SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES
BY ED GOLDEN
Sunday February 5, 2012

THE USUAL Q.T. IN STRONG SAN MARCOS LINEUP ON SATURDAY
     The Usual Q.T., one of Unusual Heat's wealthiest and most successful progeny and one of a rash of California-bred Thoroughbreds to gain national prominence recently, hopes to add to his millionaire status Saturday when he runs in the Grade II, $150,000 San Marcos Stakes for older horses at 1 miles on turf.
     Second to then-stablemate Evening Jewel in last year's California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Horse of the Year voting for horses bred in the Golden State, The Usual Q.T. was third in the Grade II San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Jan. 16. It was the first race in nearly eight months for the 6-year-old gelding, and trainer Jim Cassidy had to employ a less-than-ideal training schedule to make the race.
     But it's business as usual for the San Marcos. The Usual Q.T. worked six furlongs on Santa Anita's fast main track Friday in 1:15.60 under regular rider Victor Espinoza.
     "His schedule was a bit advanced to make the San Gabriel," Cassidy said, "and we've had more time to prepare for this race. Not only that, I think the mile and a quarter will be easier on him . . . and he's doing well. Victor was very happy with his work on Friday."
     The Usual Q.T. is a multiple Grade I winner and has earned $1,531,240 thanks to eight wins, six seconds and five thirds from 23 career starts. He is owned by Don Van Kempen of Carlsbad, Michael Nentwig of Fremont, and George Saadeh and Jeffrey Byer, both of San Diego.
     Among the recent California-breds to be saluted nationally are Acclamation and Amazombie, who received recognition last month by earning Eclipse Awards as outstanding Older Male and Outstanding Male Sprinter, respectively.
     Acclamation and Amazombie are also CTBA finalists for Cal-bred Horse of the Year honors in 2011. The winner will be announced at the organization's annual dinner Monday in Pasadena.
     Probable for the San Marcos: Bourbon Bay, Rafael Bejarano; Norvsky, Joe Talamo; Sanagas, Joel Rosario; Slim Shadey, David Flores; The Usual Q.T., Victor Espinoza; and Worth Repeating, Martin Pedroza.

SETSUKO ON COURSE FOR ANOTHER TRY AT SANTA ANITA HANDICAP
     Setsuko, beaten a nose at 25-1 in last year's Santa Anita Handicap, punched his ticket for a return trip on March 3 with a comfortable victory in an allowance test in Saturday's finale. It was the first start for the 5-year-old son of Pleasantly Perfect since the Pacific Classic, in which he finished ninth and last on Aug. 28.
     "His schedule was a little tight, which is why I wasn't sure he would make the Big Cap this year, but it worked out fine," Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella said Sunday morning. "Three weeks ago I didn't think he was quite that fit and then his works just stepped right up so I said, let's go.'
     "He ran good yesterday and came out good, so we'll give it another try."

GUTIERREZ CELEBRATES BIGGEST WIN IN GRADE II ROBERT LEWIS
     Mario Gutierrez was back working horses at Santa Anita Sunday morning, hours after he registered the biggest win of his career with a 2 -length victory on 43-1 shot I'll Have Another in Saturday's Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes, a major steppingstone to the Grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 7.
     "I had worked the horse (for trainer Doug O'Neill) at Hollywood, so I knew he was a good horse," said Gutierrez, a 25-year-old native of Vera Cruz, Mexico, who made his bones at frigid outposts like Hastings Park in Canada. Gutierrez is represented by octogenarian agent Ivan Puhich.
     "I wasn't really expecting to ride him, because there are so many good jockeys here. But then I saw my name on him when the entries were out and I was very happy. Doug just told me rate him if another horse wanted to go out there, but if no one wanted to take the lead, to take it myself."

FINISH LINES: Bob Baffert said Liaison and Sky Kingdom came out of their disappointing showings in Saturday's Robert B. Lewis Stakes in good order, while Steve Asmussen said Tapizar came out of his fourth-place finish as the 4-5 favorite in the Strub Stakes "great." . . . Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager and long-time racing aficionado Joe Torre was a Santa Anita visitor Sunday . . . NBA Hall of Famer Dan Issel was in the house on Saturday . . . With all six remaining ShowVivor contestants selecting 2-5 favorite Mr. Commons in yesterday's Arcadia Stakes, each advanced to play again going into Sunday's races.

I'LL HAVE ANOTHER SENDS PUNTERS PACKING WITH 43-1 LEWIS UPSET, ULTIMATE EAGLE LANDS IN STRUB WINNER'S CIRCLE & MR. COMMONS DOMINATES ON TURF IN ARCADIA

By BETH HARRIS
AP Racing Writer
     ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) _ With trouble unfolding behind him, 43-1 shot I'll Have Another went on to stunning upset in the Grade II, $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, surprising his trainer and owner as much as the bettors.
     The longest shot in the field of eight 3-year-olds won by 2 3/4 lengths Saturday at Santa Anita, with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's two colts finishing out of the money.
     "Oh my God that was nice," trainer Doug O'Neill said in the winner's circle, squeezing owner Paul Reddam.
     "He's always trained fantastic, but we never saw this coming," O'Neill said.
     I'll Have Another ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.84 under Mario Gutierrez and paid $88.60, $35.80 and $12. Empire Way, a son of 2003 Kentucky Derby runner-up Empire Maker, returned $11.80 and $6.20.
     Gutierrez was aboard I'll Have Another for the first time after exercising him in the morning just once.
     "I love this kid," O'Neill said.
     I'll Have Another came in off a five-month layoff and was running two turns for the first time. The colt had sore shins after losing in the slop in the Grade I Hopeful at Saratoga in September, leading to the layoff.
     "He hasn't missed a beat since then," O'Neill said.
     I'll Have Another is named for Reddam's response to his wife's nightly query of "Do you want any more cookies?" as he lies on the couch. He paid $35,000 for the colt.
     "I was probably the only one who wanted to run here," Reddam said. "We didn't know how good he was off his 2-year-old form."
     O'Neill added, "Paul likes putting up the money and taking chances."
     Reddam demurred when asked about taking a shot at the May 5 Kentucky Derby. He's had four previous Derby runners, including two trained by O'Neill.
     "We want to take a lot of time until his next race," he said. "Everyone wants to be in Kentucky, but so many things happen between this race and Kentucky."
     Liaison, the 3-2 favorite trained by Baffert, got squeezed in the stretch, clipping heels with Groovin' Solo and causing his rider Rafael Bejarano to fall passing the eighth pole. Bejarano was sore, but not injured. Baffert's other entry, 7-2 shot Sky Kingdom, finished sixth.
     "This was a weird run race," Baffert said. "(Liaison) was up there but he was a little fresh. He got rank with him and then he was trying to get him to relax and get back, but he just emptied out."
     After a stewards' inquiry, Groovin' Solo, ridden by Victor Espinoza, was disqualified from third to last for getting in the way of Liaison and Rousing Sermon was moved up to third. He paid $3.40 to show.
     "I thought the inside horse (Isn't He Clever) moved out," Espinoza said. "I tried to help as much as I can. When another guy asks for help I move out as much as I can."
     Isn't He Clever and Corey Nakatani finished fifth after drifting out in midstretch.
     Bejarano said he had room between horses when making his move, then saw Groovin' Solo lugging in, so he yelled to let Espinoza he was there.
     "He tried to correct his horse, but at the same time when he corrected his horse, he was just coming in too much," Bejarano said. "The horse on the inside (Isn't He Clever) didn't even give me a chance to check his horse because he was coming out too. He just kept going and was coming out little by little, but he didn't even try to check his horse. That's why it felt so tight and I clipped heels."
     Liaison's three-race winning streak ended. He was coming off a win in the CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park in December, a race in which Sky Kingdom (another son of Empire Maker) finished fourth and Empire Way fifth.
     In the $200,000 Strub Stakes, 7-1 shot Ultimate Eagle romped to a 7 1/4-length victory in his first start on dirt, with jockey Martin Pedroza stroking his horse's mane as they crossed the finish line. The 4-year-old colt ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.08 and paid $17, $8.40 and $6.40.
     "Without a doubt this is the best horse (he's ever ridden)," Pedroza said. "He's like a freak. Believe me, this horse is just learning how to run."
     Baffert's duo of Jaycito and Prayer for Relief _ both owned by Ahmed Zayat _ finished 2-3, with 4-5 favorite Tapizar fourth. Jaycito returned $10 and $8.20, while Prayer for Relief paid $4.20 to show.
     In the $150,000 Arcadia Stakes, Mr. Commons came from off the pace to beat Willyconker by a length under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.
     Smith angled Mr. Commons down toward the rail in midstretch, found a hole between horses and took the lead under Smith's urging to beat older horses for the first time. The 4-year-old colt ran one mile on the turf in 1:33.41 and paid $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10 as the 2-5 favorite for trainer John Shirreffs.
     "He loves to be in the pocket, so I took the chance," Smith said. "I have so much confidence he'll go wherever I point him, and he did. He went through another tight hole again and did it with a lot of courage."
     Ireland-bred Willyconker returned $4.80 and $3.40, while Massone was another half-length back in third and paid $6.40 to show. There was a stewards' inquiry into the stretch run, but there were no changes to the order of finish.
     Racing resumes at Santa Anita on Sunday with an eight-race card that gets underway 11 a.m. There is a two-day Pick Six carryover of $353,248 and it's expected the total pool could reach $1.5 million.

SANTA ANITA STABLE NOTES
BY ED GOLDEN
Friday February 3, 2012

ROUSING SERMON HOPES TO TURN THE TABLES ON LIAISON IN GRADE II LEWIS
     Rousing Sermon, a California-bred colt by Lucky Pulpit, was beaten a diminishing neck by Liaison in the Grade I CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park on Dec. 17. Each carried 121 pounds in the mile and one-sixteenth race that drew a field of 13 on Cushion Track.
     Tomorrow, the two Triple Crown prospects renew their rivalry in the Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes with one difference: Rousing Sermon gets a break in the weights.
     "We're getting five pounds," said Dan Ward, assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. "Plus, our horse has run good every time he's run, and it looks like there's enough speed in the race to help his closing style.
     "And in the race before the CashCall-the Real Quiet-we gave Liaison six pounds (123 to 117) when he beat us by a half-length. We expect Rousing Sermon to run good again on Saturday."
     In six career starts for owner/breeder Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams, Rousing Sermon has never been out of the money, winning the California Cup Juvenile and to date earning $274,000.
     The field for the Lewis, which goes as the sixth race: Isn't He Clever, Corey Nakatani, 6-1; Liaison, Rafael Bejarano, 9-5; Groovin' Solo, Victor Espinoza, 12-1; I'll Have Another, Mario Gutierrez, 12-1; Sky Kingdom, Martin Garcia, 6-1; Rousing Sermon, Joe Talamo, 5-2; Empire Way, Joel Rosario, 6-1; and Chips All In, Alonso Quinonez, 6-1.

TEAMWORK CRUCIAL TO GAME ON DUDE'S SUCCESS
     Chantal Sutherland has a symbiotic relationship going on with Martin Garcia. She rides Game On Dude; he works the horse.
     "I know the horse very well," said Sutherland, who has ridden Game On Dude in five of his 14 career starts, the last four in a row, including a game second-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic last out on Nov. 5.
     Sutherland will ride last year's Santa Anita Handicap winner again Sunday when the 5-year-old Awesome Again gelding trained by Bob Baffert makes his 2012 debut in the Grade II San Antonio Stakes, a major steppingstone to the Grade I, $750,000 Big Cap that will be run this year on March 3.
     "It's kind of a touchy situation," Sutherland said. "Martin is doing his job for Bob, but I'm sure he would prefer to be actually riding the horse, so there's a bit of competition there and I try not to rub it in. I appreciate what Martin's done and I'd love to work the horse myself, but you know Bob."
     Game On Dude's forte is speed, but when the gates open, the rider might have to make a split-second decision, depending on fate.
     "With Bob," Sutherland continued, "it's kind of like, You're the pilot, but he's in the control tower.' It's up to him. He could change his mind 10 times between now and Sunday."
     The field for the San Antonio: Tres Borrachos, Rafael Bejarano, 4-1; Uh Oh Bango, Mike Smith, 7-2; Game On Dude, Chantal Sutherland, 4-5; El Gato Malo, Corey Nakatani, 12-1; Ashtar, Kevin Krigger, 20-1; Victory Pete, Martin Garcia, 6-1; and Skipshot, Joe Talamo, 8-1.

ULTIMATE EAGLE SHARP FOR STRUB MEETING ON DIRT WITH TAPIZAR
     Ultimate Eagle, who has made his last five starts on turf, winning the Grade I Hollywood Derby in the process, makes his first start on natural dirt in Saturday's Grade II Strub Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.
     The front-running son of Mizzen Mast trained by Mike Pender for B.J. Wright will square off against seven rivals including Tapizar, who won the San Fernando Stakes impressively in front-running fashion on Jan. 14.
     Ultimate Eagle worked six furlongs on Hollywood Park's Cushion Track Sunday in a bullet 1:12.80, fastest of 14 drills at the distance. The average time was 1:14.98.
     "Off his workout Sunday, he hasn't missed a step since his last race (third to Mr. Commons in the Sir Beaufort at one mile on grass Dec. 26)," Pender said. "We're looking forward to running on dirt.
     "Although we don't like to see Tapizar, who's a freak here at Santa Anita, we've got no other spot to run." Ultimate Eagle drew post position No. 4, which makes little difference, according to Pender. "I don't place much emphasis on the draw," he said. "I never have. I always wondered why they made such a big deal about the Kentucky Derby draw. If you've seen Big Brown breaking from post 20 (and winning in 2008), you realize if your horse is good enough, you're going to win.
     "I don't care if we drew the rail or the four hole or the eight hole. I'm just happy he's in the gate and doing as well as he's doing. I'll let Martin (Pedroza) handle the strategy when the gates open. If this horse handles the dirt, he could break from post 30 and it doesn't matter."
     The field for the Strub: Jaycito, Martin Garcia, 4-1; Prayer for Relief, Rafael Bejarano, 7-2; Beer Meister, Glenn Corbett, 20-1; Ultimate Eagle, Martin Pedroza, 9-2; Clubhouse Ride, Victor Espinoza, 12-1; Indian Winter, Joel Rosario, 15-1; Tapizar, Nakatani, 6-5; and Balladry, Joe Talamo, 8-1.

ESPINOZA HAS CONFIDENCE IN CALIMONCO FOR ARCADIA STAKES
     Victor Espinoza, who rode Calimonco to a nose victory in the Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar last July, is reunited with the 6-year-old Storm Cat horse trained by John Sadler in Saturday's Grade II Arcadia Stakes at one mile on turf.
     Espinoza is well aware that he, as well as six other entrants, will have to beat even-money morning line favorite Mr. Commons to win the Arcadia, but Espinoza and his mount were close before. They finished third to Mr. Commons, beaten only a half-length, in the Grade II Del Mar Mile on Aug. 27.
     "That was an excellent race," Espinoza said. "I have a lot of confidence going into the Arcadia. "His last race was excellent, too," Espinoza added, referring to Calimonco's third-place finish under Mike Smith in the Grade II Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park on Nov. 26.
     "I know John has confidence in the horse," Espinoza said. "That's why he's running."
     Another viable Arcadia contender is the John Sadler-trained Pathfork, who will be making his U.S. debut on Saturday. A Kentucky-bred colt by Distorted Humor, Pathfork was champion 2-year-old colt in Ireland in 2010. His most recent start was on April 30 of last year, at Newmarket, England.
     The field for the Arcadia, which goes as the third race: Dewey's Special, Jose Valdivia Jr., 8-1; Pathfork, Joel Rosario, 5-2; M One Rifle, Joe Talamo, 10-1; Calimonco, Victor Espinoza, 6-1; El Gato Malo, Martin Garcia, 12-1; Willyconker, Rafael Bejarano, 8-1; Massone, Corey Nakatani, 20-1; and Mr. Commons, Mike Smith, 1-1.

ECLIPSE AWARD WINNER AMAZOMBIE ON SCHEDULE FOR FEB. 25 SAN CARLOS
     Amazombie stood like a statue in his stall at Bill Spawr's barn Friday morning, a picture of happiness and contentment. This was less than three hours after the Breeders' Cup Sprint champion worked six furlongs under the cover of darkness on Santa Anita's fast main track in a bullet 1:12, with jockey Alex Bisono aboard. It was the fastest of 22 drills at the distance. The average time was 1:14.06.
     "Easy, easy, easy," is how Spawr described the drill in tones bordering on ecstatic. "When he got back to the barn, he was already cooled out. Unbelievable. He's right on schedule for the San Carlos."
     The San Carlos is a Grade II race at seven furlongs with a guaranteed purse of $200,000 on Feb. 25. Amazombie had been scheduled to make his 2012 debut in the Palos Verdes Stakes on Jan. 21 but an off track forced Spawr to scrap that plan.
     "He'll have two more works before the San Carlos," Spawr said. "He'll work three-quarters or seven-eighths next Friday and have one more after that. We're right on schedule."
     Spawr said he employed Bisono for Friday's work "because he's light and he's got a good clock (in his head). I told him to go 1:14, he went 1:12. The horse does that because he does it so easy."
     Bisono, who tacks 115 pounds, called the drill "awesome."
     Meanwhile, Amazombie, a 5-year-old California-bred gelding by Northern Afleet owned by Spawr and Tom Sanford, is gathering quite a fan base since his Breeders' Cup victory at Churchill Downs last Nov. 5.
     "He gets cards from all over the world," Spawr said. "We got one from London, and one woman requested a strand of hair from his mane."
     While not quite in the league of Zenyatta when it comes to popularity, Amazombie is becoming a box office draw. "Just in our circle, with friends who have friends who have friends, we probably bring 80 to 100 people to the track when he runs," Spawr said.

FINISH LINES: Multiple graded stakes winner The Usual Q.T. worked six furlongs on Santa Anita's main track Friday in 1:15.60 under regular rider Victor Espinoza for the Grade II San Marcos Stakes at 1 miles on turf on Feb. 11. "I got him in 1:14 2/5," trainer Jim Cassidy said. "He came home really fast." Added Espinoza: "He went nice and easy." . . . San Gabriel winner Norvsky, who worked seven furlongs on Santa Anita's firm turf course Thursday in 1:29.40, also is on course for the San Marcos, trainer Don Warren said . . . At Hollywood Park Friday, Malibu winner The Factor worked six furlongs for Bob Baffert in a bullet 1:11.80 . . . On Saturday, recent Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Assn. National Handicapping Championship million-dollar winner Michael Beychok and well-known Democratic Party strategist and political commentator James Carville will be guests of Dave Johnson and Bill Finley on their weekly radio show, "Down the Stretch." The program can be heard on Sirius Channel 93 and XM Channel 209, starting at 7 a.m.  Survivors in ShowVivor were down to a lucky seven entering Friday's races.  First post time on Santa Anita's eight-race Sunday card is 11 a.m. Gates open at 9 a.m.