Santa Anita Stable Notes Sunday, January 21, 2024

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 2024 

- MAYMUN SERVES NOTICE WITH 94 BEYER IN BOW FOR BAFFERT - JOCKEY MOSQUEIRA LOOKS TO MAKE HIS MARK AT SANTA ANITA - SATURDAY’S COAST-TO-COAST PICK 5 PAYS A COOL $62,766.20 - TRAINER MCCARTHY, PRAT DOUBLE-UP ON SATURDAY CARD - JOCKEY FRANCO AGAIN CLOSES THE CARD WITH LONGSHOT WIN

MAYMUN SERVES NOTICE WITH 94 BEYER IN BOW FOR BAFFERT A new budding star from the Bob Baffert barn emerged Saturday at Santa Anita.

First-time starter Maymun, a 3-year-old Frosted colt purchased for $900,000 at auction last year, aired by 7 1//2 lengths under Juan Hernandez in a 6 ½-furlong maiden race on dirt. Maymun sizzled the opening half mile in 43.91 seconds before crossing the wire in 1:15.59.

According to Daily Racing Form’s Brad Free, the effort earned a lofty 94 Beyer Speed Figure. That ties for the second-highest figure posted by a 3-year-old thus far this year.

At Fair Grounds on Jan. 7, Godolphin’s Maycocks Bay ran a 95 Beyer when winning an allowance by 10 ¾ lengths going one mile and 70 yards for trainer Michael Stidham. Equaling Maymun’s 94 Beyer on Saturday was Hall of Fame, a $1.4 million Gun Runner colt who won a  1 1/16-mile allowance race in his second start at Fair Grounds for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

Maymun was purchased at last year’s OBS April Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training after he breezed a furlong in 9.60 seconds. Agent Donato Lanni signed the ticket on behalf of Amr Zedan’s Zedan Racing.

Maymun’s hammer price also provided a home run for pinhooker Paul Neatherlin. At the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Neatherlin purchased Maymun for just $50,000.

Maymun is out of the Indian Charlie mare Handwoven, who was winless in just one start in 2013. She has had only one other winner from seven foals of racing age.

While the next step for Maymun remains to be determined, It will likely be on to stakes company sooner rather than later. Santa Anita’s stakes series for 3-year-olds on dirt includes the GII San Felipe at 1 1/16 miles on March 2 and the GI Santa Anita Derby going 1 1/8 miles on April 7.

SATURDAY’S COAST-TO-COAST PICK 5 PAYS A COOL $62,766.20 The $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 with player-friendly 15 percent takeout is proving to be a lucrative wager this winter. On Saturday, the Coast to Coast from Santa Antia and Gulfstream Park returned a cool $62,766.20 to three winning tickets.

The three winners from Gulfstream were Lure Him In ($16.20) in the ninth race, Ticking ($87.80) in the 10th race and Royal Majesty in the 11th race. The two winners from Santa Anita were favorites Maximum Capacity ($4.80) in the fifth race for trainer Michael McCarthy and Scary Fast Ride ($3.40 in the sixth race for trainer Sean McCarthy. The Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 returns Sunday starting at 12:36 p.m. PT with the eighth race from Gulfstream. The sequence also includes the ninth and 10th races from Gulfstream and the fourth and fifth races from Santa Anita.  The sequence averaged 8.6 starters per race after scratches.

The Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 is offered every Saturday and Sunday through the end of Santa Anita’s Classic Meet April 7.

JOCKEY MOSQUEIRA LOOKS TO MAKE HIS MARK AT SANTA ANITA While riding in Canada, jockey Ismael Mosqueira was presented with an opportunity. Local trainer Steve Bryant said he was opening a small stable at Santa Anita and wanted him to be part of the team.  

“When we were at Woodbine, he kept mentioning, ‘We have to go to California, we have to go to California,” Mosqueira said this week. “He was just waiting for the right horses. This past fall, when he got a few babies, we started working with them and it seemed like they could fit here. I thought, let’s do it.”

Mosqueira’s decision was also based on his previous experience riding in Arizona.

“I started looking around at the trainers here and saw guys that I had won for at Turf Paradise. Val Brinkerhoff, Eric Kruljac, some others,” Mosqueira continued. “I knew I wouldn’t be new to them. I was hoping they remembered and would support me.”

Mosqueira moved to Southern California this past fall. He started making the rounds at Del Mar getting acquainted with the local horsemen. The hustle led to two mounts during the Del Mar meet, both of which resulted in off-the-board finishes.

“I wanted to come before Santa Anita opened and before Steve got here because I wanted to start meeting people and get my name established,” said Mosqueira, a native of Mexico City whose father, Eluid Mosqueira, was also a jockey. “I kind of paid my dues for those two months so I could kick off the Santa Anita season the best way possible.” The effort would pay quick dividends for the 38-year-old. In just his second mount at The Great Race Place on New Year’s Eve, Mosqueira piloted Heartfullofstars to a 15-1 upset for trainer Edwin Alvarez.

“It was a dream come true,” said Mosqueira, who is represented by agent Marcus Semona. “Since I was a kid, I dreamed of even just coming to Santa Anita, never mind to race-ride. When I won, it was just an indescribable feeling. There are so many good horses and jockeys here. To win in just my second ride, that was great. For some guys it takes a long time to get their first win.”

As for Bryant, he would ultimately bring three horses to Santa Anita this winter. Mosqueira gets aboard the trio each morning for training. Bryant said he handpicked Mosqueira for the assignment following their work together north of the border.

“When we were in Canada we got together and worked some horses. I also watch a lot of replays and I liked what I saw, so I made a play,” Bryant said. “What I see in him is a rider with a great clock. He’s also a finishing rider. He knows pace and isn’t scared out there.”

Bryant and Mosqueira had their first starter together in Saturday’s opener with the 3-year-old colt Sinful King, who was making his debut going 6 ½ furlongs on dirt. Bryant downplayed any expectations prior to the race.

“He is not a sprinter whatsoever,” the trainer said of Sinful King. “But you can only work them so many times. It’s time to step up with him and let him run.”

The race turned into a ‘Welcome to California’ moment for Bryant and Mosqueira. Also in the lineup was first-time starter Maymun for Bob Baffert. A $900,000 auction purchase for Zedan Racing. Maymun uncorked a brilliant effort when winning by 7 ½ lengths and earning a robust 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

Sinful King finished last, but that has not deterred Mosqueira.

“I’m here for the long term and so is Steve,” the jockey said.

According to Equibase statistics, Mosqueira has won 413 races in the U.S. and Canada with earnings of $6,301,432. He also rode multiple seasons in Macau in the 2010s, Mosqueira added.

“I’m 38 now. I have maybe 12 years to go and I want to make the best of it,” he added.

“This is the place I want to be. I’ve already accomplished my first goal, which was to win a race here. Now the goal is to start riding for the bigger barns. I hope to make myself part of this incredible jockey colony here all year round.”

FINISH LINES: Trainer Michael McCarthy and jockey Flavien Prat each bagged a pair of wins Saturday. McCarthy won the fourth race with Mystic Flyer ($5.40) and fifth race with Maximum Capacity ($4.80). Prat scored in the third with Mo Fox Givin ($3.40) and the featured GIII La Canada with Desert Dawn ($5.80). Prat is now tied with Juan Hernandez atop the jockey’s standings with 18 wins each…For the second time in three race days at Santa Anita, jockey Geovanni Franco closed the card with a longshot winner Saturday.  Franco’s upset win in the nightcap aboard Smooth Salute ($24), this time for trainer Alfredo Marquez, came after prompting a six-figure Pick 6 carryover last Monday when scoring in the final race with Thirsty Thursday ($59.80) for trainer Reid France. Franco has six wins from 39 mounts (15 percent) at the meet and ranks eighth in the jockey’s standings…There were five claims made on Saturday’s card including two by trainer Steve Knapp. The only winner red-tagged was Blue Cheese Olive, who won the second race for Peter Miller and paid $11.20. Knapp claimed Blue Cheese Olive for $25,000…Live racing returns to Santa Anita on Friday…Each Friday during the Classic Meet on-track fans receive free parking and admission plus $3 beers and $5 margaritas.