Racing! Big (but wet) day at Santa Anita

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as look deeper into a stewards’ decision.

Few stewards’ rulings have created such interest as the one we ran on Thursday where groom Martin Espinoza was fined $200 for disorderly conduct. He was also arrested and plead guilty to felony assault with a deadly weapon. The weapon, which for a short while was in his possession, was a pitchfork.

Here’s how the stewards’ minutes described what happened: “Groom [Jehobany] Alvarez reported that the 51-year-old [Martin] Espinoza appeared at his tack room, drunk, on the evening of July 8. He was upset because a trainer fired him and subsequently hired Mr. Alvarez. He stated he pushed Espinoza to the ground after he appeared. Espinoza then grabbed a pitchfork, but did not attempt to stab him with it, before the incident was broken up by a San Luis Rey security guard. Neither party was injured.”

A lot of you wondered how a $200 fine was the appropriate punishment for what was adjudicated as a felony assault. So, through intermediary Mike Marten, the CHRB media liaison, we check with what the stewards were thinking. This is Mike’s report:

“Mr. Espinoza had already been held accountable for his actions in a criminal court and punished accordingly. He remains on felony probation. The stewards’ role in adjudicating matters before them is not to pass judgement on another court, but to evaluate all evidence that is presented at the hearing. In testifying under oath, the victim, Mr. Alvarez. admitted that he pushed Mr. Espinoza. That was the only physical contact between the two. As he was getting up, Mr. Espinoza, who was intoxicated, grabbed a pitchfork. Both men agreed that Mr. Espinoza never tried to stab Mr. Alvarez with the pitchfork. Still, Mr. Espinoza was deemed to be in possession of a weapon, which led to his felony conviction.

“Mr. Espinoza has been licensed by the California Horse Racing Board since 2006. His record prior to this incident was clean and has been clean since this incident in July. His employer and others provided favorable character references. He expressed remorse for his actions and voluntarily enrolled in AA prior to his hearing with the stewards. He indicated a strong commitment to working with the Winners Foundation, which includes an anger management component. He has also been placed on a testing agreement, which will require him to submit to alcohol and drug testing.”

So, there you have it, what the stewards’ were thinking when they handed down this penalty. We wish Mr. Espinoza well as he moves forward with his life.

Santa Anita review

Solomini, who ran 10^th in last year’s Kentucky Derby, seemed like a pretty good choice in Friday’s mile allowance feature. But, against what on paper seemed like lesser competition, he just hung in the stretch and finish third as longshot Mongolian Groom came through on the rail to win by 1 ¼ lengths.

Mongolian Groom paid $28.80, $13.40 and $3.40. Beaumarchais was second.

“It set up pretty good for us,” winning jockey Geovanni Franco told Mike Willman of Santa Anita. “We had the best post and he was going well the whole way. When he saw that hole at the rail, he attacked.”

Mongolian Groom is trained by Enebish Ganbat.

Santa Anita preview

It’s too bad the weather is going to be so bad on Saturday, because Santa Anita had a pretty good card planned with three graded stakes, one on the turf. But, seeing where the weather was headed the racing office changed up the card a couple days ago and made it an all dirt card and moved the turf race, the Grade 2 San Marcos to next week.

I did a story for the Times web and print editions on some of the changes, including a look at how handle has done since the new post-time drag strategy. You can read it here.

So, what we’re left with is still pretty good. A Kentucky Derby points prep race and a prep race for McKinzie before the Santa Anita Handicap.

The 3-year-old race is the Grade 3 $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes for horses going 1 1/16 miles. The favorite is Mucho Gusto, winner of two of three and finishing second to Improbable in the Los Alamitos Futurity. He is one of trainer Bob Baffert’s A-listers. Joe Talamo gets the ride on the 8-5 morning-line favorite.

Gunmetal Gray, who we last saw winning the Sham Stakes, is the 9-5 second choice. He was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and in the race before that and finished second to Game Winner in the American Pharoah Stakes. He’s trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and will be ridden by Mike Smith. Post time is scheduled for 2:53 p.m.

The second stakes is the Grade 2 $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes for older horses going 1 1/8 miles. McKinzie, named for the late Los Alamitos executive Brad McKinzie, is the 4-5 morning-line favorite. He has won all his races except two. He was disqualified to second in the San Felipe Stakes last year and was a disappointing 12^th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He also benefited from a disqualification in the Los Alamitos Futurity when Solomini, who finished third on Friday, was moved down for interference. McKinzie followed the Classic with a 4 3/4-length win on opening day in the Malibu Stakes. Smith rides the Baffert trainee.

The 5-2 second choice is Battle of Midway, who was third in Kentucky Derby two years ago and won the Breeders’ Cup Mile. He was retired after his 3-year-old year season but had trouble getting mares in foal and was returned to the race track. Flavien Prat rides the Hollendorfer trainee. Post time is scheduled for 4:23 p.m.

Here are the current field sizes, in order: 6, 6, 7, 7, 9, 6, 10, 9, 8, 11.

Big races preview

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

1:07 Gulfstream (9): Grade 3 $150,000 Forward Gal Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Feedback (6-5)

1:30 Aqueduct (9): Grade 3 $250,000 Withers Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Tax (2-1)

1:40 Gulfstream (10): Grade 3 $150,000 Swale Stakes, 3-year-olds, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Call Paul (3-1)

2:13 Gulfstream (11): Grade 2 $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Maximus Mischief (1-1)

2:38 Oaklawn (8): $125,000 Martha Washington Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 1 mile. Favorite: Sunset Wish (9-5)

2:53 Santa Anita (6): Grade 3 $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Mucho Gusto (8-5)

4:23 Santa Anita (9): Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes, 4 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: McKinzie (4-5)

Bob Ike’s SA pick of the day

FIFTH RACE: No. 8 One Bad Boy (3-1)

Second choice on the morning line, this Richard Baltas-trained sophomore ran a very promising third when debuting here on opening day. Despite encountering some traffic trouble into the turn, the son of Twirling Candy finished well and should love the seven-furlong distance with an outside draw. He will have to beat the favorite Omaha Beach, who keeps running second.

Friday’s result: Beaumarchais (16-1) ran a big race on the lead but couldn't hold off the longshot winner while outgaming the 1/5 favorite for second, paying $17.80 to place.

Bob Ike is a Partner/VP of Horsebills.com (here's a video) and the proprietor of BobIkePicks.com (full-card picks, 3 Best Plays and betting strategy).

Los Alamitos on holiday

Los Alamitos is taking a rare break from nighttime quarter-horse racing on Saturday and Sunday as the track undergoes renovation. It usually picks this weekend because Sunday night racing would be a lost cause going up against the Super Bowl. The track resumes racing on Friday.

Final thought

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

MRASEEL (IRE) sped to the early lead and angled in, set the pace inside, fought back leaving the second turn, came a bit off the rail in the stretch and held on gamely under urging and a strong hand ride. TAMMY'S WINDOW stalked three deep then outside a rival, bid three wide leaving the second turn and alongside the winner through a stiff drive and continued willingly but could not get by. PROUD 'N' READY close up stalking the winner outside a rival, bid between foes leaving the second turn and into the stretch and just held third. MISS BOOM BOOM saved ground stalking the pace throughout and was narrowly edged for the show. BELIEVE INDEED pulled between horses early then stalked three deep leaving the first turn and on the backstretch and second turn and into the stretch and could not quite summon the needed late kick. INDYPENDENT DEPUTY stalked inside then a bit off the rail, continued between foes leaving the backstretch and on the second turn, waited off heels in midstretch and lacked the needed rally. KENNEDIE SKY chased a bit off the rail then outside a rival, came out some in the stretch and did not rally. WAR MOCCASIN angled in on the first turn and saved ground chasing the pace, cut the corner into the stretch, continued inside and also lacked a rally.

MATRICULATE stalked off the rail, bid four wide into the turn then outside rivals, took the lead four wide into the stretch, inched away in midstretch, drifted in and won clear under a couple taps with the whip turned down and steady handling. LINDANTE saved ground chasing the pace, came out on the turn and four wide into the stretch and edged a rival late for the place. BOY HOWDY dueled three deep then between rivals on the turn and three wide between foes into the stretch, drifted in some and was edged late for second. TRAPALANDA pulled early, angled in and dueled between rivals then a bit off the rail on the turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. HARROVIAN broke a bit slowly, chased just off the rail, angled in on the turn and lacked a response in the drive. QUAD went up inside to duel for the lead, stalked along the rail on the turn and weakened in the stretch. ZAP AGAIN stalked outside a rival then just off the rail on the turn, continued alongside a foe into the stretch and had little left for the drive.

NEPTUNE'S STORM angled in and pressed the pace outside a rival then stalked off the rail, re-bid alongside the pacesetter leaving the second turn, took a short lead in the stretch and inched clear in deep stretch under urging and steady handling late. EAGLE SONG (IRE) saved ground chasing the pace, came out some in the stretch and edged the pacesetter late for second. WEEKLY CALL took the early lead and set a pressured pace inside, inched away on the backstretch, fought back leaving the second turn and in the stretch, could not match the winner in the final sixteenth and lost the place late. RIJEKA (IRE) stalked inside then between horses leaving the backstretch and on the second turn and into the stretch and lacked a rally. THE CREEP close up stalking the pace outside a rival then three deep into and on the second turn and into the stretch and did not rally. SAYIN GRACE chased outside a rival, angled to the inside leaving the second turn and weakened.

CAPTAIN BUZZKILL went up inside to duel for the lead, inched away on the turn, kicked clear under urging and proved best. SEA'S JOURNEY dueled three deep between foes then stalked between horses on the turn and held second. COIL TO STRIKE pressed the pace four wide then stalked outside on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and was edged for the place. AWESOME AMANDA stalked four wide on the backstretch and outside or off the rail on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed late kick. BIG BAD GARY dueled between horses then stalked a bit of the rail on the turn and into the stretch and weakened some in the final furlong. SOUL OWNER bobbled at the start, pulled his way between horses to stalk the pace, went three deep on the turn, angled in outside a rival leaving the turn and into the stretch and weakened. TAK'IN THE RED EYE saved ground stalking the pace, dropped back on the turn, came out leaving the turn and into the stretch and had little left for the drive. EREBUNI bobbled at the start, stalked between horses, angled to the inside nearing the stretch and also had little left for the lane. DESERT MOVIE pulled his way between horses to stalk the pace, steadied in tight a half mile out to drop back and gave way.

QUEEN BEE TO YOU three deep early, stalked outside a rival then bid alongside the pacesetter on the backstretch and second turn, took a short lead in the stretch and held on gamely under some left handed urging. EXUBERANCE three deep into the first turn, chased outside a rival, came out on the second turn and three wide into the stretch and edged the pacesetter late for the place. DULCE RIDE sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, dueled on the backstretch and second turn, fought back along the rail in the stretch and was edged late for second. HARMONY VICTORY stalked outside a rival then inside, came out some in midstretch and was outfinished. ZUSHA four wide on the first turn, chased outside, came three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. AUNT LUBIE chased inside then a bit off the rail, went around a rival on the second turn, angled in some and did not rally. MONGOLIAN HUMOR stalked as bit off the rail then between foes leaving the backstretch, dropped back on the second turn and gave way.

HAD ENOUGH K P bobbled at the start, angled in on the first turn and chased inside, bid along the rail leaving the second turn, fought back inside in the stretch, gained the lead past the eighth pole and pulled clear under urging and steady handling. TRUE VALIDITY had speed between horses then stalked a bit off the rail, bid three deep leaving the second turn, to gain the lead, battled outside the winner in the stretch, could not match that one late and just held second. AMERICAN FALLS stalked a bit off the rail then between horses on the backstretch, went outside a rival on the second turn, came out into the stretch and was edged for the place. THANKS had good early speed and dueled inside, inched clear into the second turn, was between foes a quarter mile out and weakened in the drive. QUEEN OF THE TRACK bobbled at the start, went four wide into the first turn then chased three deep, continued off the rail on the second turn and three wide into the stretch and had little left for the drive. PALM D'ORO had speed three deep then dueled outside a rival, dropped back between horses on the second turn, angled in nearing the stretch, gave way and was eased in the final furlong. DERBY ROYALTY three deep into the first turn, chased off the rail, dropped back on the backstretch and second turn, also gave way and was not persevered with late.

LADY PRANCEALOT (IRE) three deep early, chased outside a rival, came out four wide into the stretch, rallied under a crack of the whip and good handling to gain the lead in deep stretch and proved best. TRUFFALINO saved ground chasing the ;pace, got through inside and bid along the fence past midstretch and continued willingly. ROSE PRINCESS stalked a bit off the rail, came three deep into the stretch and edged the pacesetter for the show. SOLD IT sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, dueled on the backstretch, inched away on the second turn, came a bit off the rail in the stretch, was between foes past midstretch and was outfinished for third. ANGEL ALESSANDRA broke outward, chased outside then alongside a rival, came three deep into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. PRIMA VALENTINA settled between horses then chased outside a rival, dropped back on the second turn and did not rally. CAVERNNDCHIPMUNKS (FR) saved ground chasing the pace, came out leaving the second turn and into the stretch and weakened. CEDARS OF LEBANON (IRE) pulled early and drifted out into the first turn, bid outside the pacesetter on the backstretch and into the second turn, dropped back some leaving that turn and weakened in the drive.

MONGOLIAN GROOM saved ground stalking the pace, bid inside in the stretch to gain the lead nearing the sixteenth pole and proved best under some urging. BEAUMARCHAIS sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, fought back along the rail leaving the second turn and a bit off the rail in upper stretch, battled between foes in midstretch and held second. SOLOMINI stalked three deep between horses, bid outside the runner-up leaving the second turn and three wide in midstretch and was edged for the place. SUPER DUPER COOPER was in a good position stalking the pace four wide then outside a rival on the second turn, came three deep into the stretch and lacked a rally. SHOW ME DA LUTE bobbled slightly at the start, chased off the inside, swung four wide into the stretch and did not rally. CANDY CORNELL stalked just off the rail then between foes leaving the backstretch and into the second turn, fell back some on that turn, angled to the inside in the stretch and weakened.

CATS BLAME chased outside a rival then between foes, continued outside leaving the backstretch and three deep on the turn, came four wide into the stretch, rallied under some urging while drifting in a bit to gain the lead a sixteenth out and won clear under a left handed crack of the whip and steady handling. FAST COTTON came in a bit after the break, had speed outside a rival then inched away, angled in, met a pair of bids early on the turn, edged away again, kicked clear in the stretch, could not match the winner in the final sixteenth but held second. HEY SEQUOIA chased inside, came out in upper stretch and split rivals late for the show. BUCKYS PICK stalked just off the rail or between horses, came out into the stretch and was edged for third. ZESTFUL in a bit tight early, stalked outside then bid three deep into the turn, continued off the rail then three wide into the stretch under some left handed urging, had the rider lose the whip in upper stretch and weakened in the final furlong. SWORD FIGHTER sent along inside to stalk the pace, bid between horses into the turn, continued a bit off the rail leaving the turn and into the stretch and weakened.