Canoodling, Essential Wager Take Stakes at Santa Anita
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Jockey Roimes Chirinos won his first U.S. graded race with Canoodling in the Megahertz Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Jockey Roimes Chirinos, who normally rides in New Mexico, got his first-ever win at Santa Anita Park aboard Canoodling in the Jan. 29 Megahertz Stakes (G3T) at a mile on the turf. He and Canoodling partner regularly at New Mexico tracks, and they surprised a field of older turf distaffers at 22-1.
The locals ignored Canoodling at their peril when she went to the front. Usually, a pacesetting longshot comes back to the field, but Chirinos monitored the pace brilliantly. Canoodling ambled along in :25.30 for the first quarter-mile and :49.87 for the first half-mile.
When multiple graded winner and favorite Warren's Showtime tried to catch Canoodling in the stretch, she simply couldn't. Canoodling defeated Warren's Showtime by a half-length in 1:37.30, with Avenue de France a nose back in third.
"What a great day for me," said Chirinos, who won his first U.S. graded race. "She's a tiny, little filly, but she's got a really, really big heart and she always tries hard."
Lori Owens, who races in the name B 4 Farms LLC, sent Canoodling to Southern California-based trainer Mike Puype for the Dec. 26 La Brea Stakes (G1), and the filly finished fifth. Canoodling began her career in Southern California with trainer Jeff Mullins. Racing in Texas and New Mexico with trainer Todd Fincher, Canoodling won the 2021 Albuquerque Distaff Handicap and Zia Park Distaff Stakes.
"They sent her here because her resume is obviously quite incomplete without a graded stakes," said Puype. "They don't have graded stakes out there" for fillies in New Mexico.
Owens bought Canoodling for $180,000 from Stonehaven Steadings at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
"The purse is pennies today to what the value went on her winning a graded stakes," said Puype.
Stonehaven Steadings bred the 4-year-old daughter of Pioneerof the Nile in Kentucky. Cannodling is out of the Harlan's Holiday mare Miz Kella , a full sister to champion 2-year-old Shanghai Bobby .
Video: Megahertz S. (G3T)
Essential Wager Prevails in Palos Verdes
A half-hour after the Megahertz, it was more business as usual in the Palos Verdes Stakes (G3) for older runners at six furlongs. Trainer Bob Baffert sent out favored Cezanne and second-choice Essential Wager . Five-year-old Cezanne was making his first start since he won the Kona Gold Stakes (G3) last April, and Baffert noted after the race that the Palos Verdes was too short for him.
Sure enough, Cezanne came on late for third, but he was no match for 4-year-old Essential Wager, who led almost throughout under jockey Abel Cedillo. Longshot Shooters Shoot got to within a neck of Essential Wager at the wire, but the Baffert runner held him off in 1:09.95. Shooters Shoot finished 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Cezanne in the five-horse field.
Essential Wager outlasts Shooters Shoot in the Palos Verdes Stakes
"This horse is getting better and better,” said Baffert. “With Cezanne, I think it was a little too short for him … All of Essential Wager’s races have been pretty impressive and actually, he’s bred to not be a sprinter. Abel did a great job, got him outta there, and held off those horses pretty well. You know, he took a lot of heat early and kept going.”
Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, longtime Baffert clients, own Essential Wager, who has now won three in a row from four starts. Pegram, who has been busy with his casino interests and does not get to the racetrack as often as in years past, was at Santa Anita to pose in the winner's circle.
“We (Pegram and Baffert) started together and it’s always special to come back to Santa Anita,” said Pegram, who flew in from northern Nevada. “This is my first time back in two years and we know why we call it 'The Great Race Place.' It’s very special and we always love to come back to Santa Anita.”
Pegram, Watson, and Weitman regularly purchase horses at auction in the name of Three Amigos. They went to $300,000 for Essential Wager at the 2020 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in Training. McKathan Bros. Sales consigned the son of Honor Code —Mr Hall's Opus , by Officer , to the sale. Maccabee Farm bred Essential Wager in Kentucky.