Santa Anita: Disney-led group has done well with Talktoomuch

ARCADIA, Calif. – There’s a old rule that there’s no cheering in the press box, but for one race on Friday at Santa Anita, that will be thrown out the sixth-floor window.

Jack Disney, a member of the publicity staff, and six of his friends are the owners of Talktoomuch, who looks like one of the main players in the featured seventh race, a second-level optional $62,500 claimer for older fillies and mares at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.

Talktoomuch was a powerful winner over this course, and at this class level, last February. Her victory that day was one of four she has earned for her current ownership group in 10 starts since being claimed for $32,000 in November 2010. She has been freshened since Del Mar, and looks well spotted to provide jockey Joe Talamo and trainer Mike Mitchell – both of whom are off to uncharacteristically slow starts at this meet – with a win.

Before going into racetrack publicity, Disney was a long-time sportswriter in Los Angeles, most notably for the late, lamented Herald-Examiner. His ownership group – cleverly named Indizguys Stable – also includes his twin brother Doug, sportswriter Ross Newhan, who is in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Paul Salata, Ron Paulus, David Reid, and former Major League Baseball manager Buck Rodgers.

Over the years, they have owned seven horses, just one at a time. Their best claim was On the Acorn, who won $490,000, including the 2007 San Juan Capistrano Handicap, after being taken for $40,000. Talktoomuch, now 8, has provided a terrific return on investment, too. She has made $164,052 since being claimed, and will go over the $200,000 mark with a win Friday in the $60,000 race.

“We’ve been very fortunate,” Disney said. “It’s really been fun, reuniting people I’ve known for a long time. Not all our horses have been profitable. But each one has won a race.”

Of the nine horses entered in Friday’s race, Talktoomuch is one of just two in for a $62,500 claiming price. Everyone else is using their second-level allowance condition, including Lunch Time Diva, who was a winner on this course in February and most recently won a first-level allowance on the main track at Hollywood Park.

Whisper Louise has been facing stakes-class company of late, and should appreciate this softer spot. She ran a deceptively good race in the Robert Frankel on Jan. 1, gaining much ground late going 1 1/8 miles after falling far behind a slow pace. Blinkers go on Friday.

Long Lake Krista is turning back in distance after fading to fourth going one mile at Hollywood Park in a restricted stakes.