Racing! Gift Box, Maximum Security return this weekend

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we continue to wind down the Santa Anita meeting.

It’s only a week after the end of the Triple Crown season, but we have a couple of good races that are worth looking at, one for older horses and one for 3-year-olds.

There is the Grade 2 $600,000 Stephen Foster, under the lights at Churchill Downs on Saturday night. The lightly raced Gift Box is the 3-1 favorite. The 6-year-old horse finished second last out in the Gold Cup to Vino Rosso by ¾-length. The Stephen Foster is 1 1/8 miles.

And, there is the return of Maximum Security in Sunday’s Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth. When last we saw Maximum Security, he was being led away from the winner’s circle at the Kentucky Derby after being disqualified for interference.

Since then, his name has been in more lawsuits than your favorite personal injury attorney. His name is more famous than the eventual winner of the Kentucky Derby, Country House. Truth be told, if Flavien Prat wasn’t his jockey, I might have erased his name from my mind.

Country House may resurface at the Jim Dandy or the Travers.

And then there is Omaha Beach, who was the Kentucky Derby favorite until he had to scratch because of an entrapped epiglottis. He has recovered more slowly than thought and was just recently returned to Southern California. He’s scheduled to go in the Haskell, but since he hasn’t resumed training, anything is possible.

So, that’s a quick look at where the horses you may know about have landed.

Santa Anita review

The feature on Friday was a $77,000 allowance for horses going a mile on the turf. Higher Power, making his first start on the grass, held on through the stretch to win by half-a-length.

“We purchased him out of a sale in March and his previous trainer, Mike Stidham, said that he thought he’d like the grass,” winning trainer John Sadler told Mike Willman of Santa Anita.

“Irad Ortiz Jr. rode him in the Gold Cup and he said he thought a mile and one eighth would probably be better for him. We wanted to try the grass and it looks like the change in surface suited him well.”

Drayden Van Dyke rode the winner. Higher Power paid $6.40, $4.20 and $2.60. Ritzy A.P. was second and Souter finished third.

Santa Anita preview

Santa Anita has a nine-race card starting at 1 p.m. The interesting thing to look at are the advance scratches, which may or may not have come from the super-panel that is looking to determine if a horse is at risk.

There are five horses that were scratched by Friday afternoon. First race: Finallygotabentley (trainer-Derek Meredith); Third: Suprema (Keith Desormeaux); Sixth: Thalia (Phil D’Amato); Seventh: Mason Dixon (Doug O’Neill); Ninth: Clever One (Paddy Gallagher). Not saying these horses were ruled off by the panel, just that they were scratched on Friday for Saturday’s races.

Apparently, there are no announcements of which horses did not pass the scrutiny of the super panel. Hope I’m wrong but I couldn’t find one. So much for transparency when the sport never needed it more.

The feature is eighth race, the $100,000 Thor’s Echo Handicap for Cal-breds going six furlongs. The favorite, at 9-5, is Desert Law for trainer Carla Gaines and jockey Rafael Bejarano. He is four-for-14 lifetime and won an allowance two back.

Coil Me Home is second favorite at 2-1 for Richard Baltas and Van Dyke. He is two-for-nine lifetime. It is the first stakes race for either horse.

Here are the field sizes, in order: 5, 9, 4, 10 (1 also eligible), 5, 11, 9, 7, 11 (1 also eligible).

Big races preview

A look at graded stakes or races worth $100,000 or more on Saturday. All times PST.

11:12 Woodbine (3): $100,000 Steady Growth Stakes, Ont-breds 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Kingsport (4-5)

11:49 Gulfstream (5): $100,000 Ginger Punch Stakes, Fla-bred fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorite: Supercommittee (9-5)

12:57 Delaware (7): $100,000 Obeah Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Another Broad (3-2)

2:51 Belmont (9): $100,000 Dancin Renee Stakes, NY-bred fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Holiday Disguise (9-5)

4:36 Santa Anita (8): $100,000 Thor’s Echo Handicap, Cal-breds 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Desert Law (9-5)

5:03 Churchill Downs (5): Grade 3 $150,000 Matt Winn Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Mr. Money (2-1)

5:37 Churchill Downs (6): Grade 2 $250,000 Wise Dan Stakes, 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorites: Itsinthepost, Admission Office (5-1)

6:12 Churchill Downs (7): Grade 2 $250,000 Fleur de Lis Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Elate (8-5)

6:47 Churchill Downs (8): Grade 2 $600,000 Stephen Foster Stakes, 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Gift Box (3-1)

7:19 Churchill Downs (9): Grade 3 $150,000 Regret Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 1 1/18 miles on turf. Favorite: Winter Sunset (7-2)

Ciaran Thornton’s SA pick of the day

RACE SIX: No. 5 Charmingslew (15-1)

Charmingslew’s jockey Mike Smith has one ride today on this 15-1 morning line horse from trainer Neil French. Old-school horseplayers should play the connections alone. Automatically, I am intrigued seeing this tandem and this price. The horse bobbled at the start in April under Smith at this distance and still won going gate-to-wire and then was sixth last out off a seven-week break. Second start off the layoff and races protected Saturday in this allowance race where we have been seeing some big prices of late. The five post is also the second-place post at this distance on turf. This is a great betting race.

Friday’s result: Capture the Sea was as live as they come and despite being mugged at the start by the favorite, who veered into everyone, ran fifth. Two jockey objections were for naught and the result was left unchanged. Watch this horse next out with an un-interfered trip.

Ciaran Thornton is the handicapper for Californiapick4.com, which offers daily full card picks, longshots of the day, best bets of the day.

Ed Burgart’s LA pick of the day

SIXTH RACE: No. 2 Special Of Course (5-2)

He was well regarded in two starts as a 2-year-old last year and looks fit for first 2019 outing based on solo gate drills of 12.2 and 18.1 at 220 and 350 yards respectively. In last sixth-place Golden State Million trial outing eight months ago, he broke poorly while getting bumped at the start when sixth vs. talented Apollitical Pence, winner of this year’s Heritage Place Futurity. Drivven, the 6-5 morning-line favorite, looks like a trial maiden based on three consecutive runnerup tries.

Final thought

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And now the stars of the show, Friday’s results and Saturday’s entries.

LOSTINTRANZLATION had speed four wide then angled in, set the pace inside, shook off the bid of a rival into the second turn to inch away, kicked clear and held under urging. OPUS WON stalked the pace outside a rival, went three deep on the second turn and into the stretch and continued willingly late. SEDAMAR saved ground stalking the winner, came out a bit leaving the second turn and into the stretch, was between foes while drifting in a bit in deep stretch and held third. EMMY AND I came a bit off the rail leaving the first turn to stalk the pace, bid outside the winner on the backstretch, fell back some between foes on the second turn, continued outside a rival into the stretch and was outfinished for the show. MARJORIE E chased outside a rival then a bit off the rail, found the fence into the second turn, remained inside on that turn and through the stretch and was outfinished for a minor share. FANTASY HEAT angled in and saved ground off the pace, dropped back into and on the second turn, was pulled up into the stretch and walked off.

NEXT FLIGHT had good early speed and dueled between horses, fought back outside a rival in the final furlong and held on gamely under left handed urging between foes late. BAM BAM AGAIN pulled between horses early then stalked three deep, came four wide into the stretch and finished willingly three deep on the line. CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP dueled inside, came a bit off the rail in the stretch, fought back inside the winner through the final furlong and also continued gamely to the end. HOT SOCKS between horses early, saved ground stalking the pace, continued inside in the stretch and was outfinished. SQUARE DEAL three deep early, stalked between horses, came out into the stretch, drifted in some in the final furlong and lacked the needed rally. ZINZAN four wide early, dueled three deep to the stretch and weakened some in the final furlong. WITH DUE CAUSE broke inward and slowly, settled just off the rail, went outside a rival into the stretch and was not a threat. MARGO WITH A T broke alertly and had brief speed inside, dropped back and saved ground thereafter and gave way.

HIGHER POWER had good early speed and set a pressured pace inside, inched away a bit off the rail in upper stretch, drifted in some past midstretch and held on gamely under urging. RITZY A. P. pressed the pace outside the winner then between horses leaving the second turn, continued off the rail in midstretch and came back on between foes late. SOUTER (GB) angled in and stalked a bit off the rail then outside a rival into the second turn, bid three deep leaving that turn and also came on outside the top pair late. BLENDED CITIZEN angled in and chased inside then just off the rail, came out some in the stretch and was outfinished. DOUBLE TOUCH (GB) was angled to the inside and saved ground chasing the pace, cut the corner into the stretch, continued inside and lacked the needed rally. LIAM THE CHARMER settled off the pace inside, saved ground to the stretch, came out some in midstretch and did not rally.

BIG BARREL stalked off the rail then between foes a half mile out, continued a bit off the fence on the turn, bid three deep into the stretch to gain the lead in upper stretch, kicked clear under urging, drifted in late and proved best. MELBO had good early speed and dueled outside a rival, fought back off the rail into the stretch, drifted to the inside in upper stretch and was clearly second best. PLAY MONEY stalked between horses on the backstretch and three deep between foes on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and held third. SIDEPOCKET ACTION sent inside early, saved ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch and lacked a rally. SATCHEL PAIGE stalked three deep then four wide leaving the backstretch and on the turn and into the stretch and weakened. DELTA FORUM angled in and dueled inside, fought back on the turn, dropped back into the stretch, came out past midstretch and gave way.

YES I AM FREE had speed off the rail then angled in and dueled outside a rival, took a short lead leaving the turn, inched away into the stretch, drifted out some in midstretch, fought back off the rail under urging in the final furlong and held on gamely. CARNIVOROUS three wide early, stalked outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch, drifted in some then bid outside the winner in midstretch and continued gamely but could not get by. UNBRIDLED'S SKYE chased off the rail then a bit off the fence, angled in on the turn, split horses in the stretch then finished willingly inside. STRICTLY BIZ broke a bit slowly and was squeezed back, settled off the rail then three deep into and out of the turn and found his best stride late. CAPTURE THE SEA steadied between horses early, stalked between foes then outside a rival into the stretch, came out some in midstretch and went between rivals late. ASANO saved ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch, was in tight off heels when boxed in passing the eighth pole, angled in and could not quite summon the needed late kick. ROGER THAT (GB) stalked the pace three deep on the backstretch and turn, came three wide into the stretch and lacked a rally. TOOTHLESS WONDER in a bit tight between horses early, saved ground chasing the pace, was in a bit tight again along the rail in midstretch then got through but did not rally. ROYAL SONG sent between horses early then came in midway on the backstretch, dueled inside, fought back on the turn, came a bit off the rail in midstretch and weakened. Claims of foul by the rider of CAPTURE THE SEA against the winner for alleged interference on the backstretch and by the rider of ASANO against the runner-up for alleged interference in midstretch were not allowed by the stewards, who ruled the videotape failed to substantiate either claim.

BLAMEITONTHELAW saved ground chasing the pace, came out leaving the turn and four wide into the stretch, bid four wide in midstretch, took the lead under a crack of the whip past the eighth pole, drifted in some and won clear under steady handling and a hold late. CALEXMAN had speed between foes then dueled outside a rival, took a slim advantage between horses in midstretch, drifted out some and held second. HOT SEAN stalked off the rail, bid three deep into the stretch and between foes in midstretch, also drifted out some and was edged for the place. MR VARGAS angled in and dueled inside, fought back on the turn and into the stretch and in midstretch and weakened in the final furlong.

KENTAN ROAD sped to the early lead, angled in and set all the pace inside, opened up on the turn and again in the stretch held under left handed urging. GYPSY BLU three wide early, chased outside a rival, came three deep into the stretch and edged a foe for the place. ROCKY POLICY saved ground stalking the pace, came out in upper stretch, split horses in midstretch and was edged for second. LITTLEFIREFIGHTER stalked between horses then angled in on the turn, cut the corner into the stretch and lacked a rally. MOON KITTY saved ground chasing the pace, came out leaving the turn and three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. LOVE AND PEACE (FR) settled outside a rival chasing the pace, came out leaving the turn and four wide into the stretch and did not rally. WATCH ME BURN stalked three deep then outside a rival, continued between horses leaving the turn and into the stretch and weakened.

ZILLINDA stalked off the rail then outside a rival leaving the backstretch, bid alongside the pacesetter leaving the second turn, took the lead into the stretch, kicked clear under urging and proved best. REDS SACRED APPEAL settled outside a rival then inside on the second turn, advanced along the rail in the stretch, went around the pacesetter in deep stretch and edged a foe for the place. GIRL CAN PARTIE chased between horses then inside, came out into the stretch and was edged for second. CAT'S DESIRE sped to the early lead, inched away leaving the first turn and set the pace inside, fought back leaving the second turn and into the stretch, was not a match for the winner thereafter and weakened late. THANKS pulled her way along to press the pace outside a rival then stalked a bit off the rail, fell back on the second turn and weakened. INFO'S TREASURE three deep early, settled outside a rival chasing the pace, continued off the rail into the stretch and had little left for the drive. CUYAHOGA FALLS saved ground chasing the pace, dropped back into and on the second turn, gave way and was pulled up in the stretch but walked off.