Express Train, trainer Shirreffs have great day with Santa Anita Handicap

ARCADIA, Calif. – There’s usually someone missing in the winner’s circle when a John Shirreffs trainee wins a big race.

John Shirreffs.

The veteran trainer likes to stand off to the side, enjoying the scene of his horse, his owners, his crew. But on Saturday, Shirreffs made an exception. Winning your first Santa Anita Handicap will do that.

As Express Train was led into the winner’s circle, winning rider Victor Espinoza looked over at Shirreffs, standing off to the side, and told him to join in.

“Why not?” Shirreffs replied.

“I’m over the top about it,” Shirreffs said later. “Been in it a few times, never won. Seabiscuit won this race. It’s an iconic race.”

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Indeed, while the Santa Anita Handicap – still a Grade 1, with a $651,000 purse - may have become dwarfed in recent years by the petrodollars on offer this time of year for older horses in the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup, for those who ply their trade on this circuit, like Shirreffs and Espinoza, or who grew up in the area, like co-owner Lee Searing, the race known as the Big Cap is held dear.

“This is the Santa Anita Handicap,” Shirreffs said.

“It’s more special for John,” said Espinoza, who was winning this race for the third time. “I wanted to get the race for him."

“I remember seeing Round Table in the paddock, running out on the apron to watch him, seeing Affirmed,” Searing said, naming two of the many horses to have won the Big Cap during his lifetime. “It means a lot.”

The horse who brought them together is Express Train, 5, who has been patiently handled over the years by Shirreffs and has developed into a strong, consistent horse who now takes his races well. Since Espinoza took over on opening day of this meet Dec. 26, Express Train has won the Grade 2 San Antonio, Grade 2 San Pasqual, and now the Big Cap, his seventh win from 17 lifetime starts. The $390,000 winner’s share pushed his career earnings past the $1.25 million mark.

To prevail, Express Train had to turn back a stubborn Warrant, who tested Express Train all through the lane as that pair drew clear of their five rivals. Express Train, carrying three more pounds (124-121) than Warrant, won by a head. It was nine lengths back to third-place Stilleto Boy. As the even-money favorite, Express Train paid $4.20. Express Train was given a 104 Beyer Speed Figure.

Spielberg was fourth and was followed, in order, by Why Why Paul Why, American Theorem, and Soy Tapatio.

Express Train was timed in 2:03.22 for 1 1/4 miles on the fast main track. He raced wide throughout, which Espinoza said was by design.

“Express Train is a strong, powerful horse,” said Espinoza, who, like Shirreffs, likes to personalize horses by more often than not referring to them by their actual name, not “my colt,” or something similar.

“I wanted him to be in a nice, comfortable stride, let him stretch his legs. That’s what we want. Keep him in the clear,” Espinoza said.

Express Train, Espinoza said, has a habit of idling when he hits the front.

“He makes me use my muscles. Made it exciting,” Espinoza said.

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Express Train is by Union Rags out of the Mineshaft mare I’m a Flake. He was purchased as a yearling by the CRK Stable of Lee Searing and his wife, Susan, for $500,000. He was part of a small crop of yearling colts purchased in 2018 by the Searings. Another member of that class was Honor A.P., who won the 2020 Santa Anita Derby but was retired after being injured in that year’s Kentucky Derby.

Both Express Train and Honor A.P. debuted during the summer meet of 2019 at Del Mar. But Express Train was injured that fall and didn’t race for nearly 11 months. At the end of 2020, he finished second to Charlatan in the Grade 1 Malibu. Two starts later, he was beaten in the final strides of the Santa Anita Handicap by Idol. And not until his most-recent start, the San Pasqual – which he won for the second straight year – did Express Train win consecutive races.

That development, and having had this horse from the start, made this win meaningful for Shirreffs.

“Even more so,” Shirreffs said. “To work with a horse like Express Train, see him develop, is wonderful to see.”

Especially up close, in the winner’s circle.