        |
|
 |
Year in Review Santa Anita opening day HK Cup Entries Hong Kong Cup works Hollywood Derby Day |
|
|
 Joel Rosario aboard Encoder after winning the 2019 Eddie Logan Stakes |
The first Sunday of Santa Anita's 2019-20 winter-spring meeting featured juveniles on the turf. Conditions were excellent once again, with the 9,997 fans in attendance enjoying sunny skies and temperatures in the low 60's, and the course remaining "good" due to the heavy rain on Thursday.
 Encoder wins the Eddie Logan Stakes Stakes |
Jockey Flavien Prat sent Goliad to lead through fractions of 22.80, 45.63, and 1:09.64 while pressed by Smooth Like Strait and stalked by 17-2 Encoder. Turning for home, jockey Joel Rosario moved Encoder out 3 wide for room and he swept to the front through 7f in 1:21.76. 34-1 Hariboux, last early under Umberto Rispoli, put in a strong late rally but Encoder held him off to win by 1/2 a length in 1:34.14. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to 13-1 Liar Liar third, and 1 1/4 more to favorite Smooth Like Strait fourth.
Left: Encoder in the winner's circle. Winning trainer John Sadler said, "He's been a little unlucky. In the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (finished 6th) he had to check on the backside, he got beat a couple of lengths, turf racing can go like that. Joel rode his first winner in Southern California for us. I sent a horse to Golden Gate way back in the day and I said, ‘that kid really rode that horse well up there.' So when he came down we put him on some horses and we had a lot of good luck, we've won a lot of titles together at Del Mar and around. He's just a great rider and continued to improve. He's a real professional now in the middle of his career and he is doing great."
Right: Encoder heads back to the barn after the race. Winning jockey Joel Rosario said, "We had a perfect trip. It looked like those two horses on the lead were running pretty good and I just followed in behind them. John said to let this horse place himself, and that's what he did. When I asked him, he picked it up really nice."
Left: Second place finisher Hariboux in the post parade. The Jeff Mullins trainee improved his record to 4 wins, 2 seconds, and 1 third in 9 starts, earning $74,931 for owners Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal.
Right: Third place finisher Liar Liar in the paddock before the race. The Richard Baltas trainee improved his record to 1 win, 1 second, and 1 third in 5 starts, earning $52,288 for owner Calvin Nguyen.
Fourth place finisher and beaten favorite Smooth Like Strait returns after the race. The Mike McCarthy trainee has a record of 2 wins, 0 seconds, and 1 third in 5 starts, earning $101,283 for owner-breeder Cannon Thoroughbreds.
 Laura's Light wins the Blue Norther Stakes |
Jockey Abel Cedillo sent Laura's Light to the front first time by and she set fractions of 23.73, 47.54, and 1:11.72 while pressed by 21-1 Blue Sky Baby and stalked by 5-1 fourth choice Parkour. Entering the stretch Laura's Light opened up on the field through 7f in 1:23.32, and drawing off late to win by 3 1/2 lengths over late-running Croughavouke in 1:35.18. It was another 1/2 length back to Blue Sky Baby third.
Left: Laura's Light heads to the winner's circle. Winning owner Gary Barber said, "I think this course is playing pretty quick but I think we slowed it down in race (2) and we were able to get an easy lead. Abel did a terrific job of just putting her on the lead and she was very relaxed. At the quarter pole when someone came to her she let out a notch and she was gone. 2019 was (Abel's) breakout year. A couple of Grade 1's or more, a terrific rider. Look at this setting, you have the San Gabriel Mountains in the background, it is The Great Race Place. The turf course is fantastic and the dirt course looks tremendous as well, we love it."
Right: Winning jockey Abel Cedillo said, "Pete (Miller, trainer) told me to play the break. It looked like there was other speed in there and if they went, he said to let them go and if they didn't, to go ahead and put her on the lead. So, my plan was to break and go!"
Left: Second place finisher Croughavouke in the paddock before the race. The Jeff Mullins trainee improved her record to 1 win, 3 seconds, and 1 third in 7 starts, earning $82,437 for owners Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal.
Right: Third place finisher Blue Sky Baby in the post parade. The Phil D'Amato trainee improved her record to 1 win and 1 third in 2 starts, earning $39,864 for owners Michael Lombardi and Joey Platts.
Back to Horse-Races.Net main page
| Search Horse-Races.Net: |
