Santa Anita notes: Callaghan has much to look forward to

ARCADIA, Calif. - Three juvenile winners in 24 hours last weekend have given trainer Simon Callaghan a core of 3-year-olds to follow in coming months.

Saturday, Callaghan won consecutive maiden races with the colts Cherubim in a six-furlong race on the main track and Ontology on turf. Sunday, the filly Fashion Plate won a six-furlong dirt race in her third start.

They all may run in stakes in their next start.

Cherubim, owned by Jerry Frankel, will be considered for the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs Feb. 16, Callaghan said. Fashion Plate is a candidate for the $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes over a mile for fillies Feb. 1. Plans have not been decided for Ontology, who ran in six consecutive stakes from July to the end of November. Owned by Paul Reddam, Ontology was second in the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf at Del Mar in September and could stay on turf.

Fashion Plate, owned by Arnold Zetcher and Michael Tabor, led throughout a maiden race to win by 6 1/2 lengths.

“It was the sort of race we were hoping for,” Callaghan said. “We’ve always felt like she was a stakes-caliber filly.”

The son of retired English trainer Neville Callaghan, Simon relocated to the United States in late 2009. Initially, he had a stable of primarily turf horses, but he said that is changing.

“The 2-year-olds were what me and my father were known for in England,” he said. “We came from England with clients who sent mostly turf horses. Now, we’ve got clients who will go to yearling and [2-year-olds in training] sales.”

Karen Headley gets first Santa Anita win

San Onofre gave trainer Karen Headley her first winner at Santa Anita when the 3-year-old gelding won an allowance race over six furlongs on dirt by an easy 2 3/4 lengths last Saturday.

By Surf Cat, San Onofre could be Headley’s first stakes runner. Headley assists her father, Bruce, but has a small stable of her own. San Onofre was bred by Bruce Headley and is owned by Matson Racing.

In Saturday’s race for California-breds, San Onofre earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure under Mike Smith. Karen Headley said that San Onofre would start around two turns in his next start.

“When I worked him seven-eighths, he galloped out 1:36,” Headley said. “His sire could run short or long.”

◗ Jockey Martin Pedroza has been given a three-day suspension for causing interference aboard Outside Nashville in the Sir Beaufort Stakes on turf on Dec. 26. Outside Nashville finished in a dead heat for third, but was demoted to fourth for the interference. Pedroza’s suspension runs from Thursday through Saturday.