baeza is a half-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby Mage and 2024 Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch. He is 3: 1-1-0 with $48,500 in earnings for breeder Grandview Equine and co-owner C R K Stable.

McCarthy also worked Grade III-winning sophomore Bullard, who last week the trainer said was possible for the Santa Anita Derby. Bullard worked four furlongs in 48.40 seconds. By Gun Runner, Bullard hasn’t started since finishing third in the GII San Vicente going seven furlongs Jan. 4 at Santa Anita. He was entered in the GII Rebel at Oaklawn Feb. 23 but had to be scratched after spiking a fever.

SANTA ANITA OAKS CONTENDERS, EAGLES FLIGHT ON WORK TAB

A trio of candidates for the GII Fasig -Tipton Santa Anita Oaks April 5—Maysam, Supa Speed and Look Forward—worked Saturday at Santa Anita. Also on the tab was Eagles Flight, a half-brother to 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline who was a dominant allowance winner March 8 at Santa Anita. Maysam and Supa Speed were separated by just a nose earlier this month when running one-two in the GIII Fasig-Tipton Santa Ysabel March 2. Maysam, trained by Bob Baffert, worked four furlongs in 48.0 seconds. Supa Speed worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 for trainer John Sadler.

Look Forward, who won the Fasig-Tipton Santa Ynez going seven furlongs Jan. 5 at Santa Anita, worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Look Forward most recently was seventh in the GIII Honeybee at Oaklawn after a poor start on Feb. 23.

Eagles Flight worked four furlongs in 48.40 seconds for Sadler. By Curlin, Eagles Flight cleared his first-level allowance condition by 4 ½ lengths going a mile two weeks ago at Santa Anita. There were a combined 148 workers between the main track and training track.

JOURNALISM WINNNG 1993 CRYSTAL WATER STAKES

BENOIT PHOTO

DERBY FAVE JOURNALISM NOT THE 1st STAKES WINNER WITH NAME

Kentucky Derby future book favorite Journalism, winner of the GII DK Horse San Felipe earlier this month, is pointed to the GI Santa Anita Derby April 5. The colt by Curlin is not the first horse with the name Journalism to win a stakes race at Santa Anita, nor is he currently the most acclaimed.

The original Journalism (there have been four horses with the name) was foaled in 1988 and won 15 races from 35 career starts, earning $673,510. The gelding won eight stakes races, including four straight in 1993, starting with the Crystal Water and including the now Grade 1 Shoemaker Handicap.

Journalism was a son of Publicity and out of the mare Knowledgeable Lady, who originally raced for his breeder, the famed Old English Rancho. He was sold prior to the Crystal Water and had his greatest success with trainer Wally Dollase for owner Richard Stephen. Paul Atkinson, currently the CHRB Safety Steward at Santa Anita, was aboard Journalism for the Crystal Water.

The Journalism foaled in 2022 has three wins from four career starts and $338,880 in career earnings for trainer Michael McCarthy. Names are eligible for reuse after a horse is ten years old, provided that horse has not been used for racing or breeding during the preceding five years, and that the name isn’t protected by The Jockey Club. (previous champions, earners of over $2-million, winners of Triple Crown races, Breeders’ Cup Classic or Breeders’ Cup Turf are some of the examples of protected names).

FINISH LINES: Jockey Kazushi Kimura, who missed more than two months with a leg injury, returned Friday and made it right back in the Winner’s Circle. In the fifth race, Kimura won with his second mount of the day aboard favorite Bruiser ($4.20) for trainer Bill McLean. Kimura rides seven races Saturday including the GIII San Luis Rey aboard Wizard of Westwood (6-1) for trainer Michael McCarthy…There is a Super High 5 carryover of $12,076 for Saturday’s ninth and final race…Friday’s $2 Pick Six paid $16,723 for two winning tickets…Equibase chart caller Ken Davis will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Sunday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m.