SOMETHING SPECIAL IS GOING ON HERE.Byline: KEVIN MODESTI ARCADIA - The 2006 Santa Anita Handicap The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in the late winter at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses three years old and up, and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during became something special before the winner had taken his second step. ``I came out of the (starting) gate and heard the roar, and it was like wow,'' said Corey Nakatani ''' Corey S. Nakatani (born October 21, 1970 in Covina, California, United States) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. As of 2006, Nakatani has won more than 3000 races including the Kentucky Oaks twice, the Canadian International Stakes, the Dubai Golden , the jockey aboard Lava Man Lava Man (foaled on March 20, 2001) is a dark bay gelded thoroughbred race horse by Slew City Slew (Seattle Slew) out of L'il Ms. Leonard (Nostalgia's Star) who rose from the lowest levels of claiming races to become regarded by many racing fans and members of the racing media as a . ``It was like riding in the Kentucky Derby Kentucky Derby One of the classic U.S. Thoroughbred horse races. It was established in 1875 and run annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs track in Louisville, Ky. With the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, it makes up U.S. racing's coveted Triple Crown. for the first time. There was that tunnel of sound.'' At the racetrack, good things are supposed to be delivered by the whispers of lone tipsters. At Santa Anita Park Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, USA. It is known for offering some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the autumn and in winter. Racing at Santa Anita began in 1934. on Saturday, the good things arrived on the shouts of a huge crowd. More than 49,000 people showed up and got in line at the gambling windows That's 49,000 at the track, not scattered around the region's wagering facilities or watching through online betting hookups. The largest crowd at Santa Anita Santa Anita may refer to:
It just sounded different than anything that L.A.-area horse racing horse racing, trials of speed involving two or more horses. It includes races among harnessed horses with one of two particular gaits, among saddled Thoroughbreds (or, less frequently, quarterhorses) on a flat track, or among saddled horses over a turf course with is used to. Then the main events were run, and suddenly it felt good again to be a Left Coast racing fan. Brother Derek won the $200,000 Santa Catalina Stakes to confirm he's the favorite for the Kentucky Derby, a rare status for a mere California-bred horse even at this early juncture, two months away from the First Saturday in May. And late in the afternoon, Lava Man won the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap over a field that included 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, suggesting that this mere Cal-bred is one of the best older horses in the nation. I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if California horse racing has enjoyed a day this upbeat since an equine lifetime ago, back when Big 'Caps drew crowds in the 70,000s and 80,000s in the 1980s. ``The crowd was great,'' said Doug O'Neill, who trains Lava Man. O'Neill was among 'em, watching from ground level in front of the grandstand, as Lava Man took control of the race in the stretch and held off a long shot named Magnum to win by nearly a length. ``I was going nuts,'' O'Neill said. ''I was with a bunch of strangers. They were looking at me like, 'Look at this idiot, I'll bet he's got $2 to show.' '' More than $2 was at stake. Lava Man, who'd won the $1 million Hollywood Gold Cup The Hollywood Gold Cup is a Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred horses inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. It was run as a handicap race until 1997 when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions. last summer, and came back from a foot injury to win the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic The Sunshine Millions Classic is a race for thoroughbred horses held in January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California or at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Half the eight races of the Sunshine Millions are run at one track and half at the other. in January, sent his career earnings over $2 million for his owner partnership. He's the season's top earner so far. This is a really good 5-year-old who deserves more acclaim from now on. ``This horse doesn't get a lot of respect,'' co-owner Steve Kenly said in the press box, where glasses of champagne stood next to the press- conference microphones. ``We call him The Cinderella Man. He's kind of the people's horse.'' People could get behind a story like this, indeed. It's O'Neill salving salve 1 n. 1. An analgesic or medicinal ointment. 2. Something that soothes or heals; a balm. 3. Flattery or commendation. tr.v. salved, salv·ing, salves 1. his emotions by winning his first Big 'Cap less than a month after he lost his shot at the Kentucky Derby when 2-year-old champion Stevie Wonderboy was injured. It's Nakatani stoking his confidence by winning his second Big 'Cap just weeks after the No. 6 jockey in the Santa Anita standings was considering moving to Kentucky. People could get to like the developing Brother Derek saga, too. It's trainer Dan Hendricks approaching the pinnacle of his profession 20 months after the motocross motocross Form of motorcycle racing in which cyclists compete on a closed course marked out over natural or simulated rough terrain. Courses vary widely but must be 1.5–5 km (1–3 mi) in length, with steep inclines, hairpin turns, and mud. accident that left him in a wheelchair. Santa Anita is having a great season at the turnstiles and the windows,capitalizing on Hollywood Park's winter struggles and the sensational weather with more aggressive advertising and publicity work. Saturday's crowd 49,089, up nearly 15,000 from 2005 and the largest for a Big 'Cap since 50,023 watched Ruhlmann win in 1990, made it an overdue celebration. Cars filled the back parking lots all the way to Colorado Street and Huntington Drive, the infield was bustling and there were fans in forgotten corners of the ancient grandstand. Giacomo was supposed to be the feel-good story of Big 'Cap Day, but he finished fifth behind Lava Man, Magnum, Wilko and High Limit. Last year's long-shot Kentucky Derby remains winless since. Other feel-good stories stepped up to replace him. As the starting gate opened for the Big 'Cap, track announcer Trevor Denman began, ``And the roar from the crowd ...'' It's an old Denman line that hadn't been heard at Santa Anita in a long, long time. CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) A huge crowd was at Santa Anita on Saturday to watch races like the Santa Catalina Stakes, won by Brother Derek. (2) Jockey Alex Solis pours water on Brother Derek after their victory in the Santa Catalina Stakes. Jonathan J. Dwyer/Associated Press Box: BIG 'CAP PAYOUT |
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