Antonio Fresu aboard Angel Nadeshiko. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
+ Baffert, D’Amato, O’Neill End Year Among Training Elite
+ Hernandez Closes Out Year With A Natural Triple
+ Jockeys Mosqueira, Garcia Break Santa Anita Maidens
+ GII San Vicente Candidates, White Abarrio Lead Work Tab
Santa Anita Stable Notes By Victor Ryan
ARCADIA, Calif.—Eight months after arriving in the U.S. via Dubai, Italian jockey Antonio Fresu has solidified his position as one of the top riders in California.
Through the first four days of the Santa Anita Classic Meet, Fresu leads all jockeys with four stakes wins. In the eighth race Sunday, the 32-year-old from Sardinia earned his sixth win overall at the stand aboard Ghost of Midnight ($3.80) for trainer Mark Glatt, which puts him in a tie for leading rider with Santa Anita’s perennial top jockey, Juan Hernandez.
“Obviously I’m very pleased with how things are going,” said Fresu, who is represented by veteran agent Tom Knust. “I haven’t been here long.
Every time you change places you start from zero again and it takes a while to get to know all the different people. But my agent has done a good job. Now we’re getting better horses with better chances.”
Fresu’s quartet of stakes wins included a two-bagger on opening day last Tuesday with Watsonville ($11) in the GII Mathis Mile for Mark Glatt and Easter ($3.40) in the GII San Gabriel for Phil D’Amato. Fresu also won the Blue Norther Stakes on Friday with Medoro ($6.80) for Peter Eurton and the GII Robert J. Frankel on Saturday with longshot Angel Nadeshiko ($39.60) for trainer Patrick Gallagher.
Fresu acknowledged it has taken time to adjust to racing in the U.S. He has previously ridden all over the world. Prior to arriving at Santa Anita last April, he was plying his trade in Dubai.
“Obviously it’s a different style of racing and different style of riding than Europe,” Fresu said. “You have to adapt. It took a little time, but now I’m getting more used to things here. It’s been a good experience. I’m still learning and always want to learn more.”
Fresu has four mounts scheduled on Santa Anita’s nine-race New Year’s Day card. He will be aboard Girl of My Dreams (5-2) in the opener for Doug O’Neill, Prancingthruparis (3-1) for Eurton in the second, Envisioned (5-1) in the sixth also for Eurton and She’s Scintillating (4-1) for D’Amato in the nightcap.
Baffert, D’Amato, O’Neill End Year Among The Training Elite
A trio of Santa Anita-based trainers – Bob Baffert, Phil D’Amato and Doug O’Neill – ended 2023 ranked among the leaders in North American purse earnings.
Baffert finished the year with 115 wins from 329 starts and $12,648,992 in purse earnings, which ranked eighth among all North American trainers. Eastern-based Brad Cox led the way in 2023 with $30,947,677 in earnings. He won 346 races from 963 starts.
According to Equibase statistics, Baffert won 32 graded stakes in 2023.
D’Amato ended the year ranked 14th in purse earnings with $10,203,812. A five-time leading trainer at Santa Anita, D’Amato won 191 races from 626 starters. His victories included 21 graded stakes.
O’Neill earned $7,100,651 in prize money last year to rank 18th in North America. He won 196 races from 684 starters including four graded stakes. O’Neill’s biggest victory came in the GI, $1 million Cotillion Stakes at Parx with California-bred Ceiling Crusher.
Finishing just outside the top 20 in purse earnings last year was Santa Anita-based Michael McCarthy, who also keeps a string Kentucky. McCarthy’s operation won 143 races from 449 starters and earned $5,54,019 in purse money, which ranked 23rd in North America.
Hernandez Scores A Riding Triple Sunday, Double Monday, Leads Rider Standings
Four-time Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez scored a natural hat trick Sunday to move into a tie with Antonio Fresu for leading rider at the Classic Meet.
Hernandez reclaimed his customary position atop the jockey’s standings with three straight victories on Sunday’s nine-race card. He won the third race aboard Thirty Carats ($11) for trainer David Hofmans, the fourth race on Kristi’s Tiger ($12.80) for trainer Librado Barocio and the fifth race with Rugelach ($3.20) for trainer Ron Ellis.
Hernandez and Fresu each had six wins at the stand entering Monday’s nine-race holiday card.
Monday, Hernandez rode two Bob Baffert maidens to victory breaking the tie to take the jockey standing lead ahead of Fresu by two wins. 3-year-old Omaha Beach filly Elegant won her fourth start in Race 1 and 3-year-old Into Mischief colt Imagination broke his maiden after three starts in Race 4.
Fresu placed second in two races with Doug O’Neill trained Girl of My Dreams and Peter Eurton’s Prancingthruparis.
Winner of the past three Santa Anita riding titles (2023 Classic Meet, Hollywood Meet and Autumn Meet), Hernandez had five mounts booked on Monday including Hot Peppers (5-2) in the featured GIII Las Flores where he placed second for trainer Phil D’Amato. He also took third in an AOC on Gregorian (GB) Chant for D’Amato. And, fourth aboard Peter Eurton’s Spirit Rules in a MSW.
Jockeys Ismael Mosquiera and Epifanio Garcia each won their first-ever races at Santa Anita Sunday.
Garcia, who launched his career last year and rides regularly at Golden Gate, won the nightcap with Baby Waylon ($19.80) for Northern California-based trainer D. Wayne Baker. It was Garcia’s first mount at Santa Anita and 22nd win his young career.
Mosqueira, who arrived in Southern California this fall from Canada, won the sixth race aboard Heartfullofstars for trainer Edwin Alvarez. Heartfullofstars paid a robust $33 off a 5-1 morning line.
According to Equibase statistics, Mosqueira has been riding in North America since 2007. He has 413 career wins.
GII San Vicente Candidates, White Abarrio Lead Monday’s Work Tab
Six newly turned 3-year-olds nominated to Saturday’s seven-furlong GIII San Vicente registered workouts Monday at Santa Anita.
Drilling for trainer Bob Baffert were Muth, Wine Me Up and Pilot Commander. Richard Mandella worked Boltage, Slider drilled for John Sadler and Tim Yakteen worked Moonlit Sonata. Also working Monday was Breeders’ Cup Classic winner White Abarrio.
Muth and Wine Me Up, the one-two finishers in the GI American Pharoah here Oct. 7, each worked four furlongs. Muth went in 47.20 seconds while Wine Me Up completed his move in 49.60 seconds.
Pilot Commander, a Justify colt won his debut going six furlongs at Del Mar Nov. 11, worked five furlongs in 1:00.00.
Boltage and Slider would each be switching to dirt in the San Vicente following multiple stakes efforts on turf. Both were timed going a half mile in 48.00 seconds.
Boltage was most recently seventh in the GIII Zuma Beach here Oct. 8, while Slider exits a ninth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint here Nov. 3.
Moonlit Sonata was a debut winner going 6 ½ furlongs at Del Mar Nov. 25. The Malibu Moon colt worked a half mile in 50.00 seconds for Yakteen.
White Abarrio drilled for the second time since his Classic win here Nov. 4. The 5-year-old Race Day colt worked a half mile in 48.00 seconds for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.
FINISH LINES ________________
Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella picked up his second stakes win this week Sunday when favorite Ruby Nell ($2.40) dominated the Lady of Shamrock Stakes…
The road to the GI Santa Anita Oaks on April 6 kicks off Sunday with the GIII Santa Ynez going seven furlongs…
After a three-day break, racing resumes at Santa Anita Friday with a nine-race card beginning at 12 p.m. PT…
Every Friday during the Classic Meet fans will enjoy free admission and parking plus $3 beers and $5 margaritas.
