Brad Free's Santa Anita Handicapping Notebook for April 19

SECOND CAREER

Horseplayers should remember the name Javier Sierra, a retired business executive who is now full-time trainer at Santa Anita. He might be the hottest trainer no one knows.

Brother of trainer Cirilo Sierra, Javier Sierra won his fifth race from his last 14 starters Sunday in race 1, a $20,000 claiming route with Bluegrass Reward ($7). Five wins for Sierra this meet is very good. After all, the previous three years he won a total of seven races.

Sierra is 61, and has worked with horses off and on for 40 years, including a stint with D. Wayne Lukas in the Quarter Horse days. Sierra occasionally dabbled with his own stable of Thoroughbreds, and often assisted his brother Cirilo.

The thing that prevented Javier Sierra from a training career was a successful executive career. In late 2012, he finally retired from business and went into training full time. “I love horses, I wanted to build my own stable,” he said. Sierra, who has three college degrees, currently has 14 horses and is 5 for 14 since March 7 (meet total 5 for 36).

His recent success is not a surprise. “I expected this, and I expect to do even better,” Sierra said.

As for Bluegrass Reward, owned by Sierra, he was inexpensive. “He was a freebie,” Sierra said. “They said he would never run again, they said he was finished.”

The gelding’s former connections gave him away. Sierra believed he could still run.

Sierra blistered him, gave him four months off, and brought him back slowly. He steadily improved, posting a series of in-the-money finishes moving up in class. His win Sunday was his first since early 2013, and his eighth overall from 37 starts. He earned a 79 Beyer.

There will be more like Bluegrass Reward, whose stablemate Fiesta Express is a live longshot Saturday in race 4. Stay tuned, and pay attention to trainer Javier Sierra.

CHEW ONE-TWO

Trainer Matt Chew is 5 for 36 this winter, including the exacta in race 2. Chew-trained My Lil Shamrock ($19.60) led wire to wire in the mile turf race for $50,000 claiming fillies and mares. She defeated stablemate Zipping My Way by a half-length; the $1 Chew exacta returned $71.70.

Chew’s win rate has risen over the past 2 1/2 years. Since October 2012, he is 25 for 163 (15 percent) while generating a flat-bet profit. His next scheduled starter is Cinematic Cat in race 9 on Saturday.

Quick note about Chew’s front-running winner My Lil Shamrock. Speed has been dynamite in one-mile turf races. My Lil Shamrock was the fourth front-running winner from the last five turf races at the distance.

TALE OF TRIPS

In winning the Grade 2 Santa Ana on March 16, Stormy Lucy cut the corner, got through, and won going away. In the same race, Customer Base was hung wide and eliminated.

Stormy Lucy and Customer Base met again Sunday in the Grade 3 Santa Barbara at 1 ¼ miles on turf. This time, Stormy Lucy took the overland route. She lost ground rallying wide, but was never stopped. The mare who did get stopped was Customer Base, who tried to rally inside.

Stormy Lucy ($5.40) beat Miss Serendipity by a neck. Customer Base was sawed off in the stretch. She steadied sharply, took up, and was eliminated. She finished last of 10. It was her second straight impossible trip, and another throwout race.

With back-to-back graded stakes wins, Stormy Lucy has emerged as tenuous leader of the California filly-mare turf division. She will start next on May 26 in the Grade 1 Gamely.

As for Santa Barbara runner-up Miss Serendipity, her deliberate pattern continues. She has improved each start in the U.S. Somewhere down the line, there is an important race with Miss Serendipity’s name on it.

BAFFERT ONE-TWO

Bob Baffert exactas pay less than Matt Chew exactas. Baffert-trained Cat Burglar and Govenor Charlie finished one-two in race 5, an N2X/optional claiming route won by Cat Burglar ($5.20). The $1 Baffert exacta paid $5.90. Cat Burglar won by 1 ¼ lengths, and earned a 103 Beyer thanks to a cozy assist from his stablemate who did all the dirty work. Govenor Charlie pressed the pace while wide, keeping the heat on. He put away the other speed, and turning for home he drifted off the rail to allow Cat Burglar a clear path inside. How polite. Who knew racing was a team sport?

Considering ground loss, Govenor Charlie was best. But credit is due Cat Burglar. He waited patiently behind horses on the far turn, switched off like a consummate pro, and when it was time to go, he went. Good horse, good trip, good win.

Cat Burglar and Govenor Charlie might have chances in upcoming stakes, including the Grade 3 Precisionist Stakes on May 3 at 1 1/16 miles, or the Grade 2 Californian is May 31 at 1 1/8 miles.

As for the Cat Burglar-Govenor Charlie race, this handicapper would be remiss failing to acknowledge his top choice. Big Kick finished fourth, beaten 9 1/2 lengths.

Oilisblackgold was claimed out of the Cat Burglar race for $62,500 by Robertino Diodoro, but the claim was voided after the gelding was reported unsound (right front) in the receiving barn after the race. Oilisblackgold was returned to trainer Craig Dollase.

TALAMO TURF SPRINTS

Oliver’s Tale ($11.40) won race 6, a first-level allowance on the downhill turf course. He broke slowly from the rail, rolled up inside to duel for the lead, shook off his pace foes into the lane, and won by 3 1/4 lengths under Joe Talamo.

Oliver’s Tale, whose trainer Mark Tsagalakis is among the best-kept secrets in California, earned a 92 Beyer.

Talamo employed similar front-running tactics in race 8, the Grade 3 San Simeon for turf sprinters. Sweet Swap ($5.60) set the pace, opened up by three in midstretch, and held off closer Lakerville by a half-length.

Talamo and speed were the common denominators with Oliver’s Tale and Sweet Swap. Five of the last nine turf sprints have been won by the pacesetter.

Horses to Watch

CUSTOMER BASE
Trainer: Tom Proctor
Last race: April 13, 4th
Finish: 8th by 7 1/2
Beyer: 78

This good turf mare encountered another impossible trip. She tried to sneak through along the rail in the stretch of a Grade 3, but got stopped cold at the eighth pole. It was an inconclusive performance.

April 19 preview

RECENTLY GELDED

Race-1 starter Half Strike was gelded prior to his most-recent race March 2. He set a blistering pace and tired to third. In the Saturday opener, Half Strike figures to make an uncontested lead racing 1 1/16 miles for a $32,000 claim tag. Color him gone at a short price (9-5 morning line).

Race-2 starter Boozer was gelded prior to his March 14 comeback in an N2X/optional $62,500 claiming turf sprint, which he won by nearly three. Because he ran for the tag last out, Boozer retains the first allowance condition. Boozer drops into the statebred allowance on Saturday. Another 9-5 shot.

Race-2 starter Back to Bako also was gelded prior to his March 21 comeback, a fourth-place finish in a similar N1X for statebreds. Back to Bako, a half-brother to Unzip Me, is quick enough to set the pace Saturday. He is listed at 4-1, and speed is good on the hill.

Race-6 comebacker Powerful was gelded following his most recent start in June. A $1.4 million yearling, the maiden son of A.P. Indy runs a mile on turf Saturday in his first start since being transferred to Jeff Mullins. Powerful finished last in two previous starts for trainers Neil Drysdale and Bill Mott.

PEDIGREES, RACE 6

Lord Lochinvar, by A.P. Indy, may have a future. Nowhere in his debut and fourth in his initial try around two turns, his third start comes in race 6 Saturday. It is a one-mile grass race for maidens.

Jerry Hollendorfer trains Lord Lochinvar, a full brother to Grade 2 winner (and stallion) Master Command and Grade 3 winner Aurora Lights. Lord Lochinvar is 7-2.

Gabriel’s Gold is a Giant’s Causeway colt out of Valentine Dancer, who won eight races and $1,144,126 from 29 starts for owners Al and Saundra Kirkwood from 2002 through 2006. She was trained by Craig Lewis.

As a broodmare, Valentine Dancer has not been stellar. Her first foal to race was Love that Melody. She lost all four starts. Her second named foal is Gabriel’s Gold, a gelding who will make his career debut for trainer Eric Kruljac.

The horse to beat in race 6 is Aqua Revelation. He is easy to knock. He is a maiden making the ninth start of his career. Yikes, especially at 5-2.

LA PUENTE SPEED

It is entirely possible Diamond Bachelor peaked as a 2-year-old and will flounder at 3. But that assessment is on hold until after the La Puente Stakes, race 8 on Saturday.

Diamond Bachelor will make his third start following a winter layoff and he will do so under advantageous conditions – lone speed in the 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds.

A stakes-winning 2-year-old on turf, his two starts on dirt were forgettable. Diamond Bachelor broke slowly and finished ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and in his 2014 debut finished fourth in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis. Clearly, turf is his preferred footing.

Diamond Bachelor pressed a fast pace his most recent start March 22, the Pasadena Stakes at one mile. He dueled with No Ma’am and Craftsman, put away those rivals, stayed in contention until deep stretch, and was swallowed. He finished fourth. No Ma’am and Craftsman did not enter the La Puente. Patrick Biancone trains Diamond Bachelor, who adds blinkers. He can be long gone if he holds off favorite Enterprising. As for Biancone, he is due. His most recent win was Nov. 24.

LIKELY SCRATCHES

Race-5 entrants Lake Maracaibo and Room for Me are “dot horses” expected to scratch. Race-6 entrant Big Gregg is the only other dot horse on the card, and a likely scratch.

SPOT PLAYS, SHORT PRICES

Race 1
HALF STRIKE (#2, 9-5) was gelded prior to his last start. He enters this $32,000 claiming route as the lone front-runner. Long gone.

Race 2
Boozer is favored; the overlay possibility is horse-to-watch VALDIRONE (#2, 5-2). Compromised by post in his dirt-sprint comeback, he switches to turf with a front-running style that is flattered by the course profile.

Race 8
DIAMOND BACHELOR (#8, 5-2) is lone speed in this 1 1/8-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds. Blinkers on, and an easy front-end trip expected.