DELIA HIGH ON I’M A ROCKETTE AFTER DAZZLING ALLOWANCE WIN
Heading into last week’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day feature race, an allowance sprint for 3-year-old fillies, trainer Bill Delia felt confident that his contender, California-bred I’m A Rockette, was ready for a big effort.
“She had a super workout-a bullet work-leading up to the race,” said Delia. “I knew she was feeling good.”
Off at odds of 2-1, the Delia trained dark bay filly sat off the pace before producing an explosive rally down the lane, opening up on her competition at the eighth pole, and hitting the wire a half dozen lengths in front of runner up finisher and stakes-placed filly No Cover Charge. With the allowance win in the books, I’m A Rockette improved her lifetime record to an undefeated 3 for 3.
“I’ve been in the game for a long time and I’ve never seen one of my horses show the type of acceleration she did,” said Delia. “I was blown away.”
Since the runaway victory, Delia indicated that multiple offers have come in to buy the Clubhouse Ride filly. Delia co-owns I’m A Rockette with Patty Wall and, although Delia and Wall are still mulling their options, Delia had six words to sum up I’m A Rockette’s future-whether she stays in training with him or not.
“She looks like a good one.”
BAY MUZIK HEADS SOUTH FOR ANOTHER STAKES TRY
Trainer Ari Herbertson was on Cloud 9 after his 6-year-old gelding Bay Muzik finished third in the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes on New Year’s Day at Santa Anita. After setting the pace in the five-and-a-half-furlong turf contest, the son of City Zip got tagged late by eventual winner Texas Wedge, finishing about a length behind the aforementioned rival. Bay Muzik, who was 27-1 at the last click of the tote board, had never been competitive against graded stakes company before.
“My dad (owner Scott Herbertson) and I love this horse,” said Herbertson. “We are so proud of him. He tries hard for us every time. There weren’t any races for him at Golden Gate and we felt the Joe Hernandez, although tough, was probably worth taking a shot. He was doing really well before the race.”
Since the hard-fought victory, Herbertson has closely monitored his star turf sprinter. After a sharp half-mile morning breeze last Sunday morning, Herbertson deemed his stable hero ready to run in another race. He entered him in the 5 and a half furlong, $75,000 Clockers Corner Stakes this Sunday at Santa Anita.
“[Bay Muzik] posted a really solid workout on Sunday,” said Herbertson. “I loved the way he went. He definitely worked well enough to where I feel he’s coming into this race in good shape. For the first week or so after he ran [in the Joe Hernandez], I took it easy on him. He ran really hard, and I wanted to give him plenty of time to recover after such a hard effort. Right now, he’s fit and his energy level is very good.”
On Sunday, Bay Muzik will be ridden by 2019 Golden Gate Winter/Spring meet leading jockey Abel Cedillo, who has quickly ascended to the top of the jockey standings in Southern California after moving his tack there over the summer. Currently, Cedillo sits second in the jockey standings at Santa Anita with 12 trips to the winner’s circle, only behind future Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario.
“We’re thrilled to get Abel,” said Herbertson. “In the Joe Hernandez, Tyler Baze was aboard and he did a really good job. Tyler is at Oaklawn now, though, so we needed a new rider. Abel rode this horse in a race in 2018, so he knows what to expect.”
There’s no secret where Bay Muzik will be placed within the first furlong of the race: on the lead.
“He is so quick,” said Herbertson. “If you don’t take a hold of him, he’ll go 20 (seconds) and change for the first quarter mile.”
Bay Muzik drew the outside gate, post position 7, and is expected to go off as one of the top three choices in the wagering. Post time for Race 7, the Clockers Corner, is listed at 3:30 PM PT.
WONG PICKS UP 500TH CAREER WIN
Leading Northern California trainer Jonathan Wong picked up his 500th victory on Monday afternoon when 5-year-old mare Ailish’s Buttercup won the sixth race at Golden Gate Fields, a one-mile $12,500 claimer for fillies and mares. She was making her first start off the claim for Wong.
A Bay Area native, Wong is no stranger to the Golden Gate Fields winners circle. The 31-year-old conditioner has won the Golden Gate Fields training title at the past six race meetings, and, when asked to reflect on his career so far, was gracious in thanking many entities.
“It’s easy to take credit, but there are a lot of people behind the scenes that help make winning possible,” said Wong. “I give thanks to every single one of my owners and all of my staff, who work extremely hard day in and day out. I also greatly appreciate all of the hard work from the jockeys. They put their lives on the line every time they get a leg-up on our horses.”
Wong also was quick to acknowledge his wife Meagan.
“Meagan has always been there for me and supported me through everything.”
Finally, Wong noted that Golden Gate Fields was instrumental in jumpstarting his career as a trainer and that he is grateful to be a part of the training colony.
“[Director of Racing and Racing Secretary] Patrick Mackey and the staff at Golden Gate gave me a chance to start my training career,” said Wong. “I’ve been blessed with many great opportunities here
Graded stakes winners Keeper Ofthe Stars and Mugaritz are two of Wong’s stable stars whom he indicated were special to him, while also mentioning that he was excited to see their development heading into 2020.
CLAIMS
Our weekly “claims list” is as follows:
Thursday
Race 6: Prorika (new trainer Sammy Calvario, owner Johnny Taboada)
Friday
Race 4: Sweet Boy (trainer Tim Bellasis, owners Bellasis, O’Gorman, O’Gorman and Tschanz)
Saturday
Race 1: Cedars of Lebanon (trainer Tim McCanna, owners Christian Cornett and Tim McCanna)
Race 2: Taste’s Legend (trainer Jonathan Wong, owners MJVET Stables and Madden Racing) and Temple View (trainer/owner Steve Miyadi)
Race 4: Crazy Sexy Munny (trainer Ari Herbertson, owner Scott Herbertson)
Race 7: Independent Indy (trainer Ari Herbertson, owner Scott Herbertson)
Race 9: Mercy Rule (trainer/owner Steve Miyadi)
Sunday
Race 1: Luck Is My Name (trainer/owner Leobardo Rivera)
Race 3: Potente Alba (trainer Isidro Tamayo, owner Saavy Racing and Tamayo)
Race 5: Awesome Silver (trainer Reid France, owner Hat Trick Racing)
Monday
Race 6: Leonilla (Trainer Monty Meier, Owner David Chavez)
FINISH LINES: A massive congratulations to trainer Steve Specht, who saddled Sacred Rider to a terrific second-place finish in the California Cup Derby at Santa Anita last Saturday. The son of Lucky Pulpit is out of stakes winner and stakes producing broodmare Lady Railrider and is owned by breeders Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams…Multiple Golden Gate Fields stakes winner Bettor Trip Nick finished third in the California Cup Derby. Trainer Bill Delia relayed that Bettor Trip Nick would be freshened up before being pointed to restricted California-bred stakes races for the time being….Multiple Golden Gate Fields winner Stealthediamonds was victorious in Santa Anita’s California Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Saturday. She is currently under the care of Southern California trainer Mike Puype…Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, a winner of over 6,000 races, has reportedly moved his tack to Golden Gate for the foreseeable future. He has two mounts on Sunday afternoon. A story to come in next week’s News and Notes…Miss America Stakes winner Blue Diva ran a respectable fourth in the Astra Stakes at a mile and a half on turf last Sunday at Santa Anita. This was her first start since the Miss America triumph…Impressive Golden Gate maiden special weight winner Dynasty of Her Own races for Jonathan Wong in Sunday’s Borderplex Stakes at Sunland Park. Wong also campaigns Pike Place Dancer second-place finisher The Adrie Factor in the Jeff and Jack Coady Sr. Stakes at Turf Paradise on Saturday…Leg C of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 at Golden Gate on Friday…Happy birthday to jockey Brayan Pena, who celebrates his 30th birthday on Sunday…Also, happy birthday to racing official and former jockey Ross Allardyce, who turns a year older on Friday…Two more birthdays to acknowledge: jockey agent “Oakland Ron Freitas” (Monday) and trainer Steve Sherman (Tuesday); have a blast, fellas!