Express Train Goes for Fourth Consecutive Stakes Win

If Express Train  hadn't suffered an injury from a kick at a critical time during his 3-year-old season, his racing career could have had a completely different trajectory. The 2020 Triple Crown would have likely figured prominently, and if he had performed well, an early stud career might have beckoned. 

Instead, Express Train has developed into an outstanding 5-year-old and should be a very short-priced favorite in the Californian Stakes (G2). Slated for April 30 at Santa Anita Park, the 1 1/8-mile Californian could provide Express Train with his fourth consecutive victory, following the Dec. 26 San Antonio Stakes (G2), Feb. 5 San Pasqual Stakes (G2), and March 5 Santa Anita Handicap Presented by Yaamava' Resort & Casino (G1).

Lee Searing, who owns Express Train with his wife, Susan, in the name of their C R K Stable, credits trainer John Shirreffs.

"Look at all the patience John has had with this horse," Searing said.

Express Train, a Kentucky-bred son of Union Rags  —I'm a Flake , by Mineshaft  , performed well at 4 in 2021, but he has blossomed at 5. Until his current string of victories, Express Train had not won two races back to back in his career. He could become the first horse ever to win the Santa Anita Handicap and Californian since it was moved to Santa Anita in 2014 after Hollywood Park closed (the Californian was not run in 2019 or 2020).

Express Train, to be ridden by Victor Espinoza from post 3, has scared off all but four horses for the Californian, two returning from the Santa Anita Handicap. Stilleto Boy  and Spielberg  finished third and fourth in the earlier race.

Ed Moger Jr. trains Stilleto Boy for his brother Steve. Steve made a very wily purchase, getting Stilleto Boy for $420,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale. The gelding was coming off a victory in the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows.

"My brother is the one who bought the horse," Ed Moger said. "I didn't even know he had bought him until afterward. He wanted to come to Del Mar and thought he'd be a really good horse."

Ed admitted that he would have tried to have talked Steve out of the purchase at that price. Yet in seven starts for them, while Stilleto Boy hasn't won a race, he has more than paid for himself by earning $661,500. He has also competed at the highest levels—five of those seven starts have been in grade 1 company. The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Shackleford  has run second or third in five of the seven races, including a third in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by 1/ST BET (G1).

"That has been his best race for us," Ed said.

In the 2021 Awesome Again Stakes (G1), Stilleto Boy finished second at 54-1 to Medina Spirit , beating third-place Express Train.

For the Californian, Ed Moger has named Juan Hernandez to ride Stilleto Boy for the first time. They drew the outside post.

Sean McCarthy now trains Spielberg and Shaaz , both formerly conditioned by Bob Baffert, who is serving a 90-day suspension.

Spielberg, a Kentucky-bred son of Union Rags who cost $1 million as a yearling at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, won the 2020 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) for Baffert and will be making his first start for McCarthy. Abel Cedillo is set to ride from post 1.

Shaaz is undefeated in three starts, a maiden race and two allowance optional claimers. In his second start, the 4-year-old Virginia-bred son of Uncle Mo   finished second to Disco Ball , who was disqualified and placed second for interference. Shaaz (Mike Smith, post 4) will also be making his first start for McCarthy.

John Sadler trains Holden the Lute  (Ramon Vazquez, post 2) for Hronis Racing. Those connections claimed the 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Midnight Lute   for $50,000 out of his last start, April 3. Baffert trained Holden the Lute early in his career, when the gelding raced for his breeders, Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. Trainer Steve Knapp claimed Holden the Lute for $40,000 from that ownership in late 2020.

Entries: Californian S. (G2)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, April 30, 2022, Race 6

• Grade II
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 3:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Spielberg (KY)	Abel Cedillo	120	Sean McCarthy	-
2	Holden the Lute (KY)	Ramon A. Vazquez	120	John W. Sadler	-
3	Express Train (KY)	Victor Espinoza	124	John A. Shirreffs	-
4	Shaaz (VA)	Mike E. Smith	120	Sean McCarthy	-
5	Stilleto Boy (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	120	Ed Moger, Jr.	-