Santa Anita news: Paradise Woods moves to Shirreffs' barn

It was a welcome surprise to John Shirreffs when he recently received multiple Grade 1 winner Paradise Woods from the barn of Richard Mandella.

Shirreffs already has supervised three half-mile drills for the daughter of Union Rags, winner of the Zenyatta Stakes (G1) and the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) in 2017.

“We’re hoping to make the Santa Monica with her,” Shirreffs said, referring to the Grade 2 test at seven furlongs on Feb. 16 

Paradise Woods last raced July 20 in Del Mar's Osunitas, a try on the turf before she was sent for a freshening.

SOME NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION FROM HORSEMEN

Any post-New Year’s Eve reveling quickly became last year’s news for most horsemen early Tuesday, as it was business as usual on a brisk New Year’s Day morning at Santa Anita, lending to an opportunity for random resolutions in 2019.

Richard Baltas: “Stay healthy.”

Jeff Bonde: “I just hope we have a good year and strive to do better.”

Val Brinkerhoff: “Get a Grade 1 winner.”

Bronx native Jim Cassidy: “For the Yankees to win the World Series.”

Matt Chew: “Just enjoy each day.”

Phil D’Amato: “Not to talk to jockeys after the race.”

Peter Eurton: “To be patient.”

Mark Glatt: “Win more races, hopefully.”

Eoin Harty: “Check back with me in 30 days.”

Jerry Hollendorfer: “Try and do a better job.”

Dallas Keen: “Win some races, but the bottom line is you’ve got to have the horses.”

 Brian Koriner (whose stable has been on a roll): “I’m not changing anything right now.”

Eric Kruljac: “Stay upright the whole year.”

Bill Morey: “Win some races.”

George Papaprodromou: “Good health.”

Mike Puype: “Hope for a better year ahead.”

Tom Knust: “To finish the movie I’ve been working on for 20 years. It’s called ‘Ducks in a Tree.’”

John Shirreffs (who surfed the balmy waves in Hawaii in his youth): “Stay warm.”

Gary Stute: “I don’t make resolutions. That way I’m not disappointed when I break them. I have a few bad habits I want to keep.”

Kathy Walsh: “Keep everybody healthy and for racing to move forward.”

Dan Ward: “Always try to be positive.”

FINISH LINES: Hall of Fame great and three-time Kentucky Derby winner Kent Desormeaux is six career wins shy of 6,000 in North America, standing at 5,994 . . . Owner/trainer Mick Ruis has 17 head at Santa Anita under the guidance of daughter Shelbe. Mick also has 19 head at Keeneland and has been in contact with former Santa Anita stakes coordinator Chris Merz, now racing secretary at Laurel, seeking to land a string at the Maryland oval.