Santa Anita news: Espinoza booked for first race back from injury

Victor Espinoza is scheduled to resume his career Monday after an absence of almost seven months when he rides Gallantly Streaming for trainer John Sadler.

The 46-year-old Hall of Fame member suffered a fractured vertebra in his neck and a shoulder and arm stinger in a training mishap at Del Mar last July 22.

“It’s been a long time coming and it feels like forever,” said his agent, Brian Beach, who also represents Victor’s nephew, top apprentice Asa Espinoza. “It wasn’t like we were looking for a particular race or a particular horse.

“The right opportunity came along and hopefully we can build from here.”

A three-time Kentucky Derby winner, Espinoza’s popularity went mainstream after winning the Triple Crown on American Pharoah in 2015, prior to a near miss on two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome in 2014.

Those achievements ultimately led to network TV appearances on the David Letterman Show and Dancing With The Stars, but now it’s back to Victor’s primary vocation, riding horses.

SELCOURT SET TO DEFEND TITLE IN SANTA MONICA

Sadler expects further progress from Selcourt in Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes after the fleet mare finished second as the 3-10 favorite in the restricted Kalookan Queen Stakes on Jan. 13, her first race in more than two months.

“The Santa Monica looks like a strong race, but she’s doing really well,” the trainer said of the front-running daughter of Tiz Wonderful, who defeated Marley’s Freedom in winning last year’s Santa Monica wire-to-wire by 4 ½ lengths.

“She had her comeback race (in the Kalookan Queen); she didn’t win, but she ran second, came out of it good, and looks like she’s moving forward, so hopefully she’s returning to her form of 2018.”

Tyler Baze has ridden Selcourt in every one of her eight career races, but rides Escape Clause in the Santa Monica. Her jockey in the Santa Monica will be Joe Talamo.

As for Horse of the Year runner-up Accelerate, retired to stud in Kentucky after finishing third in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 26, Sadler said the son of Lookin At Lucky is enjoying life as a stallion at Lane’s End, where he stands for $20,000.

“He’s already got a full book of 170 mares,” Sadler said. “He’s doing great. When he first got there it was really cold, but he’s settled in nicely.”

The field for the Santa Monica, race nine of 10 with a 12 noon first post time: Paradise Woods, Joel Rosario, 7-2; Selcourt, Joe Talamo, 3-1; Marley’s Freedom, Drayden Van Dyke, 2-1; Dream Tree, Mike Smith, 4-1; Mopotism, Mario Gutierrez, 12-1; Escape Clause, Tyler Baze, 6-1; and Amuse, Rafael Bejarano, 12-1.

SWEET PREAKNESS DEAL FOR EL CAMINO REAL DERBY WINNER

It’s a longshot and light years away in racing time, but Keith Desormeaux hopes he gets another chance to win the Preakness Stakes starting Saturday when Knight’s Cross runs in the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.

For the first time, Golden Gate’s premier race for 3-year-olds will provide the winner with an automatic, all expenses paid berth to the middle jewel of the Triple Crown on May 18 at Pimlico Race Course (in order to qualify, the winner must be Triple Crown-nominated).

“Winning a race like the Preakness is what we all work for,” said Desormeaux, who captured the classic in 2016 with Exaggerator. “Right now, my 3-year-olds are still developing and hopefully one can make it to a race like the Kentucky Derby or Preakness.”

Golden Gate Fields and Pimlico are both owned by The Stronach Group, North America’s largest owner of race tracks which also include Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park and Laurel Park.