Stilleto Boy wins the Santa Anita Handicap for coach Ed Moger Jr.

Ed Moger Jr. has been a coach for over 4 many years and his horses have gained many races, however none higher than the Grade 1 $500,000 Santa Anita Handicap on Saturday. Quiet boy the favourite expired Properly-founded and held off a charging proxy to win by a neck.

“Most likely of all of the races in California, this one is a much bigger race than the Pacific Basic (in Del Mar),” stated Moger. “It’s like California’s Kentucky Derby.”

The horse was purchased by Moger’s brother Steve for $420,000. Steve didn’t ask his brother for recommendation when he made the acquisition.

“I might have advised him it was an excessive amount of,” stated Moger. “It seems to be a superb transfer. We solely gained two races with him, however we had a blast. It appears like we gained 100 races.”

Stilleto Boy paid $29.80 to win. Proxy was adopted by Defunded, Hopper, There Goes Harvard, Tisquantum, Newgrange, Warrant and Heywoods Seaside.

Moger thinks the 5-year-old’s subsequent race may very well be the Oaklawn Handicap or probably the Metropolitan Mile.

The win was additionally partial redemption for Corridor of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, who was allowed to officiate this assembly in Santa Anita after a sequence of incidents that earned him a suspension and suspension from the California Horse Racing Board. He has admitted to having an issue with alcohol all through his profession.

“For me, after my lifetime of off-track debacles, it exhibits that I’ve come full circle and we are able to put that to mattress and I can proceed with my profession,” stated Desormeaux. “It’s as much as me to remain clear.”

It was Desormeaux’s third win on the Massive ‘Cap, with earlier wins in 2002 (Milwaukee Brew) and 1992 (Finest Pal).

In different graded stakes races, Gold Phoenix ($23.60) made his means among the many horses and beat Du Jour to win the Grade 1 $500,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile on the turf by a neck. Profitable coach Phil D’Amato gave excessive reward to jockey Kazushi Kimura, who’s new to the Santa Anita jockey colony.

“This child has now ridden two horses for me and each win,” D’Amato stated of Kimura, 23. He saved each inch of floor, waited, break up horses and did every part I advised him to. … I can’t say sufficient in regards to the wonderful journey.

Quattroelle ($8.60) gained the Grade 2 $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes for older fillies and mares, one mile on the turf. The 5-year-old mare made a robust transfer deep within the stretch to win by half a size forward of coach Jeff Mullins and jockey Hector Barrios.