2016-17 Santa Anita Winter Media Guide

162 Pages·2016·5.97 MB·English

S a P
a n t a n i t a a r k
2016 - 2017 Winter Media Guide
Table of Contents
Meet-At-A-Glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Santa Anita Oaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80-82
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Santa Margarita Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82-84
Information Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Triple Bend Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100-101
Welcome to Santa Anita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Inactive Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102-124
Rising Star D'Amato Takes Winter Meet Training Title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Jockeys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Bejarano Notches 7th Winter Riding Title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Leading Jockeys at Previous Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126-127
Sunshine Millions/Cal Cup Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Leading Jockeys at 2015-16 Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128
George Woolf Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 All-Time Leading Jockeys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Santa Anita – The Home of Seabiscuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Riding Feats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130-131
Santa Anita’s Historical Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-13 Roster of Santa Anita Jockeys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132
Timeline of Other Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 The Trainers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
Santa Anita Milestones and Innovations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-17 Leading Trainers at Previous Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134-135
Dates of Santa Anita Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Leading Trainers at 2015-16 Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Off-Track Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19 All-Time Leading Trainers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
All-Time Santa Anita Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Roster of Santa Anita Trainers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
2015-16 Season Highs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 The Owners & Horses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Top Five Days – Attendance and Handle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Leading Owners at Previous Santa Anita Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140-141
Winter Meeting Attendance and Handle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-23 Leading Owners at 2015-16 Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Top One-Day Attendance Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Single-Season Leading Money Earning Stables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142
Top One-Day Handle Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Horses; Miscellaneous Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143-144
Track Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Breeders’ Cup Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Main Track and Turf Course Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Eclipse Award Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146-147
Winning Pari-Mutuel Favorites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148-149
Pari-Mutuel Payoff Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-27 Triple Crown Series Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Media Poll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-29 Satellite Wagering Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .151
Opening Day Statistics at Santa Anita Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Los Angeles Turf Club, Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152-153
Stakes Histories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 California Horse Racing Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154-155
American Oaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Visitors Guide and Map of Los Angeles Freeways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Frank E . Kilroe Mile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-37 Restaurants and Hotels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
La Brea Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38-40 Publicity Department; Contacts/Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Malibu Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46-48 Map of Santa Anita Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Santa Anita Derby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70-73 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160
Santa Anita Handicap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74-79
Front Cover designed by Victor Sandoval
1
2016-17 W M - - -G
inter eet at a lance
Telephone (all area code 626): Mailing Address: Street Address:
Switchboard...... 574-7223 Marketing ........ 574-6384 P. O. Box 60014 285 W. Huntington Drive
Arcadia, CA 91066-6014 Arcadia, California 91007
Publicity ......... 574-6396 Marketing Fax .... [phone]
Publicity Fax ..... [phone] Racing ........... 574-6352
Website: E-mail:
Press Box ........ 574-6419 Racing Fax ....... [phone]
www.santaanita.com [email protected]
Press Box Fax .... [phone] Benoit Photo ..... 574-6463
Racing Days . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Stables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,000 stalls in 61 barns; approximately 2,000 horses on grounds .
Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Monday, Dec . 26, 2016 through Sunday, April 9, 2017 . Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Arcadia is about 14 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles . Santa
Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thursday through Sunday . Except no racing on Thursdays, Jan . 5, Jan . 19 Anita Park is bordered by Huntington Drive to the south and east, Baldwin
and Feb . 23 . Special Monday racing on Jan . 2, Jan . 16 and Feb . 20 . Avenue to the west, Colorado Street and Colorado Place to the north .
First race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12:30 p .m . on weekends and holidays; 1:00 p .m . on weekdays . Except Directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Can be accessed off I-210 (Foothill Freeway) on the north, I-10 (San
the following: 11:00 a .m . on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb . 5); 12:00 p .m . on Bernardino Freeway) on the south . From I-210, exit Baldwin or Santa
Opening Day (Monday, Dec . 26), Sunshine Millions-Cal Cup Day (Saturday, Anita Avenue and head south; From I-10, exit Santa Anita and go north .
Jan . 28), Big 'Cap Day (Saturday, Mar . 11), Santa Anita Derby Day Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Approximately 320 acres in Arcadia, at the junction of Huntington Drive
(Saturday, Apr . 8); 12:30 p .m . on Monday, Jan . 2 and Colorado Place (U .S . Highway 66) .
Gates open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:30 a .m . on weekends and holidays; 11:00 a .m . on weekdays . Except Seating Capacity . . . . . .Grandstand, 26,000; Infield, 50,000 .
the following: 9:00 a .m . on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb . 5); 10:00 a .m . on
Opening Day (Monday, Dec . 26), Sunshine Millions-Cal Cup Day (Saturday, Special Events:
Jan . 28), Big 'Cap Day (Saturday, Mar . 11) and Santa Anita Derby Day Mon ., Dec . 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opening Day
(Saturday, Apr . 8); 10:30 a .m . on Monday, Jan . 2 . Sun ., Jan . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Year's Day
Admission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .General, $5; Club House, $10 .00 . Children, 17 and under, accompanied Mon ., Jan . 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Martin Luther King, Jr . Day
by parent or guardian, FREE . Sat ., Jan . 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sunshine Millions Day
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .General, $4; Valet, $10; Limousine, $10 . Sun ., Feb . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Super Bowl Sunday
Wagering Format . . . . .Minimum $2 win, place, and show, $1 exactas and 10¢ superfectas Mon ., Feb . 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Presidents Day
on every eligible race; $2 rolling doubles beginning with race 1; $1 rolling Sat ., Mar . 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Santa Anita Handicap
pick threes beginning with race 1; $1 trifectas on every race with at Sat ., Apr . 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Santa Anita Derby
least six starters; 50¢ pick 5 on first race; 50¢ pick four on second
race and final four races; $1 Super High Five on last race daily; $2 pick Grade I races:
six (with carryover) on final six races . Mon ., Dec . 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Malibu Stakes
Advance Wagering . . .Early wagering every racing day, Except Opening Day, (Monday, Dec . 26) Mon ., Dec . 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Brea Stakes
and Super Bowl Sunday, (Feb . 5) . Free admission from 8:00 a .m . until gate Sat ., Dec . 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . American Oaks
opening . Wagering begins at 8:30 a .m . Parking entrance through Gate 8, Sat ., Mar . 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Santa Anita Handicap
off Baldwin Avenue . Sat ., Mar . 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frank E . Kilroe Mile
Sat ., Mar . 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Triple Bend Stakes
Sat ., Mar . 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Santa Margarita Stakes
Sat ., Apr . 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Santa Anita Oaks
Sat ., Apr . 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Santa Anita Derby
2
S a P G i
anta nita ark eneral nforMation
GRANDSTAND PADDOCK CHAMPIONS! GIFTS & APPAREL GIFT SHOP
Reinforced concrete and steel, 1,100 feet long and 105 feet European-style paddock; 20 saddling stalls under cover; Champions! Gifts and Apparel is located at the East end of the
wide . Three floors . Terraced apron, 115 feet wide, flagstone two saddling "boxes" at either end; walking ring; statues of paddock . Sweatshirts, T-shirts, hats, ties, sculptures, toys and
and tile surface with benches and railings . Central corridor jockeys George Woolf, John Longden, Bill Shoemaker, Laffit art . Open race days until 1/2 hour after last live race .
from apron to West Paddock . Two elevator towers in paddock Pincay Jr . and Chris McCarron; memorial bust of announcer
area; West elevator services FrontRunner restaurant and Club Joe Hernandez; bust of trainer Charlie Whittingham and his MAIN TRACK & TRAINING TRACK
House, East elevator services FrontRunner restaurant only . dog, Toby; Seabiscuit lifesize bronze in walking ring; lifesize One mile oval, two chutes, 1 1/4 mile and seven furlong .
Paddock Room at ground level, 250 feet long, 110 feet wide . bronzes of John Henry and Zenyatta; Seabiscuit Court; Distance from last turn to finish line, 990 feet, homestretch
Covered terrace overlooking paddock . Press box on roof, Kingsbury Memorial Fountain; Lucky Baldwin Maltese Cross; width 85 feet, backstretch width, 80 feet . Santa Anita, acting
served by elevator . World War II Memorial Marker; antique outdoor art objects; in accordance with a CHRB mandate, installed a synthetic
odds board; gardens, and benches . Champions! Gifts and surface prior to the fall of 2007 . The CHRB subsequently
CLUB HOUSE & TURF TERRACE Apparel is located at the east end . granted Santa Anita a waiver to this mandate prior to
Reinforced concrete and steel, 300 feet long, 200 feet at the 2010-11 winter/spring meeting and Santa Anita again
widest point . Two floors and mezzanine plus luncheon and CLOCKERS’ CORNER installed a new all natural dirt surface in July, 2011 . Training
seating terraces . Three elevators to upper level of terrace Watch horses in morning workouts free every morning at track is located inside the turf oval and is about six furlongs
tables . Club Court patio and buffet . Clockers’ Corner, adjacent to the top of the stretch . Training in circumference .
hours run from 5 to 10 a .m . Free parking through Gate 8 on
FRONTRUNNER AT SANTA ANITA Baldwin Ave . CAMINO REAL TURF COURSE
Club House restaurant in Grandstand, over 400 feet long, About seven-furlong oval (4,683 feet) at inside rail; about 9/10
above box seat area between sixteenth pole and finish line . CLOSED-CIRCUIT TV mile (4,777 feet) with rail at 15 feet . Sod with Bermuda Turf,
Features tiered seating for 525, a 215-foot-long, serpentine- More than 2,000 monitors throughout the park show races a warm-season grass . Hillside course, from top of hill to finish
shaped bar, glass-enclosed exhibition kitchens, pari-mutuel and instant replay, odds, probable payoffs, results, simulcast line, is about 6 1/2 furlongs (4,297 feet) at inside rail; from top
windows, big-screen TVs and a permanent dance floor . racing, sporting events, the previous day's races and current of hill and around infield to finish line (with rail at 15 feet) is
day's earlier races . Turf Club terrace tables, Turf Club box about 1 3/4 miles (9,074 feet) . Rebuilt in 1995 .
SIRONA'S seats and FrontRunner tables have television monitors which
Located overlooking the Paddock Gardens, Sirona's offers can be tuned by viewers . Closed-circuit TV originates from EQUINE HEALTH FACILITIES
cocktails in a lively atmosphere outside of the Clubhouse . Broadcast Center in the Grandstand . Southern California Equine Foundation operates the horse
It features a 70-foot long oval-shaped bar, 52 TV screens hospital in stable area . Provides surgery, X-ray and research
and four giant television screens featuring races, results INFIELD VIDEO BOARD facilities, as well as Dolly Green Nuclear Imaging Facility
and sports . Sirona's is also one of the San Gabriel Valley's Manufactured by Daktronics, this light-emitting diode (LED) for injury diagnosis and prevention . State-of-the-art equine
premiere concert venues, featuring artists from virtually every display board measures 29 feet tall and 53 feet wide . The ambulances stand by when horses are on the track .
genre of music . Open every race day, with concerts following resolution it projects is the best in the world today and it
the races on select days . will enhance everyone’s day at the races . Additionally, Santa THOROUGHBREDS™ CLUB
Anita’s new Big Board will afford fans better views of the run The THOROUGHBREDS frequent patron club is free to all
GROUP EVENTS down the backside, on both turf and dirt . racing fans . As members, fans can enjoy admission discounts,
Discount rates are available for groups of 15 or more, daily contests, exclusive offers and free souvenirs . To sign up,
provided reservations are made in advance . Contact Group SEABISCUIT TOURS stop by the main THOROUGHBREDS center (Grandstand, first
Events dept . at [phone] . Generally available each weekend during live racing, weather floor, East end) or call (626) 574-RACE .
permitting . Tours start near Clockers' Corner at the west end
INFIELD of the Grandstand .
Open to public with full facilities on weekends . La Plaza de
las Fiestas, a sunken, grassy arena for groups and special
events; picnic circles for groups; children's playground; Gift
Shop, and Newsstand .
3
i r
nforMation eSourceS
WORLD WIDE WEB SITE
santaanita.com
Santa Anita’s Web Site features entries, race results and payoffs posted
immediately following each race and real-time audio and video accounts of
all races . Also available are workout reports, stable notes, promotions, press
XPRESSBET ACCOUNT WAGERING
releases and historical information about Santa Anita .
AT SANTA ANITA PARK
Launched in January 2002, XpressBet uses
FACEBOOK
the latest technologies to bring the thrill of wagering
Become a fan on Santa Anita Park’s Facebook page to get up-to-
entertainment to racing fans . It is the only phone/internet
date information, pictures, trivia, and contests . Visit www .facebook .
service to offer wagering on the Santa Anita Winter/
com/santaanitapark .
Spring meet .
XpressBet online offers up-to-the-minute racing
TWITTER
information and wagering capabilities, while Xpressbet
Follow Santa Anita Park on Twitter to get up-to-date information,
by phone features the latest in natural language
pictures, trivia, and contests . Twitter handles: @santaanitapark
recognition software .
(General Information) @clockerscorner (Workout information and
There is no charge to open an account – the
pictures), @sapressbox (Results and Press Releases) .
process takes about five minutes – and there are no
monthly fees, transaction fees or surcharges . The only
INSTAGRAM
requirements are that applicants must be at least 18
Follow @SantaAnitaPark for a glimpse into everything The Great
years old and have a valid social security number .
Race Place has to offer, including beautiful images from your
There are three ways to open an XpressBet
favorite athletes, both human and equine, behind-the-scenes
account:
action, celebrities visiting the track and information regarding all upcoming
events and promotions at Santa Anita Park . • Via toll free phone number: [phone]
(88-Xpress) .
RADIO COVERAGE • Via internet by clicking on www .XpressBet .com .
• In person at the XpressBet booths at Santa Anita
ROGER STEIN SHOW
in the clubhouse and grandstand .
Host: Roger Stein
KLAA (830 AM) . . . . . . . . . .Los Angeles . . . . . . . . . . .8:00 a .m . weekends In addition to Santa Anita, exclusive XpressBet
tracks include Gulfstream Park and Golden Gate Fields .
INSIDE RACING
Host: Jason Levin
KTLK (1150 AM) . . . . . . . . . .Los Angeles . . . . . . . . . . . 7:00 a .m . Saturdays
THOROUGHBRED DIGEST
Host: Jay Privman
KLAA (830 AM) . . . . . . . . . .Los Angeles . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 a .m . Saturdays
THOROUGHBRED LOS ANGELES
Host: Mike Willman
KLAA (830 AM) . . . . . . . . . .Los Angeles . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 a .m . Sundays
4
Welcome to Santa Anita
5
r S D’a t f e W M t t
iSinG tar Mato akeS irSt ver inter eet raininG itle
Although the path to his first-ever Santa Although 8-year-old gelding Obviously’s
Anita Winter Meet training title was by any win in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov .
measure circuitous, rising star Phil D’Amato 5 at Santa Anita now stands as his signature
is now firmly established as a force to be training achievement, his gift of fatherhood
reckoned with on one of the nation’s toughest to a 7-year-old boy this past June is without
racing circuits . question is greatest lifetime achievement to
Blessed with a well-balanced stable that date .
is greatly enhanced by the contributions of The son of fiancée Marr’s ex-husband,
his fiancée Sherri Marr, D’Amato finished the “Ryan” had tragically been cast adrift in a
2015-16 Winter Meet with a late surge that world of rotating foster homes and court
enabled him to post 41 winners, seven more interventions prior to Marr and D’Amato taking
than runner-up Doug O’Neill . him in as one of their own several years ago .
A longtime assistant to the late Mike “We didn’t get involved expecting to be
Mitchell, D’Amato, 40, also led all trainers in the situation we are now,” Marr told the
in stakes-won, with eight added money Times . “We just wanted to help out…The first
victories over the course of the 63-day stand . year, they want to go back home . They want
Additionally, his horses banked $2,133,810 for a mom and a dad, so that’s fine . But as soon
the meet, also tops in that category . as we got parental rights, this kid changed .
“It’s an honor, and I have to give a lot of As soon as the adoption started, he (D’Amato)
credit to my owners and my crew,” D’Amato was Dad and I was Mom, even to the point of
said of his first-ever training title . “Without the overusing it…”
horses, I couldn’t do this . I have a great bunch With the adoption of young Ryan made
of hard working members of my staff, from my official this past June 13, D’Amato appears
assistants down to my grooms .” to be covering all bases, personally and
A native of San Pedro, Calif ., D’Amato professionally .
graduated from USC with a degree in political “When I was at the University of Arizona
science, but he’d already been bitten by the with all my friends,” D’Amato told the Times,
horse racing bug . Shortly after graduation, he “I’d say, ‘Someday I’m going to win the
decided to enroll in the University of Arizona’s Kentucky Derby .’ They all laughed at me .
Race Track Industry Program in 2002 . But I think I’m on a path to have a shot at
“Where he’s different is he didn’t that someday . I work seven days a week to
come from a horse racing background and compete with the best of the best .”
didn’t have a leg up,” said Doug Reed, U of With subsequent training titles at this
A program director, in an interview with the year’s Santa Anita’s Spring Meet and Del Mar’s
LA Times this past June . “(Former graduate) seven week summer meeting, it’s plain to
Bob Baffert was from Nogales (Az .) and had see that Phil D’Amato has arrived and is well
been around horses much of his life, and Todd positioned to remain a major training force in
Pletcher’s family was in racing .” Southern California for many years to come .
HAMMER DOWN—Racing Secretary Rick Hammerle presents trophy to leading trainer Phil D’Amato
6
G P n B n 7 S a W t
ifteD eruvian ative ejarano otcheS th anta nita inter itle
As he continues to build upon a Bob Baffert, Doug O’Neill, Richard
superstar resume that will undoubtedly Mandella, Richard Baltas and Peter
lead to induction in the national Miller .
Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame, For Santa Anita fans, it was love
Rafael Bejarano streaked to his seventh at first sight with Bejarano . Based at
Santa Anita Winter Meet jockey title as the time in Kentucky, he shipped in
he booted home 46 winners, six more to ride six horses at The Great Race
than upstart Flavien Prat . In addition to Place on April 8, 2006, winning with
bagging his fourth consecutive Winter all of them and impressing the likes
Meet crown, he bested Prat by a 6-5 of the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby
margin in the all-important stakes-won Frankel, who soon encouraged the
category . likeable Peruvian to shift his tack full-
With a quiet confidence and deft time to Southern California .
touch reminiscent of the legendary Bill “He’s light, he’s eager, he rides
Shoemaker, Bejarano and his agent of good and he wins, that’s the main
more than a year, Tora Yamaguchi, have thing,” said Frankel, who was not
worked hard this year on expanding prone to dispensing such ready praise
their customer base as they seek more in large doses .
and more “big money” type mounts . Although sidelined since early
Born June 23, 1982, in Arequipa, November with a broken hand that
Peru, Bejarano originally studied to be was sustained in a personal training
a practicing nurse, but was sidetracked session, Bejarano has enjoyed yet
when exposed to Thoroughbred horse another outstanding year . Santa Anita’s
racing, which led to his enrollment in a leading rider at the Autumn Meet,
Peruvian jockey school . which concluded Nov . 6, he now has
Paired for more than a decade amassed an astonishing 32 leading
with agent Joe Ferrer, Bejarano is rider titles—with 27 of them coming in
without question, the complete package Southern California .
as a rider . As he demonstrated when he first
“Rafael is a natural,” said Ferrer arrived in the U .S . from Peru in 2002,
three years ago . “He’s got great hands Bejarano rides all horses and courses
and he’s good in any type of races . well, due in part to the fact he does
Horses run for him and he’s light . He not have a one dimensional style .
only weighs 105 pounds, so he doesn’t “It is somewhat different in
have to reduce and that’s a plus . It’s Southern California,” said Bejarano
going to lengthen his career .” several years ago . “They ride pretty
Like Shoemaker, who amassed tight here, but I didn’t have to change
an unprecedented 17 Santa Anita titles my style much . I ride my race, but at
in a row with longtime agent Harry the same time, try to keep everybody
Silbert, Bejarano is naturally light and else comfortable and not be reckless .
is seemingly always in a light-hearted You have to be competitive, but safety
frame of mind . Bejarano’s services are is the first priority .”
thus in keen demand and he is often Here’s hoping Bejarano has a
employed by leading conditioners such happy and healthy 2017 .
as Jerry Hollendorfer, John Sadler,
Rafael Bejarano accepts his seventh Santa Anita Golden Whip as Winter Meet Riding Champion
7
S M /c c t B r f 15 Y
unShine illionS alifornia uP o e un or th ear
2017 Sunshine Millions ~ Cal Cup Races
Race Distance Purse
Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint (Fillies & Mares, 4-year-olds & up, bred in CA) .....................Abt. 6 1/2 furlongs, turf....................$150,000
Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint (4-year-olds & up, bred in CA) ......................................6 furlongs...............................$150,000
California Cup Oaks (Fillies, 3 years old, bred in CA) ....................................................1 mile, turf ..............................$200,000
California Cup Derby (3-year-olds, bred in CA) ........................................................1 1/16 miles.............................$250,000
City National Bank California Cup Turf Classic (4-year-olds & up, bred in CA) ...............................1 1/8 miles, turf ..........................$250,000
Cal Cup Derby winner Smokey Image, with Victor Espinoza up, cruises in Cal Cup Derby Harris Farms’ homebred Velvet Mesquite takes SM F & M Turf Sprint
Sunshine Millions Attendance & Handle
Year On-Track Attendance Off-Track Attendance Total Attendance On-Track Handle Off-Track Handle Interstate Handle Total Handle
2016 . . . . . . . . 11,133 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7,208 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,341 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,032,885 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3,121,174 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,040,434 . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,194,492
2015 . . . . . . . . 10,461 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7,223 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,684 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,946,773 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,933,460 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,403,053 . . . . . . . . . . . . $13,283,286
2014 . . . . . . . . 11,052 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7,168 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,220 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,174,463 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,908,018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,069,259 . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,151,741
2013 . . . . . . . . 14,355 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7,557 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,912 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,958,066 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,759,227 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,481,486 . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,198,780
2012 . . . . . . . . 30,514 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8,350 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,864 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,496,087 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,956,389 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,392,977 . . . . . . . . . . . . $11,845,453
2011 . . . . . . . . 27,072 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8,816 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35,888 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,786,923 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,714,972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,488,330 . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,990,226
2010 . . . . . . . . 21,806 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,361 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31,167 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,848,980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,967,492 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,020,239 . . . . . . . . . . . . $13,836,711
2009 . . . . . . . . 22,155 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10,274 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32,429 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,987,425 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3,434,781 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,925,766 . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,347,973
2008 . . . . . . . . 28,414 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10,125 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,539 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,819,881 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3,552,919 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,590,821 . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,963,622
2007 . . . . . . . . 36,355 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13,081 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49,435 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4,472,124 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4,723,009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $11,155,770 . . . . . . . . . . . . $20,350,903
2006 . . . . . . . . 32,116 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12,498 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44,614 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4,569,653 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4,386,104 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,322,022 . . . . . . . . . . . . $17,277,780
2005 . . . . . . . . 17,533 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13,326 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,859 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3,928,356 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4,273,402 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,733,241 . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,935,000
2004 . . . . . . . . 18,888 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14,574 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33,462 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4,403,914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4,858,075 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,219,486 . . . . . . . . . . . . $18,481,475
2003 . . . . . . . . 17,537 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14,002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31,539 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4,470,475 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4,727,691 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,513,799 . . . . . . . . . . . . $19,711,965
8
G W a h o j
eorGe oolf WarD onorS utStanDinG ockeYS
Since 1950, Santa Anita Park has presented the annual Past Woolf Award Winners in the grandstand as no other jockey ever had . His coolness
George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award to honor the memory during a race was legend, hence, the nickname “The
1950-Gordon Glisson 1984-Steve Cauthen
of one of the greatest Thoroughbred race riders of all time . Iceman .”
1951-Bill Shoemaker 1985-Pat Day
It is prized as one of the most prestigious awards in sports . Woolf was blunt of speech and honest to a fault in his
The Woolf Award honors riders whose careers and personal 1952-John Longden 1986-Jorge Velasquez comments on the racing scene . After riding Whirlaway to
character earn esteem for the individual and the sport of 1953-Eddie Arcaro 1987-Don MacBeth victory in the 1942 Massachusetts Handicap, the win which
Thoroughbred horse racing . The trophy is a replica of the 1954-Ralph Neves 1988-Don Brumfield gave the Calumet Farm star the money-earning lead over
full-size statue of George Woolf which was created through 1955-Ray York 1989-Larry Snyder Seabiscuit, he dismounted and was asked by reporters, “Is
donations by the racing public after his death . 1956-John Adams 1990-John Lively Whirlaway the greatest horse you ever rode?” Woolf didn’t
The statue of George Woolf and a life-size sculpture bat an eyelash as he picked his saddle off Whirlaway and
1957-Ted Atkinson 1991-Earlie Fires
of Seabiscuit, the great Thoroughbred who was ridden to answered, “Seabiscuit is the greatest horse I ever rode!”
1958-Merlin Volzke 1992-Jerry Bailey
victory by Woolf in the Pimlico Special and Hollywood Gold Death rode in the saddle with George Woolf during the
1959-Bill Boland 1993-Kent Desormeaux
Cup, have places of honor in and in close proximity to the running of the fourth race at Santa Anita on Jan . 3, 1946 .
1960-Bill Harmatz 1994-Phil Grove
Santa Anita walking ring . There, the likenesses are admired He fell off W . W . Naylor’s Please Me rounding the clubhouse
daily by thousands of racing fans . 1961-Peter Moreno 1995-Edward Maple turn, struck the ground head first and did not regain
Jockey George Woolf was born in Cardston, Alberta, 1962-Steve Brooks 1996-Gary Stevens consciousness before he died the next morning at St . Luke’s
Canada, on May 31, 1910 . He began riding at small tracks 1963-Ismael Valenzuela 1997-Alex Solis Hospital in Pasadena . Brain concussion was given as the
in Canada and Montana . His first big victory was in the 1933 1964-Manuel Ycaza 1998-Craig Perret cause of death .
Agua Caliente Handicap on Gallant Sir, but the year before 1965-Walter Blum 1999-Jose Santos
that he scored with Hygro in the Capital Handicap at Laurel .
1966-Alex Maese 2000-Mike Smith
Known as "The Iceman," Woolf will go down in modern
1967-Donald Pierce 2001-Dean Kutz
turf history as one of the greatest stakes riders of all time .
1968-Braulio Baeza 2002-Russell Baze
He won the Belmont Futurity three straight years, with
1969-John Sellers 2003-Edgar Prado
Occupation (1942), Occupy (1943), and Pavot (1944) . He also
had a similar record in the American Derby at Washington 1970-Laffit Pincay Jr . 2004-Robby Albarado
Park, winning with Alsab (1942), Askmenow (1943) and 1971-Jerry Lambert 2005-Ray Sibille
By Jimminy (1944) . He won the Hollywood Gold Cup with 1972-Angel Cordero Jr . 2006-Mark Guidry
Seabiscuit (1938), Kayak II (1939) and Challedon (1940) . . 1973-John L . Rotz 2007-Jon Court
. the Havre de Grace Handicap with Seabiscuit (1938) and 1974-Alvaro Pineda 2008-Richard Migliore
Challedon (1939 and 1940) .
1975-Fernando Toro 2009-John Velazquez
He also won many other famous races, including the
1976-Sandy Hawley 2010-Calvin Borel
first running of the Santa Anita Handicap with Azucar, Santa
1977-Frank Olivares 2011-Garrett Gomez
Anita Derby, Preakness, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Arlington
1978-Darrel McHargue 2012-Ramon Dominguez
Handicap, Lawrence Realization, Hopeful, Hollywood Derby,
Hawthorne Gold Cup, Chesapeake, Dixie, Arlington Classic, 1979-Ron Turcotte 2013-Mario Pino
Coaching Club American Oaks, Bay Meadows Handicap and 1980-Chris McCarron 2014-Corey Lanerie
Brooklyn . 1981-Eddie Delahoussaye 2015-Mike Luzzi
Woolf also was aboard the winner in two of the most 1982-Patrick Valenzuela 2016-Victor Espinoza
memorable match races in history . He outmaneuvered 1983-Marco Castaneda
Charlie Kurtsinger on War Admiral to win the Pimlico
Special aboard Seabiscuit in 1938 . Earlier that same year,
Woolf piloted “The Biscuit” to a nose decision over Ligaroti, times first, 589 times second and 468 times third out of
stalwart South American star, in a special race at Del Mar . 3,784 mounts for an outstanding win percentage of .19 . His
Woolf was a friend to all horsemen . He endeared mounts earned $2,856,125 .
himself to the little guy in racing and would give a friend’s Among racing fans, Woolf’s presence on a horse was
cheap plater just as good a ride as he would a stakes horse practically a guarantee that the animal would be given the
for a fashionable stable . Over 19 years, Woolf was 721 best possible ride . Woolf enjoyed the confidence of the man 2016 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award winner Victor Espinoza
9
S a P : t h o S
anta nita ark he oMe f eaBiScuit
Two Hall of Fame jockeys, Gary Stevens and retired Chris
McCarron, had prominent roles in the movie . McCarron was
consultant on the film and portrayed War Admiral’s jockey Charley
Kurtsinger in the 1937 Triple Crown winner’s match race with
Seabiscuit .
Stevens made his acting debut as jockey George (The Iceman)
Woolf, who died in a riding accident at Santa Anita in the fourth race
on Jan . 3, 1946 . Since 1950, Santa Anita has presented the annual
George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award to honor the memory of one
of the greatest riders of all time . A statue of Woolf has a place of
honor near the Seabiscuit sculpture at Santa Anita .
It was at Santa Anita that Seabiscuit climaxed his legendary
career, winning the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap in his final race . He
had finished second in two earlier runnings, beaten a head both
times, behind Rosemont in 1937 and Stagehand in 1938 . Seabiscuit
carried 124 pounds in 1937, spotting Rosemont 10 pounds, and
was burdened with 130 in 1938, giving Stagehand 30 pounds .
According to one eyewitness account, Seabiscuit’s finest effort
came in defeat .
“The best race I ever saw a horse run was the day Stagehand
beat Seabiscuit a nose (actually a head) in the Santa Anita
Handicap,” said 82-year-old trainer Leonard Dorfman . “That was
a magnificent race . Seabiscuit was kind of my hero back then . I
thought he was the greatest thing alive .”
Owner Charles S. Howard and Seabiscuit.
Seabiscuit has long ago ridden off into the sunset,
but thanks to the best-selling book, ”Seabiscuit: An
American Legend,” and the subsequent Universal Studios
film, “Seabiscuit,” the horse that captured the fancy of the
American public some seven decades ago has returned to
national prominence .
“Seabiscuit,” much of which was shot at Santa Anita
prior to the 2002-03 winter/spring meeting, made an
auspicious film debut on July 25, 2003, receiving glowing
reviews from critics and a heart-warming response from
movie-goers .
A bronze statue of Seabiscuit adorns the center of the
walking ring at Santa Anita, where Seabiscuit raced 11 times
in his storied career of 89 starts . Understandably, Santa Anita
is proud to be known as the “Home of Seabiscuit .”
Santa Anita offers free tram tours from 8 a .m . to 11 a .m .
on weekends only to Barn 38, where Seabiscuit was housed
during his frequent stays at the track . Everyone taking the
tram ride receives free Seabiscuit buttons that read, “Santa
Anita, Home of Seabiscuit .” Seabiscuit died at age 14 in 1947
at Ridgewood Ranch near Willits, CA .
Seabiscuit (right) and stablemate Kayak II.
10