Callaghan hoping for improvement from Hiking in Possibly Perfect
Hiking was second in the Pleasantly Perfect Stakes last year when it was run at a mile and a half on grass, and trainer Simon Callaghan is hoping for a modicum of improvement Sunday when the $75,000 race for fillies and mares, three and up, is contested at the shorter distance of a mile and a quarter.
A Kentucky-bred daughter of First Defence, Hiking was seventh by 13 lengths at 29-1 in the Grade III Santa Barbara Stakes on April 30. The Possibly Perfect will be only the third stakes race for Hiking, a six-year-old mare with a 4-3-4 record from 22 starts.
“I think she’s doing as well as she has since we’ve had her,” Callaghan said. “The Possibly Perfect is a pretty competitive race. Paddy Gallagher’s two fillies (Evo Campo and September Stars) look pretty tough, but my horse is training well, so we’re hopeful.”
The Possibly Perfect lineup: Evo Campo, Rafael Bejarano, 2-1; Place des Verges, Norberto Arroyo Jr., 4-1; September Stars, Gary Stevens, 5-2; Responsibleforlove, Joe Talamo, 9-2; Laseen, Santiago Gonzalez, 5-1; Stylish in Black, Agapito Delgadillo, 15-1; and Hiking, Israel Ocampo, 12-1.
‘OWNERS’ GROOM ELITE’ CLASSES AT SANTA ANITA
The Elite Program Inc., through its Groom Elite programming, is excited to announce a unique opportunity for owners of racehorses to receive the same instruction that has been taught to over 3,000 grooms, inmates and others since 2001. Owners Groom Elite Session I will be conducted at Santa Anita Park July 10-14 followed by Session II on Sept. 25-29. .
At the request of a group of racehorse owners in Southern California, Dr. C. Reid McLellan, a nationally recognized equine educator, will present the materials taught in Basic Grooming 099, Groom Elite 101 and Groom Elite 201 during two intense weeks of six-hour per day instruction. The Groom Elite proven format of lecture and hands-on will be the mode of instruction. Owners will learn “best-practices” for taking care of their racehorses with the opportunity to see where they can make decisions that can improve their horse’s chances of winning races.
Sessions will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day with a 90-minute lunch break. During session I, McLellan will present “Behavior and Grooming,” the foundation and underlying philosophy of working safely with horses while increasing confidence in human and horses.
“Confident horses win races,” McLellan says. Longtime Santa Anita veterinarian Helmuth Von Bluecher, DVM, participated in McLellan’s instructor training at IsothermalCollege (Tryon, NC) and teaches in ICC’s ongoing Groom Elite program. Dr. Von Bluecher was impressed with the first two lectures in Basic Grooming 099.
“Dr. Mac presented information about how horses react the way they do. Experienced grooms and horse people already use some of those principles without understanding the background. Understanding and applying those principles can help a horse get comfortable with its groom faster. I learned new information and I think any horseman would benefit from attending this program from the beginning.”
In addition to Horse Behavior, Session I will present the first two-thirds of Groom Elite 101, including Height, Weight and Body Condition Score; Health Check; Basic Conformation, Leg Anatomy and Exam; Hay for horses; Horse Digestive System, Feeding Racehorses; and Introduction to Bandaging.
Session II will return to Santa Anita Sept. 25-29 and continue the Groom Elite 101 materials with more Bandaging, Tacking, The Horse’s Foot, and Test Barn. Groom Elite 201 (Advanced Grooming) includes advanced discussions of Skeleton, Muscles, Injuries, Therapy, Cooling out Hot Horses, Tying up and Non-Sweaters. Attendees of Session I will have priority for one of 20 limited seats in Session II.
Liane Hart, racehorse breeder and owner, Groom Elite 101/201 graduate (Indiana), Trainer Exam Prep Class graduate (Lexington) and now a Groom Elite Board member, passed her Kentucky assistant trainer’s licensing exam June 1. Liane wrote Dr. Mac, “Thank you for everything you have done for me over the years. I couldn’t have done this without you and the Groom Elite classes. You covered basically everything that was on the test.”
Tuition for each week-long session is $599. Session I registration is open now and participants who sign up before June 23 pay an EARLY BIRD special tuition of $499. Space will be limited to 20 spots to allow for discussion and hands-on opportunities. Attendees of Session I will have priority for a seat in Session II and will be able to sign up for Session II at Session I before registration is open to the public.
A waiting list will be established if either session is over subscribed. Those interested are encouraged to go to www.groomelite.com and sign up. Anyone without internet access is invited to call 859-252-8648 (Race for Education) or Dr. McLellan at 859-321-4377 and sign up over the phone.
Don’t forget the upcoming Trainers’ Exam Prep Classes in Lexington, KY on June 28-30, and RemingtonPark on Aug. 16-18. Links to information about those classes also available atwww.groomelite.com.
The National HBPA ( www.hbpa.org) based in Lexington, Ky. is the largest racing horsemen’s representative organization in North America with 30 affiliate organizations and over 30,000 member horsemen. Big Dee’s Tack & Vet Supplies, Lavin Insurance Group LLC, Xpressbet, NTRA Advantage, equineline.com, Red Brand, Finish Line Horse Products Inc. and Horseman Labor Solutions are proud corporate partners of the National HBPA.
FINISH LINES: Drayden Van Dyke is about to resume his riding career after being sidelined since suffering a compound fracture of his right arm in a two-horse spill on Jan. 27. The nation’s Eclipse Award-winning apprentice rider in 2014, the 22-year-old Van Dyke had five wins from 51 rides at the time of the mishap. “He gets his release from doctors on June 6 and he’ll be getting on horses next week,” said his agent, Brad Pegram, who also represents the nation’s leader in purse earnings with $10,842,688, Mike Smith. “Drayden is ready to return; he’s more than ready.” . . . Santa Anita enjoyed major increases in attendance this Memorial Day weekend compared with last year. On track attendance for the month of May totaled 154,669 to last year’s 138,572, an increase of 11.6 percent. This Memorial Dayweekend, attendance was 48,100 to 2016’s 38,160, a jump of 26 percent. Links to view are: Memorial Day Weekend Recap Video: https://vimeo.com/219446305, andMemorial Day Monday Video Recap: https://vimeo.com/219911104 . . . Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion Drefong (pronounced DRAY-fong) worked four furlongs Saturday for Bob Baffert in :48 flat under regular rider Martin Garcia for the Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar on July 29. Workmate Pretty Owl was timed in 48.40 . . . On the training track, Grade I winner Union Strike had her final major breeze before shipping Tuesday for next Saturday’s Grade I Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park, going four furlongs in a bullet 47.80 under regular pilot Brice Blanc for part owner and trainer Mick Ruis. Ibon also got a bullet clocking of 47.80 for trainer Paulo Lobo. “She went great, just a perfect work,” Blanc said of Union Strike. “She’s doing well and we’re ready to go. She just needs a little luck. Hopefully, we’re good enough, and I think she is.” . . . Fans are invited to experience the 10th annual “Santa Anita Uncorked” at The Great Race Place on Belmont Stakes Day. In addition to wine tasting, a souvenir wine glass, cuisine sampling, an art show featuring a silent auction and a day at the races, the Santa Anita Uncorked package includes parking, admission, racing program and a Club House seat all for just $60. Tickets are available from wineofthemonthclub.com or santaanita.com, and the Santa Anita ticket office.