SANTA ANITA LEADERS
(Through Thursday)
Jockeys / Wins
Kyle Frey / 8
Umberto Rispoli / 7
Antonio Fresu / 5
Hector Berrios / 4
Juan Hernandez / 4
Edwin Maldonado / 4
Trainers / Wins
Jeff Mullins / 4
George Papaprodromou / 4
Mark Glatt / 4
Librado Barocio / 4
Richard Baltas / 3
Bob Baffert / 3
Bob Hess / 3
Peter Miller / 3
Peter Eurton / 3
Phil D’Amato / 3
WEEKEND STAKES
SANTA ANITA
Saturday
• $200,000, Grade II Charles Whittingham Stakes, 4-year-olds and up, 1 1/4 miles on turf
Sunday
• $100,000, Grade III Senorita Stakes, 3-year-old fillies, about 6 1/2 furlongs on turf
LOS ALAMITOS
Saturday
• $35,000 La Pacifica Handicap, 3-year-old quarter-horse fillies, 350 yards
Sunday
• $60,000 Miss Princess Handicap, quarter-horse fillies, 3 and up, 350 yards
DOWN THE STRETCH
• Phil D’Amato and Michael McCarthy, who train Kentucky Derby runners Stronghold and Endlessly, also have contenders in the Charlie Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. D’Amato sends out Gold Phoenix, Prince Abama and West Coast newcomer Rockemperor, while McCarthy runs 2023 Whittingham winner Offlee Naughty. Racing starts earlier than usual at 12:30 p.m., leaving time for a gap in Santa Anita racing for the Derby at 3:57 p.m.
• The Derby aside, Californians are prominent in several stakes on Churchill Downs’ big-money cards Friday and Saturday. Val Brinkerhoff-trained Where’s My Ring is the only West Coast filly in Friday’s $1.5 million, Grade I Kentucky Oaks. D’Amato has contenders Elm Drive and Tony Ann in Friday’s $400,000, Grade III Unbridled Sidney Stakes, and morning-line favorite Motorious in Saturday’s $600,000, Grade II Twin Spires Turf Sprint. McCarthy’s best chance Saturday comes from Three Witches in the $1 million, Grade II Derby City Distaff. Richard Baltas has Ag Bullet in Saturday’s $750,000, Grade II Churchill Distaff Turf Mile after scratching from the Unbridled Sidney. Doug O’Neill tries Saturday’s $600,000, Grade II Pat Day Mile with Vlahos, coming out of a high-rated debut win.
• The first 2-year-old race of the Santa Anita season is a 4½-furlong sprint for California-breds Friday. Jeff Bonde led trainers with three wins by debuting 2-year-olds at this meet in 2023 and entered Mr. Machupicchu on Friday.
• Los Alamitos’ La Pacifica Handicap on Saturday features In The Mode, Checkn Cartel and Market Analysis, who ran fourth, sixth and seventh behind Asscher in the Los Alamitos Oaks last time out.
• Del Mar announced its stakes schedule for the season that runs Saturday, July 20, to Sunday, Sept. 8. Six Grade I’s include the Bing Crosby Stakes on Saturday, July 27; Pacific Classic on Saturday, Aug. 31, and Del Mar Futurity on closing day.
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• Golden Gate Fields fans had something to cheer Saturday when local horse Lammas and jockey Irving Orozco won the Grade III San Francisco Mile. Trained at Golden Gate by Manuel Badilla, the 7-year-old Lammas beat a half-dozen invaders from Santa Anita and paid $21.60. It was the last graded stakes at the Albany, Calif., track that closes for good June 9. The final weeks will be a struggle; Golden Gate canceled Friday racing for the second time in three weeks because of a shortage of entries.
• Jockey Jon Court, 63, said he’ll retire when the Oaklawn Park meet in Arkansas ends Sunday. Court ranks 67th all-time with 4,263 wins and became the oldest person to ride in the Kentucky Derby in 2019. He rode in Southern California from 2004-08, his wins including two Grade I stakes with Leroidesanimaux.
— Kevin Modesti