Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Mullins has strong pair for opening-day stakes
The 3-year-olds River Boyne and Tatters to Riches are both owned by Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, and each has a strong chance in a graded stakes on opening day of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting on Dec. 26.
River Boyne, a four-time stakes winner this year, figures to be favored in the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile for 3-year-olds on turf.
River Boyne has been the star 3-year-old for the owners and trainer Jeff Mullins this year, winning 5 of 8 starts and $521,718. River Boyne won the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita on Nov. 4, and was second by a half-length to Raging Bull in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar on Dec. 1.
The $200,000 Mathis Brothers is the final turf race of the year limited to 3-year-olds.
“We have to take advantage of those 3-year-old races,” Mullins said.
The race goal on Dec. 26 for Tatters to Riches has yet to be determined, Mullins said on Friday.
Options include the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, a $300,000 race for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs, or the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes, a $250,000 race at 1 1/8 miles against older horses.
“He can do either one,” Mullins said. “We’ll get a couple of more works in him and decide.”
Tatters to Riches won the Shared Belief Stakes for 3-yearolds at a mile at Del Mar in August, but was fifth in the Comma to the Top Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 28. Friday, Tatters to Riches worked six furlongs from the gate in 1:13.60 at Santa Anita.
The Malibu Stakes field is expected to include Copper Bullet, who worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 at Santa Anita on Friday. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Copper Bullet won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special in August 2017 and his only start this year – an allowance race at Churchill Downs on Nov. 23.
There are five stakes on the opening-day program at Santa Anita, including four graded stakes. The Malibu Stakes is one of two Grade 1 races along with the $300,000 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.
The San Antonio Stakes is designed as a prep for the $9 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 26. The $75,000 Lady of Shamrock Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf will be run for the first time on Dec. 26.
There is a 10-day gap between the final day of the Los Alamitos winter meeting on Sunday and opening day at Santa Anita, the longest such break in the Southern California schedule since 2012.
Weather permitting, there will be many turf races in the opening days of the Santa Anita meeting. Los Alamitos does not have a turf course, meaning there has been no grass racing on the circuit since the final day of the Del Mar autumn meeting on Dec. 2.
Santa Anita is planning a 10-race program on Dec. 26, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Pacific, the track announced on Friday.
Moore leaving Santa Anita role
Dennis Moore is leaving his position as track consultant at Santa Anita on Dec. 31, he said on Friday.
Moore said that the decision has been planned for months.
“I gave them my notice in September,” he said. “I just turned 69, and when you get to that that age you start winding down.
“It was a hard decision. They’ve been good to me and I’ve enjoyed it. I’m proud of what we accomplished over there.”
Moore said he will be replaced by Andy LaRocco.
Moore said he will remain involved in track maintenance at Del Mar and Los Alamitos. Moore is also redeveloping the track at Arizona Downs in Prescott, Ariz., which will reopen next spring. The track was previously known as Yavapai Downs.
Moore was at Los Alamitos on Friday morning. He said one factor in leaving Santa Anita was the time commitment, which kept him away from his home for several nights a week.
“It was a day-to-day grind,” he said. “I was never home. I’ll be able to spend more time at home.”
Rye nearing return
The stakes winner Rye is nearing a return to racing. Trainer William Morey said on Friday that he hopes to have Rye ready for the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic for California-breds at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Jan. 26, a race the 5-year-old horse won last January.
Rye was later third in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about 1 3/4 miles on turf in April.
Owned by Joseph Morey Jr., who is not related to the trainer, Rye is in training at Golden Gate Fields.
“I’d like to get a race under his belt and see if we can make the Unusual Heat Classic,” William Morey said. “It’s kind of our goal.”