Santa Anita Stable Notes Sunday, June 1, 2025

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

SUNDAY, JUNE 1, 2025

- • JOURNALISM A GO FOR BELMONT AFTER SUNDAY WORK - • FAVORITE SWEET AZTECA SCRATCHED FROM DESERT STORMER - • NYSOS EARNS 108 BEYER FOR GIII TRIPLE BEND ROMP SATURDAY - • CARMOUCHE HONORS LATE FATHER IN WOOLF AWARD CEREMONY - • GIII SUMMERTIME OAKS, AFFIRMED STAKES ON TAP NEXT WEEK

JOURNALISM PROCLAMIED A GO FOR BELMONT AFTER SUNDAY WORK

Following a strong half mile work by Journalism Sunday morning at Saratoga, trainer Michael McCarthy reported the GI Santa Anita Derby and Preakness winner would be entered in this Saturday’s Belmont Stakes.

“Based off what I saw here this morning, I would be hard-pressed to find a reason not to enter,” McCarthy told the New York Racing Association press office.

The post position draw for the 157th Belmont Stakes is Monday at 2 p.m. PT. If the field shapes up as is expected, Journalism will be the only 3-year-old this year to run in all three Triple Crown races. It also sets him up for a rematch with Sovereignty, who bested Journalism by 1 ½ lengths in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs May 3. Journalism came back two weeks later and won the Preakness in thrilling fashion at Pimlico.

With jockey Umberto Rispoli in town to ride Journalism Sunday, the colt by Curlin was clocked going four furlongs in 47.50 seconds on a track rated as good. According to the New York Racing Association press office, Journalism went the opening quarter mile in 23.80 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.0.

“Very good (work), just kind of a maintenance work,” McCarthy said. “Obviously, you saw him kind of pick it up through the lane and gallop out strongly—final quarter in 23 and three, 23 and four, something like that. Racetrack is probably a half-step quicker.”

Journalism enters the Belmont with a record of 7: 5-1-1 and $2,833,880 in earnings for an ownership group that includes Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable and Robert V. LaPenta.

Like in 2024, this year’s Belmont will be contested at 1 ¼ miles at Saratoga rather than its traditional 1 ½-mile distance at Belmont Park. The change in venue and distance is due to a multi-year construction project ongoing at Belmont Park.

Among those slated to join Journalism in the Belmont are fellow Santa Anita-based 3-year-olds Baeza and Rodriguez. Baeza, trained by John Shirreffs, finished third in the Kentucky Derby. He’ll look to match the feat of his older half-brother, Dornoch, who won last year’s Belmont at Saratoga. Rodriguez, trained by Bob Baffert, hasn’t started since winning the GII Wood Memorial at Aqueduct April 5. He was entered in the Kentucky Derby but had to be scratched because of a bruised hoof.

FAVORITE SWEET AZTECA SCRATCHED FROM DESERT STORMER

At about 11 a.m. Sunday, word came that 3-5 program favorite Sweet Azteca was scratched from this afternoon’s Desert Stormer Stakes. Trainer Richard Baltas could not be reached for comment but he told Daily Racing Form’s Steve Andersen Sweet Azteca was withdrawn because of cut on a leg.

Grade I winner Sweet Azteca was slated to make her first start since October and her first start for Baltas in the Desert Stormer going six furlongs. Previously trained by Michael McCarthy, Sweet Azteca last year won the GI Beholder Mile at Santa Anita, GII Great Lady M at Los Alamitos and GIII Rancho Bernardo at Del Mar prior to finishing fourth in the GIII Chillingworth on Oct. 5 at Santa Anita.

A 5-year-old mare by Sharp Azteca, Sweet Azteca is 7: 5-0-1 with $487,200 in earnings for owner Pamela C. Zeibarth.

The Desert Stormer goes as the seventh race with post time set for 4:08 p.m. PT.

NYSOS Benoit Photo

NYSOS EARNS 108 BEYER FOR GIII TRIPLE BEND ROMP SATURDAY

Nysos was credited with a career-best 108 Beyer Speed Figure for his scintillating 5 ½-length victory in Saturday’s GIII Triple Bend Stakes going seven furlongs at Santa Anita. It ties for the fourth-highest Beyer recorded this year in races up to a mile.

On Sunday morning, trainer Bob Baffert reported Nysos was “fantastic” and that a potential summer campaign would be plotted out in the coming weeks. Immediately after the Triple Bend, Baffert said “now from here we can build and pick our spots. Eventually on to the Breeders’ Cup.”

A 4-year-old colt by Nyquist, Nysos was making his second start following a 15-month layoff in the Triple Bend. Four weeks earlier, on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs, Nysos suffered his only loss in five starts when falling a neck short in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes going seven furlongs.

Sent off the 1-5 favorite in the Triple Bend, Nysos attended the pace through opening fractions of 22.07, 44.29 seconds. He then drew clear of the field in the stretch under Juan Hernandez, reached the eighth pole in 1:08.42 and crossing the wire in a time of 1:21.28.

Nysos improved to 5: 4-1-0 with $418,500 in earnings for owner Baoma Corp. Prior to the layoff, Nysos’ three wins included the GIII Bob Hope as a 2-year-old at Del Mar and the GIII Robert B. Lewis in February of 2024 at Santa Anita.

2025 GEORGE WOOLF MEMORIAL AWARD WINNER KENDRICK CARMOUCHE Benoit Photo

CARMOUCHE HONORS LATE FATHER IN WOOLF AWARD CEREMONY

Jockey Kenrick Carmouche has garnered plenty of new fans and admirers in Southern California during his weekend stay at Santa Anita to receive the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Award, which honors riders whose career and personal character earn esteem for the individual and for the sport of Thoroughbred racing.

The Woolf Award, named in honor of the legendary jockey and first awarded in 1950, is determined by a nationwide vote of fellow jockeys. Carmouche, a 41-year-old native of Vinton, La., humbly received the Woolf Award during a winner’s circle ceremony after Saturday’s eighth race.

“I’d like to thank God first of all. He makes it possible for all of us to be successful in life,” Carmouche said. “I could say in 25 years of my career, I never thought I could be at this point.”

Carmouche is the son of former jockey Sylvester Carmouche, who died last year at the age of 65. Kendrick Carmouche also gave special thanks to his late father.

“My dad, he just passed away on August 24. He was a beast. He was my idol,” Carmouche said. “He introduced me to this sport and I feel like it’s the best sport in the world.”

Following the races, Carmouche was joined by former Woolf Award winners Laffit Pincay Jr., Mike Smith, Frank Olivares and others for a reception at The Derby restaurant near Santa Anita.

Carmouche enters Sunday with 4,027 career wins and more than $161 million in purse earnings.

FINISH LINES: Aided by a $48,869 carryover, Saturday’s $2 Pick Six paid $10,495.40 for 30 winning tickets…There was also a $17,379 carryover in the Super High 5 in the 10th race. With longshot Johanny ($32.60) prevailing under Kyle Frey for trainer Eoin Harty, the Super High 5 paid $3,043 for 28 winning tickets…Sunday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:37 p.m. PT with the eighth race from Gulfstream Park…Nominations close Sunday for the GIII Daytona and Possibly Perfect, both to be run June 14, as well the GIII San Juan Capistrano on June 15, which is closing day of the Hollywood Meet… Following Sunday’s 10-race card, live racing will resume Friday with a nine-race card starting at 1 p.m.