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STABLE NOTES
Santa Anita Stable Notes Wednesday, March 1, 2023
3/1/2023
STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2023
• SADLER, CALIFORNIA CHROME AMONG HALL OF FAME FINALISTS • 1/ST RACING TOUR RETURNS SATURDAY ON CNBC __• $3 MILLION POOL LIKELY SATURDAY IN RAINBOW SIX __ • AFTER MORE RAIN, FRIDAY’S TURF RACES MOVED TO DIRT __• UCLA COACHES CRONIN & KELLY WIN MINE THAT BIRD DERBY __ •LIVE RACING ADDED ON THURSDAY, MARCH 9
SADLER, CALIFORNIA CHROME AMONG HALL OF FAME FINALISTS Led by first-time nominees John Sadler, California Chrome, Arrogate and Songbird, 11 of this year’s 16 finalists for induction into the Racing Hall of Fame have ties to Santa Anita.
On Tuesday, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga, N.Y., nominated for potential enshrinement nine horses, six trainers and one jockey. Among trainers, Sadler will be on the ballot along with previous Santa Anita-based finalists Doug O’Neill and John Shirreffs.
Sadler, who began training in 1978, has racked up 2,278 wins and more than $145 million in purse earnings while based in Southern California. He has also trained multiple champions including most recently 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline and 2018 older dirt male Accelerate.
“It’s very exciting,” said the 66-year-old Sadler on Wednesday morning. “When it’s your life’s work and it’s acknowledged, that’s a great feeling.”
Other trainers on this year’s ballot are Christophe Clement, Kiaran McLaughlin and Graham Motion. To be eligible for Hall of Fame consideration, a trainer must be licensed for 25 years.
Among horses, Santa Anita-based champions California Chrome, Arrogate and Songbird all made the ballot in their first year of eligibility. They will be joined by previous Santa Anita-based finalists Blind Luck, Kona Gold and Game on Dude. The remaining three horses on the ballot are Rags to Riches, who earned her first three wins at Santa Anita in 2007 including the Grade I Las Virgenes and Grade I Santa Anita Oaks; Lady Eli, a finalist in her first year of eligibility; and Havre de Grace.
To be eligible for Hall of Fame consideration, a horse must be retired for five calendar years.
The only jockey on the ballot is Corey Nakatani, who was a decades-long stalwart on the Southern California circuit. Nakatani ended his career in 2018 with 3,909 wins including 10 Breeders’ Cup races, and more than $234 million in purse earnings.
Hall of Fame voters may select as many of the candidates as they see fit for induction. To gain entry, a candidate must receive 50 percent of votes plus one. Results will be announced on Tuesday, April 25.
1/ST RACING TOUR RETURNS SATURDAY ON CNBC The 1/ST Racing Tour continues Saturday with blockbuster cards from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park and national television coverage on CNBC.
Led by the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap and a pair of Triple Crown prep races (Grade II San Felipe at Santa Anita, Grade II Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream), a combined 13 graded stakes will be contested at the two tracks. CNBC will provide two hours of coverage starting at 1 p.m. PT.
As part of a 12-race program at Santa Anita, the featured Big Cap and San Felipe are supported by the Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile and Grade II Buena Vista, both on turf. In addition, Santa Anita will have a mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 that beginning with the seventh race.
First post Saturday at Santa Anita is 12 p.m. PT while the action at Gulfstream kicks off at 8 a.m. PT. At Santa Anita, on-track fans will be offered a variety of promotions. They include a Big Cap hat giveaway, craft beer & cider festival and Family Fun Zone & Fiesta de Santa Anita in the infield.
MANDATORY PAYOUT WITH LIKELY $3 MILLION POOL IN SATURDAY’S RAINBOW SIX
With a mandatory payout in place, Santa Anita officials project Saturday’s 20 cent Rainbow Pick Six Jackpot pool should approach $3 million by seventh race post time Saturday at Santa Anita, providing there is no single ticket winner Friday.
The Rainbow Six is a 20-cent minimum wager where bettors are tasked with selecting the winner of six straight races. The bet begins at approximately 3:05 p.m. with the seventh race on a stakes laden 12-race card.
Before scratches, the average field size for the sequence is 9.8 starters per race. It consists of two allowance races on turf, a $40,000 maiden claimer for dirt sprinters, a starter allowance on dirt, and both the Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile (turf) and Grade I Santa Anita Handicap presented by Yaamava Resort & Casino.
Entering Friday’s card, the Rainbow 6 has a carryover of $214,356.
Finish Lines: Both the main track and training track will be open Thursday for jogger and gallopers. Workouts will resume on Friday … Due to the recent winter storms, all three turf races scheduled for Friday have been moved to the dirt…Santa Anita-based Henry Q won the Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park on Tuesday. Owned in part by UCLA men’s basketball coach Mick Cronin and UCLA football coach Chip Kelly, he broke his maiden here Feb. 4 for trainer Doug O’Neill and won the Mine That Bird for trainer for Todd Fincher…Santa Anita announced that Admission Passes and Mystery Mutuel Vouchers, originally redeemable on Feb. 25 & 26, will be good Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 3, 4 & 5…Santa Anita will conduct live racing on Thursday, March 9 as a makeup of recent cancellations. On-track patrons that day will receive free admission, free parking and drink specials that include $3 beers and $5 margaritas…