Tough Showdown for 'The Sherif' in Midnight Lute
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Seeking the Sherif has won five of nine starts including the $75,000 Katella Stakes at Los Alamitos since Ron Ellis claimed him for a partnership for a pittance, $12,500, last Dec. 28.
Even though the 5-year-old gelding is coming off an eighth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 1 when he runs in Saturday’s Midnight Lute Stakes, Ellis knows he has a tough assignment.
Seeking the Sherif broke from the one hole in the Sprint, dashing any serious hopes Ellis had of defeating the likes of Secret Circle, who was second in the field of 14 and who won the race in 2013.
“Breaking from the rail in the Breeders’ Cup was a tough thing to overcome but it was a tough race,” Ellis said. “The horse is probably not quite that good, but he doesn’t owe us anything after being claimed for $12,500.
“He’s a hard-trying horse and he’s doing great. I just don’t know if he’s as good as Secret Circle.”
Secret Circle drew just outside of Seeking the Sherif in the Midnight Lute, post position six in a field of seven.
HENRY MORENO ALIVE, WELL & ENJOYING OPENING DAY
Veteran trainer Henry Moreno, 85, was at his familiar post this morning enjoying coffee and laughs with friends and colleagues at Clockers’ Corner. With apologies to Mark Twain, reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated.
“I’m very much alive,” Moreno said after one of his horses, the stakes-placed Spud Spivens, worked five furlongs in 1:01. “I’ve been out here at Santa Anita for 45, 50 years, and I’ve been training horses all my life.
“I was raised on a big ranch with horses and that’s all I‘ve ever done. I did serve in Korea and had some pretty close calls, but I survived there, too. I’m a survivor.”
FINISH LINES: Former trainer Richard Lockwood, winner of more than 1,200 races in a 35-year career, was among many visitors at Clockers’ Corner Friday. “I just came out to get a calendar and visit with friends,” said the four-time training king at Turf Paradise, where he won more than 800 races (second to all-time leader “King” Richard Hazelton) . . . Jockey Corey Nakatani will be Tom Quigley’s guest at his handicapping seminar Saturday, 11:20 a.m., in the East Paddock Gardens . . . Crimson Giant, a 5-year-old gelding who makes his 61st career start in today’s second race, has finished third on 14 occasions, nearly 25 percent of the time.
Source: Ed Golden, Santa Anita Stable Notes
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