Johannes got his game back on in the American under Umberto Rispoli April 4, 2024 at Santa Anita. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire).
GII Santa Margarita, GIII Daytona Headline Sunday’s Card
Santa Anita Stable Notes
With three wins Friday at Santa Anita, it was a good day at the office for jockey Umberto Rispoli. It could have been even better.
In the first race, a $50,000 maiden-claimer at 6 ½ furlongs on turf, Rispoli was aboard first-time starter Crazy Cavalier, who went off at 7-1 for trainer Richard Baltas. Rispoli and Crazy Cavalier stalked the early pace before rallying along the inside and crossing the wire 1 ¼ lengths in front.
It wasn’t long before the inquiry sign was lit. Rispoli and Crazy Cavalier came out slightly at the sixteenth pole when passing the leader and favorite Quintecents, causing Kyle Frey on Quintecents to take up momentarily. Without Borders, a 17-1 longshot with Diego Herrera aboard, would wind up edging Quintecents by a half-length for second.
Stewards reviewed the stretch drive and disqualified Crazy Cavalier, ruling the incident cost Quintecents second place. Crazy Cavalier was demoted to third with Without Borders inheriting the win for trainer Peter Miller.
The tough start to the day certainly didn’t deter Rispoli. The 35-year-old Italian would come back to win with three of his next four mounts. He scored with Refocus ($11) in the third for trainer Doug O’Neill, Port Ellen ($8.60) for Baltas in the seventh, and Uncle Reg ($6.60) first-off-the-claim for Baltas in the ninth and final.
Rispoli now has 15 wins at the Hollywood Meet, which is tied for second behind leader Antonio Fresu (17) in the jockey’s race. Rispoli has six mounts Saturday with four coming in statebred stakes on California Gold Rush Day. Rispoli has two stakes mounts for Miller on Size Does Matter (6-1) in the Snow Chief Stakes and Only One America (5-1) in the Melair Stakes. He also rides Moose Mitchell (6-1) in the Thor’s Echo Stakes for trainer George Papaprodromou and Oubabe (15-1) in the Crystal Water Stakes for Baltas.
FINISH LINES _______________
Sunday’s features on Gold Cup Weekend are the GII Santa Margarita featuring Adare Manor and the GIII Daytona on the hillside turf course led by tepid 4-1 morning line favorite First Peace for trainer Mark Glatt…
The only winning favorite Friday on a nine-race card was Highlands ($5.40), who took the fifth under Juan Hernandez for trainer Peter Miller…
Favorites have won at a below-average 30.9 percent clip at the Hollywood Meet entering Saturday…With just the lone winning favorite, Friday’s $1 Pick Six returned $23,918.90 for three winning tickets…
Trainer Karen Headley won her first race of the year from her 11th starter in Friday’s fourth with Blazing Bardot ($15.40), who was ridden by Edwin Maldonado…
Memorial Day Monday is Dollar Day at Santa Anita featuring $1 beers and sodas and $2 hot dogs…
Clocker Toby Turrell, publisher of the Winner’s Card, will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Sunday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m. PT.
