Santa Anita notes: Maldonado to ride Reneesgotzip in Breeders' Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. – Reneesgotzip, the winner of the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Stakes at Del Mar in August, will be ridden by Edwin Maldonado in a Breeders’ Cup sprint race Nov. 2, trainer Peter Miller said Sunday.

Reneesgotzip was ridden by Garrett Gomez when she won the Rancho Bernardo, but Gomez is not currently riding. Gomez informed his agent, Tony Matos, on Oct. 10 that he intended to stop riding. Gomez has not had a presence in Southern California racing in recent weeks. He has not returned phone calls seeking comment.

Gomez missed almost two months of riding in June and July while dealing with alcoholism. It is not clear why Gomez is not currently active.

Miller said Sunday that Reneesgotzip will be pre-entered for two Nov. 2 races against males – the $1 million BC Turf Sprint over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course and the $1.5 million BC Sprint over six furlongs on dirt. Reneesgotzip was third in the 2012 BC Turf Sprint.

Miller said he was leaning against a pre-entry in the $1 million BC Filly and Mare Sprint over seven furlongs Nov. 2. “I don’t know that she’s as effective going seven-eighths,” he said.

Maldonado rode Reneesgotzip to a 5 1/4-length win in an allowance race over six furlongs at Del Mar on July 18, when Gomez was not riding. On Sunday, Maldonado worked Reneesgotzip five furlongs in 1:00.40 at Betfair Hollywood Park. Miller timed the workout in 1:00.

“I’ve got a lot of confidence in Edwin,” Miller said. “He won on her at Del Mar. It makes sense. She’s a speed horse, and he’s great on speed horses.”

Owned by Debbie Lanni, Reneesgotzip, 4, has won 7 of 12 starts and earned $655,450.

Holy Lute breezes for BC Dirt Mile

Holy Lute, a candidate for the $1 million BC Dirt Mile on Nov. 1, worked five furlongs in 59 seconds at Santa Anita on Sunday, the fastest of 48 recorded works at the distance.

“I didn’t want to go that fast, but so be it,” trainer Jim Cassidy said.

Owned by Class Racing Stable, Holy Lute won the El Cajon Stakes for 3-year-olds at Del Mar on Aug. 30 and was a troubled third in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby at Indiana Downs on Oct. 5. Holy Lute has yet to start in a stakes against older horses.

Cassidy will have a starter in Oscar Party in Saturday’s $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. Purchased for $510,000 by Deron Pearson at the Paddock Sale at Del Mar in July, Oscar Party was second in the Indiana Oaks at Indiana Downs on Oct. 5.

Oscar Party also was third in the Grade 3 Regret Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf at Churchill Downs on June 15.

Bright Thought eyes BC Mile

Bright Thought, unraced since winning the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes in March, is being pointed for the $2 million BC Mile on Nov. 2, trainer Jorge Gutierrez said.

A 4-year-old colt, Bright Thought was sidelined with a splint-bone injury last spring. His return to training took longer than expected, preventing a start at Del Mar in the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes in July.

Bright Thought worked seven furlongs in 1:28.60 on turf Saturday, his sixth workout since mid-September. Co-owned by Marjorie Dye and Alex Venneri, Bright Thought has won 4 of 7 starts and earned $164,500.

• She’s a Tiger, the runner-up in the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes on Sept. 28, worked six furlongs in 1:10.60 on Sunday. Trained by Jeff Bonde, She’s a Tiger is expected to start in the $2 million BC Juvenile Fillies over 1 1/16 miles Nov. 2. She won the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante over seven furlongs Aug. 31.