Royal Mo Works Toward Rebel Start
With stablemate Gormley staying home at Santa Anita to run in today’s Grade II San Felipe Stakes, Robert B. Lewis Stakes winner Royal Mo worked six furlongs in company Saturday morning in 1:13.40 under regular rider Victor Espinoza for the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park next Saturday.
Workmate Guggenheim was clocked in 1:14 flat.
“I got him (Royal Mo) in 13 and change,” said John Shirreffs, who trains the son of Uncle Mo for Jerry and Ann Moss. “He looked very good. Victor was happy with him, so if he comes out of the work well, we’re on our way. He’ll ship on the 14th.”
‘HONEST’ SHEEZA MILKY WAY IN SUNDAY’S SANTA ANA
Sheeza Milky Way has been flirting with graded stakes status during her 12-race career and trainer Peter Eurton hopes the four-year-old Sidney’s Candy filly achieves that level in Sunday’s Grade II Santa Ana Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
“She’s an honest filly, she’s doing very well and if she gets the trip, she’s going to give you everything she has,” Eurton said. “She might be a notch below (the top ones), but I think you haven’t seen the best of her yet.”
The Santa Ana: Pretty Girl, Victor Espinoza, 6-1; Do the Dance, Tyler Baze, 12-1; Goodyearforroses, Corey Nakatani, 5-2; Sheeza Milky Way, Jamie Theriot, 6-1; Sweet Charity, Flavien Prat, 4-1; Kenriya, Rafael Bejarano, 4-1; Evo Campo, Brice Blanc, 8-1; and Responsibleforlove, Norberto Arroyo Jr., 6-1.
FINISH LINES - Bob Baffert supervised workouts Saturday morning for Sham Stakes runner-up American Anthem, San Antonio Stakes winner Hoppertunity and Mor Spirit, winner of the Grade I Los Alamitos Futurity in 2015, each going six furlongs in a bullet 1:11.60. American Anthem had Martin Garcia up and worked with Mor Spirit. Hoppertunity, ticketed for the Dubai World Cup on March 25, went with workmate Dr. Dorr who got a five furlong clocking of 59.80 . . . Corey Nakatani rides It Tiz Well for Jerry Hollendorfer in today’s Grade III Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park . . . Mike McCarthy reports Illuminant in good shape following her impressive comeback win in Friday’s Wishing Well Stakes. McCarthy has her ticketed for Keeneland’s Grade I Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf April 15 . . . With his game victory aboard 6-1 shot Classic Ruler in today’s first race, it marked the fifth win for apprentice Evin Roman, who lost three pounds from his weight allowance and now rides as a seven-pound ‘bug.’ . . . On Saturday, March 18, Santa Anita offers the St. Paddy’s Day Pitch, with the person who tosses a ringer winning $1 million! It’s free to enter. Just get on track, fill out a contest entry card and you could be one of four entries selected to participate, or sign up online at santaanita.com/events before March 18, as one online entry also will be chosen.
Source: Santa Anita Park