Boss Sully hit the front and never looked back, Benoit Photo
Santa Anita Press
ARCADIA, CA —Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario announced his full-time return to Santa Anita with authority on Sunday when piloting Boss Sully to his first stakes win the $100,000 Siren Lure Saturday at Santa Anita.
Rosario, 41, won multiple riding titles at Santa Anita more than a decade ago, which was soon after he arrived in the U.S. from his native Dominican Republic. Rosario has since gone on to win more than 3,800 races, an Eclipse Award, and in 2024 was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Sunday was Rosario’s first day back riding full-time at Santa Anita. Boss Sully, making his first start since August for trainer Brian Koriner, was sent off the lukewarm 3-1 favorite.
Breaking from post nine in a field of 10, Boss Sully and Rosario outran 25-1 longshot Vlahos for the early lead. They proceeded to set fractions of 22.06 and 44.92 seconds for a half mile and then had enough left in the tank to comfortably hold off a late charge from Unconquerable Keen (7-2) by 1 ½ lengths. Artislas (14-1), a graded stakes winner who also hadn’t started since August was another 1 ¼ lengths back in third. Sorrento Sky (4-1) and Virat (5-1) completed the Super High 5.
“It didn’t take me long to have someone like Brian (Koriner) to put me in the winner’s circle, so thank you Brian for that,” Rosario said. “I was feeling good, it is just nice to be back. We’re happy and blessed.”
Boss Sully, a 6-year-old California-bred gelding by Street Boss, won in a time of 1:08.42. “He’s a big horse,” Rosario said. “It looked like he was enjoying what he was doing, looking around. Every time I asked him to go forward he was there for me, so I wasn’t worried. I knew he was going to keep moving forward.”
The Siren Lure was Boss Sully’s first start since Aug. 30 when he finished off the board in the GIII Green Flash going five furlongs on turf at Del Mar. He had been working fast for his comeback. Eight days ago, Boss Sully signaled his readiness with a sizzling four-furlong work in 46.8 seconds.
“The horse wouldn’t let me keep him in the barn any longer he was doing so good,” Koriner said. “He’s been traveling really well and all of his works have been pretty fun to watch. You can see the way he’s pulled up after his works and his attitude. He has just been on the prowl the last three weeks.”
Boss Sully is owned by Edward Rusty J. Brown, Alan P. Klein and Philli Lebherz.. He improved to 17: 6-2-2 with nearly $470,000 in earnings.
Boss Sully paid $8.20, $4.80 and $4.00. Unconquerable Keen, ridden by Kazushi Kimura for trainer Phil D’Amato, returned $4.60 and $3.80. Artislas, with Juan Hernandez aboard for trainer Jeff Mullins, paid $7.20.
Live racing resumes Friday at Santa Anita with a nine-race card starting at 1 p.m. PT.
SIREN LURE STAKES
JOCKEY QUOTES
JOEL ROSARIO, BOSS SULLY, WINNER: “It didn’t take me long to have someone like Brian (Koriner) to put me in the Winner’s Circle, so thank you Brian for that. I was feeling good, it is just nice to be back. We’re happy and blessed. “He’s a big horse. It looked like he was enjoying what he was doing, looking around and every time I asked him to go forward he was there for me, so I wasn’t worried. I knew he was going to keep moving forward.”
TRAINER QUOTES
BRIAN KORINER, BOSS SULLY, WINNER: “He’s been traveling really well and all his works have been pretty fun to watch. You can see the way he’s pulled up after his works and his attitude, he has just been on the prowl the last three weeks. I just called (the person) who runs a lot of the syndicates that I train for here. I said, ‘I think this is where we are going to go.’ The horse wouldn’t let me keep him in the barn any longer he was doing good. “I had worries when they came to the top of the lane so quick. I go, ‘Is that it? It’s over?’ And then he kicked on and I said, ‘Well that is a good horse.’”
NOTES: The winning owners are Edward Rusty J Brown Alan P. Klein, and Philip Lebherz.
