Home Run Kitten Ready for Saturday's Arcadia

Home Run Kitten goes for the second stakes win of his career when he runs in Saturday’s Grade II Arcadia Stakes at one mile on turf.

The versatile son of Kitten’s Joy trained by David Hofmans for longtime client Susan Osborne, who races as Tarabilla Farms, Inc., won the Singletary Stakes at one mile on grass and also the Grade III Eddie D. at about 6 ½ furlongs on turf. Last out, he was second by a neck in the Grade II Mathis Brothers Mile on Dec. 26.

“I’m happy with the draw (post position two in a field of nine), but the field’s a little tough,” Hofmans said. “He tries every time and there’s no other place to run.”

In 10 career starts, Home Run Kitten has a 4-2-2 record with earnings of $257,800. He will be ridden once again by Joe Talamo, who been aboard in each of his previous starts.

The Arcadia field: Play Hard To Get, Alex Solis, 20-1; Home Run Kitten, Joe Talamo, 3-1; Baccelo, Tiago Pereira, 20-1; Kaigun, Corey Nakatani, 5-2; Edge of Reality, Flavien Prat, 8-1; El Nino Terrible, Fernando Perez, 12-1; Talco, Drayden Van Dyke, 8-1; Za Approval, Mike Smith, 3-1; and Avanzare, Gary Stevens, 4-1.

XPRESSBET, SANTA ANITA, GULFSTREAM INTRODUCE ‘X-COUNTRY’ PICK 4

Leading online wagering provider Xpressbet, in conjunction with Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park and the Stronach Group, is excited to announce its plans to offer horseplayers the opportunity to play a special Pick 4 on Saturday, Feb. 7. The all-stakes, $500,000 guaranteed ‘X-Country’ (Cross Country) Pick 4 will combine the best races that day at Gulfstream – the Donn Handicap and Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap – and Santa Anita – the San Antonio Stakes and San Marcos Stakes – and will coincide with a live broadcast of those races on Fox Sports 1.

The majority of North America’s best racehorses are scheduled to be in action that day, with Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome likely to square off against Pacific Classic and Malibu Stakes victor Shared Belief in the San Antonio Stakes, while Lea targets a repeat in the Donn Handicap against last year’s Florida Derby winner, Constitution.

“February 7 is a day that many horseplayers and racing fans circled on their calendars weeks ago,” said Xpressbet President, Ron Luniewski. “Not only do these races historically draw exceptional fields, but this year is truly special with so many of the world’s best horses planning to run. We’re excited that the X-Country Pick 4 has become a reality, and we’re excited that horseplayers will have the opportunity to bet on all of these great horses and races as part of one wager.”

"With world-class cards at both Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park on Feb. 7, horseplayers can expect some great wagering opportunities, including the X-Country Pick 4.” said Santa Anita President Tom Ludt. "We are very excited for a potential rematch of the 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic in the Grade II San Antonio Stakes and an exciting day of racing."

P.J. Campo, Vice President of Racing for The Stronach Group and General Manager of Gulfstream Park, added, "It's going to be a huge weekend. Not only will our fans see four of the country's most prestigious races and top horses, but another unique wager from The Stronach Group with a $500,000 guarantee. We're looking forward to working with our partners at Santa Anita and Xpressbet to make this a memorable day."

In addition to the Grade I Donn Handicap and Grade I Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, Gulfstream Park’s Feb. 7 card also includes the Grade III Fred Hooper Stakes, the Grade III Suwannee River Stakes and the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint.  Santa Anita’s Feb. 7 card also features the Grade III Robert B. Lewis Stakes, as well as the Grade II San Marcos Stakes and the San Antonio.

Customers who play the X-Country Pick 4 at Xpressbet will also receive 0% takeout for their winning wager, as well as 4-times XB Rewards Bonus Points. To sign up for an Xpressbet account and to receive an enhanced $150 Welcome Bonus, please visit www.xpressbet.com/XCountry and enter promo code XCOUNTRY. 

GREAT RACE PLACE MOURNS PASSING OF OWNER/RACONTEUR DIMKICH

Funeral services for owner/raconteur Gary Dimkich have been set for Saturday,10 a.m. at St. Steven’s Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Alhambra. A frequent visitor to Clockers’ Corner, Dimkich enjoyed the everyday camaraderie of friends and was well-steeped in the lore and tradition of racing and “All Things Santa Anita.”

A Los Angeles native, Dimkich, 69, passed away suddenly at his Arcadia home on Saturday night following a day spent with friends on Sunshine Millions/California Cup Day at the track. A graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in nearby El Sereno, Dimkich went on to play football at Cal State Los Angeles, where he led his school’s conference in punting one season.

A lifelong friend of influential Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, Dimkich developed a myriad of relationships over the years and operated the popular eatery, Delacy’s Club 41, in Old Town Pasadena for eight years.  Subsequent to that, he enjoyed a career as a part-time actor, appearing on the HBO series LUCK, and later on shows such as The Mentalist, Sons of Anarchy and others.

Dimkich also endeavored to benefit area children by working at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House. He is survived by his wife; Leah, two daughters, Nicole and Cara, two granddaughters, Isabella and Sofia, his brother Mitch, two nieces and a nephew.

The Dimkich family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House: 763 South Pasadena Ave., Pasadena, Ca., 91105.

FINISH LINES: Santa Anita invites fans to its Big Game Party Sunday in the Bud Light Lounge & Sirona’s. Enjoy a buffet, program, big screen HDTV’s, two full-size pool tables, and $3 Budweiser and Bud Light brews all day for only $20. Tickets are available online at santaanita.com/events. Fans must be 21 or older to enter this area on a first come, first served for seating. Call 626-574-6400 for rates. First post time is 11 a.m. . . . Sunland Derby and Damascus winner Chitu worked four furlongs in company for Bob Baffert Thursday morning in 46.60 under Martin Garcia. Stablemate Global Hottie was clocked in 47 flat . . . Richard Mandella on how Beholder is coming along: “She couldn’t be better.” . . . Tom Quigley’s guest handicapper Saturday in the East Paddock Gardens at 11:20 a.m. will be HRTV reporter/analyst Zoe Cadman. There will be no seminar Sunday due to early post time . . . No fear of triskaidekaphobia: Aperfectdaytofly ($7.40 in the seventh race) and Sum Midnight Star ($9.60 in the ninth) each won Sunday wearing saddle cloth No. 13 . . . Former jockey Corey Black is known for being loquacious, but trainer Howard Zucker was on point in his description: “You ask him what time it is and he tells you how to build a clock.”

Source: Santa Anita Park