Santa Anita: Motorious comes back in Joe Hernández

Motorious, who came up a nose short in last month’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar, headlines a field of nine set to go in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Joe Hernández Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.  

In the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint going five furlongs, Motorious rallied from 10th under Antonio Fresu and was narrowly edged by European invader Starlust. In his previous start, Motorious won the Green Flash (G3) going five furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 31.

Motorious, who is trained by Phil D’Amato for owner Anthony Fanticola, has a record of 4: 2-1-1 on Santa Anita’s unique hillside turf course including a win in last year’s San Simeon (G3). The 6-year-old gelding by Muhaarar has an overall mark of 20: 7-5-2 with $687,604 in earnings. He will again have Fresu in the irons.  

D’Amato also entered Unconquerable Keen and Sorrento Sky, who most recently were separated by a half-length when running one-two in the five-furlong Stormy Liberal Stakes at Del Mar Dec. 1.

Unconquerable Keen also won the Stormy Liberal in 2023. He is winless in two starts over the hillside turf course.   

Umberto Rispoli, who rode Unconquerable Keen in the Stormy Liberal, again has the call. The 5-year-old gelding by the Danehill stallion Clodovil has a record of 20: 7-2-4 with $333,089 in earnings. He is campaigned by CYBT, Omar Aldabbagh and Michael Nentwig.  

Sorrento Sky, a 3-year-old, went off the slight 7-2 favorite in the Stormy Liberal. Prior to that effort, he beat older horses in a pair of allowance turf sprints. Sorrento Sky has made one previous hillside start, a fourth-place effort in the Desert Code Stakes in May.  

Bred in Ireland, where he made his first two starts, Sorrento Sky is son of the Kodiak stallion Prince of Lir. He is campaigned domestically by Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, McLean Racing Stables et al.  

Air Force Red, winner of the 2022 Joe Hernández, is back this year for trainer Leonard Powell. The 6-year-old ridgling by Air Force Blue most recently was second in the Eddie D (G2) sprinting on the hillside course in September.

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbreds and Holly Golightly, Air Force Red is 21: 6-3-1 with $638,574. He will be ridden by Juan Hernández.