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View Winners → Santa Anita Opens Winter Season Friday
Arcadia Weekly Sep 27, 2012
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Eddie D. Looking Forward to Race in His Honor Opening Day
Eddie Delahoussaye was taking care of business Tuesday morning at Santa Anita, four days before being the honored guest for the inaugural Eddie D Stakes on opening day, Friday.The Grade III race at about 6 ½ furlongs on turf formerly was run as the Morvich Stakes.“That was a very nice story Bill (Dwyre) wrote on me today in the Los Angeles Times,” said the retired Hall of Fame rider, who celebrated his 61st birthday last Friday. “I’m looking forward to the big day and hopefully we’ll have a good turnout.“I know it’s Friday and a lot of people are working, but people I’ve met at the gym and through my doctor’s office are going to be off and they’re going to come out, along with a lot of my other friends.“It will be great, and hopefully racing can build off of this day and keep getting better.”For the record, Delahoussaye won the Morvich once, in 1984, with the Eddie Gregson-conditioned Tsunami Slew.The field for the Eddie D, race eight of nine: Crimson Giant, Modesto Linares; Chosen Miracle, Alonso Quinonez; Calimonco, Martin Garcia; Koast, Rafael Bejarano; Shrug, Victor Espinoza; Comma to the Top, Martin Pedroza; Boxeur des Rules, Mario Gutierrez; Octane, David Flores; Red Sun, Joe Talamo; Tale of a Champion, Garrett Gomez; Mensa Heat, Juan Hernandez; Canuletmedowneasy, Edwin Maldonado; and Unbridled’s Note, Corey Nakatani.
There’s an aura of tranquility surrounding David Flores these days, from head to toe and inside and out. The 43-year-old jockey carries himself with an air of confidence that comes from experience. The Tijuana native hopes his demeanor helps on Oct. 6 when he rides Pat O’Brien winner Capital Account for Bob Baffert against Breeders’ Cup Sprint king Amazombie in the inaugural Santa Anita Sprint Championship.
“If he runs like he has been, we’ll be fine,” Flores said of Capital Account, who worked five furlongs on Santa Anita’s main track Sunday in 1:00.60. “A good pace will help him, although he’s a much better horse at seven or seven and a half furlongs.”
The Santa Anita sprint will be decided at six furlongs, so adjustments might be in store. “He ran a good race behind Amazombie the time before (third by a length and a quarter in the Bing Crosby on July 29),” pointed out Flores, who is represented by agent Craig O’Bryan. “But going shorter, I don’t know. We might have to change something. But the horse has the talent.”
As for Flores, he’s like a kid on Christmas morning every time he gazes at Santa Anita’s rapturous setting.
“I enjoy every moment here,” he said. “It’s a lovely place and I’ve had the privilege of being here for quite a while now, and still have few nice horses to ride. It’s great to have trainers who back me up. If you don’t have the trainers to support you, this game is not easy.”
Now one of the senior riders on the circuit, Flores takes facing Father Time it in stride.
“Things have been changing for the last 10 years and there are a lot of new riders here now,” he said. “But I feel great. I’m on the top of my game, physically and mentally. As long as I have good stock, we’ll be able to compete with this new colony of riders.”
VERSATILE SLIM SHADEY WORKS TOWARDS JOHN HENRY ON SUNDAY
San Marcos Stakes winner Slim Shadey had his final major drill for Sunday’s John Henry Turf Championship (formerly the Clement Hirsch), going five furlongs on Santa Anita’s main track Saturday in 1:02.20.
“He worked really well,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “He’s training great. He’s freshened up really well. We ran him back too quick last time (in the July 21 Eddie Read at Del Mar) on short rest (from the Whittingham at Betfair Hollywood Park on June 9). He just ran a flat race.
“We’ve given him some time, freshened him up, and now I think we’ve got him in really good form and he’s going to run a really good race.
“He’s won on the lead here and he’s won from coming out of it, so he’s really easy in that respect. He’s pace-dependent. If something wants to go quick in front, we’ll rate in behind. If nothing goes, we can make the lead. He’s really adaptable in that way.”
