Mirahmadi Namesake Debuts in Fasig-Tipton Futurity

Talk about pressure. Santa Anita Park track announcer Frank Mirahmadi will be faced with plenty of it June 17 as his namesake, a $1.05 million colt by Into Mischief   makes his debut in Saturday's $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Futurity at five furlongs.

Out of the grade 2 stakes-winning Malibu Moon mare More Chocolate , Mirahmadi  has trained forwardly at both Los Alamitos Race Course and Santa Anita and he heads a field of six in California's biggest race for juveniles thus far this year. 

A $1.05 million purchase from the Gainesway consignment at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the Bob Baffert trainee has a strong series of six local works to his credit, including a five-furlong bullet from the gate in :58 4/5 at Santa Anita June 5 and a follow-up move over the same distance in 1:01 2/5 June 12.

Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Mirahmadi worked 5 Furlongs in 1:01.40 on June 12th, 2023, for trainer Bob Baffert. pic.twitter.com/BxtWbg3BEQ

— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) June 12, 2023

He races for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stable, Dianne Bashor, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan and Tom Ryan.

"I am very excited to call Mirahmadi on Saturday," said Frank Mirahmadi, who will also be taking the reins for the first time next month as the full-time announcer at Saratoga Race Course.  "His works have been exceptional and the fact he is debuting in a stakes race confirms what anyone who has watched XBTV knows—this colt can run! 

"I am very thankful to Tom Ryan and the ownership group for naming such a nice colt after me. I take pride in being unbiased in my race calls, but on Saturday I hope Mirahmadi's white face is in front early and then he improves his position."  

The 2-year-old gets the services of Santa Anita's leading rider Juan Hernandez. Atop the Hollywood Meet standings at entry time with 35 wins, 13 better than runner-up Ramon Vazquez, Hernandez seeks his meet-leading 11th stakes victory, while Baffert looks for his fifth added-money score, which would put him in a tie with Phil D'Amato for most trainer stakes wins. 

Reddam Racing's homebred Refocus , who crushed fellow California-breds at first asking, rates second billing in Saturday's Fasig-Tipton Futurity. Off at 2-1 going 4 1/2 furlongs on May 21, he dueled for the early lead, had race favorite Last Call London  to his outside turning for home, and drew clear in a most impressive performance, winning by 4 1/4 lengths while earning a solid 92 Equibase Speed Figure. 

A grey or roan colt by Pavel , Refocus is out of the Square Eddie  mare Redo It , and he'll be ridden back by Mario Gutierrez. 

Trainer Steve Knapp's California-bred Going Mobile  was also an impressive first-out maiden winner as he sped to a 4 1/2-length win as the 6-5 favorite going 4 1/2 furlongs April 30. Bred by Terry Lovingier and owned by Knapp, Lovingier, and Thomas Halasz, Going Mobile is by Lovingier's stallion Stay Thirsty   out of the War Front   mare Mobilize . 

Kentucky-bred Tranche , with two races under his belt, was most recently third, beaten 9 3/4 lengths, in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes going five panels May 4 at Churchill Downs.  Tranche was a well-beaten seventh after breaking a step slow in his 4 1/2-furlong maiden debut a start earlier on April 7 at Keeneland. 

Earlier on the card, five 2-year-old fillies are set to race in the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Debutante at five furlongs, with the field led by flashy debut winners Becky's Dream , Crazy Hot  and Grand Slam Smile .