Santa Anita news: Limited edition poster honors 'Bricks,' Vox Populi
Created by the late owner of 1973 Triple Crown champion Secretariat, Penny Chenery, the inaugural Vox Populi (Voice of the People) Award was won by legendary Zenyatta in 2010.
Bricks and Mortar, a 6-year-old horse by Giants Causeway, who campaigned for owners Klaravich Stables, LLC and William H. Lawrence, was conditioned by Chad Brown and retired to stud following his magnificent 2019 season with earnings of $7,085,650.
There will be a special poster giveaway celebrating all 10 winners of the Vox Populi Award and past winning connections will be on hand beginning at 11 a.m. PT to sign these posters in Santa Anita’s Paddock Gardens area.
Among those scheduled to attend the poster signing are Bob Baffert (trainer of American Pharoah, Justify and Paynter), Art Sherman (trainer of two-time winner California Chrome) and Gary Stevens (jockey, Mucho Macho Man) Victor Espinoza, (American Pharoah).
Chris Tweedy, son of Penny Chenery, will be on hand to represent his family.
Horologist may move up for her new barn
Richard Baltas expects improvement the second time around from Horologist Saturday in the Grade 3, $200,000 La Canada Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.
The 4-year-old New Jersey-bred daughter of Gemologist was a distant ninth first out for Baltas in Keeneland’s Raven Run (G2) at seven furlongs Oct. 19 under Joe Bravo, who returns to Santa Anita for the La Canada. “Jersey Joe” won three times previously on the bay filly last year, once at Gulfstream and twice at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.
Bravo also won the American Oaks (G1) in a dramatic rail-skimming ride for Baltas at Santa Anita aboard Lady Prancealot Dec. 28, so they have a successful if brief history together.
“I didn’t have her very long and now she’s kind of in our routine,” Baltas said in explaining Horologist’s disappointing debut for him. “Hopefully, she’ll run better, and Joe asked to ride her back, plus the owners wanted him on the horse, so that’s what we did.
“Joe knows the filly, so that’s kind of good. There’s speed in there and maybe Joe can get a good trip but it’s a very tough race. I didn’t think it was going to come up that tough.”
Horologist previously campaigned on the east coast, defeating Jaywalk in the Monmout Oaks (G3) before finishing third in the Cotillion Stakes (G1). New partners then bought in, leading to a transfer to Baltas from trainer John Mazza.
Storm the Hill in a 'good spot'
Storm the Hill shortens up in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes for older fillies and mares going 5 ½ furlongs on turf.
The 6-year-old mare is coming off five straight races of a mile or longer, including a fifth in the Matriarch (G1) on Dec. 1.
“She’s training very well and she’s won stakes sprinting on the grass,” said trainer Phil D’Amato, alluding to the Senator Ken Maddy (G3) in 2018 and the Unzip Me in 2017.
“She’s coming out of a tough Grade 1 and I think this is a good spot to start off the New Year.”
Storm the Hill worked five furlongs on the training track Sunday in 1:00.40 under Flavien Prat, who rides her competitively for the first time in the Las Cienegas.