Happy Halloween from Santa Anita

Rosie Ybarra, Clockers' Corner, Halloween '09

It may have been sunny and 80 degrees, but there was no shortage of Halloween spirit at Santa Anita today. Early this morning trainers, riders, owners and fans were greeted by Rosie Ybarra, the maven of Clockers' Corner, who not only appeared at her food service window in a ghoulish costume, but also had arrived early to decorate the entire area with Halloween spooks.

David Flores, Clockers' Corner, Halloween '09

Jockey David Flores was quite a spectre, riding by with his face painted to resemble a hideous skeleton. This afternoon, he even appeared in the winner's circle in character.

Jay Cohen, Santa Anita Park, Halloween '09

And Santa Anita hornblower, Jay "Herman Munster" Cohen entertained racing fans by calling horses to the post in a monster mask.

Clockers' Corner, Halloween '09

Happy Halloween to all from Southern California!

12th Annual David Flores Golf Tournament Coming Up at Del Mar

David Flores

I ran into jockey David Flores in the stable area Tuesday morning and took one of his flyers announcing this year's benefit golf tournament to be held Tuesday, August 11 at Encinitas Ranch Golf Course in Encinitas, CA, near Del Mar Racetrack. This is a really wonderful charity event, with all proceeds going to help abandoned children in Tijuana, Mexico through a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the economic and educational betterment of Tijuana children.

Competitors at the golf tournament will play 18 holes under an open four player scramble format with 100% of each competitor's handicaps. Shot gun start is at 1:00 p.m. There will also be an awards ceremony and dinner reception at 6:00 p.m.

For more information or to sign up, contact David Flores Golf Tournament, 9230 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 202, Beverly Hills, CA, 90212, or call Jim Loya at (626) 825-6562.

If you would simply like to make a tax-deductible donation to this very worthy charity, make checks payable to Ciudad de los Ninos and mail to the above address.

An Interesting Story Follows Irish Trainer Dermot Weld into American Oaks

Internationally renowned Irish trainer Dermot Weld, who won the American Oaks in 2003 with Dimitrova, seeks a second win Sunday at Hollywood Park with Rare Ransom.

An interesting story follows Weld into Sunday's stakes race... Rare Ransom, who has won two of seven starts in Ireland, will be ridden by Patrick Smullen. In 2003, Smullen was named on Dimitrova at entry time, but the call had originally been given to jockey David Flores. Following an appeal to the racing board by Jim Pegram, agent for Flores, the stewards ruled that the owners of Dimitrova would have to pay double jockey fees -- $90,000 in the event of a win -- if Smullen rode. Flores got the call, and scored with Dimitrova by two lengths over Sand Springs.

Sunday, Flores will ride Mrs Kipling for Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale and celebrity chef owner Bobby Flay. Mrs Kipling scored an impressive 2 1/2-length victory in the one-mile Senorita Stakes at Hollywood Park on May 3.

The $700,000 American Oaks will be contested at 1-1/4 miles on the Hollywood Park turf course.

Santa Anita Derby Day 5K: Running Like Thoroughbreds!

A Santa Anita Derby Day tradition for 15 years, the Derby Day 5K Run & Walk was contested over about 3.2 miles on the asphalt, cement, and sandy training track by a field of more than 3,000 human runners. The course, which started in the racetrack parking lot then wound its way through the beautiful L.A. Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, eventually took runners into the Santa Anita infield and, finally, onto the racetrack itself for the final stretch drive.

Leading the start of the race was jockey David Flores, who finished first in the "Santa Anita Horsemen" division. Yours truly finished 4th among women in that division -- not too shabby, considering I was simultaneously attempting to get some video clips for the blog! It was a ton of fun, followed up by a great party in the infield.

Ditto This Schooling for Trainer Canani

Ditto This will return to the races following an 8-week rest, in today's 2nd at Santa Anita, a $40,000 claimer for 4-year-old fillies at one mile on the turf. David Flores gets the mount for trainer Julio Canani and owners Gold & Gold LLC.

Gary Stevens to Announce George Woolf Award Winner

"The Iceman"

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens will announce the winner of the 2009 Santa Anita George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award live on HRTV, this Thursday at approximately 2:05 PM (pst). The award has been given annually since 1950 to a North American jockey, chosen by his or her peers, who demonstrates high standards of personal and professional conduct both on and off the racetrack.

This year's finalists are Gary Baze, Calvin Borel, Javier Castellano, David Flores and John Velazquez.

It is fitting that Stevens will make the announcement. Not only is he a former recipient of the Woolf Award (1996), but he also played the famed Woolf in the 2003 film Seabiscuit. Stevens, now retired, works as a full-time analyst on HRTV.

The trophy is a replica of a full-size bronze statue of George Woolf that stands in the paddock at Santa Anita Park. Woolf, who was revered by his fellow jockeys for his riding ability, competitiveness, and professionalism, died at the age of 35 following a spill at Santa Anita.

During the running of the fourth race on January 3, 1946, Woolf fell from his horse as they rounded the clubhouse turn, suffering a concussion. He was taken to St. Luke's Hospital in Pasadena, where he died the next day. George Woolf was a diabetic, and it was generally believed that he suffered a diabetic fainting spell before falling from his mount.

Known as "The Iceman" because of his renowned cool and patience while waiting for his horse to make the right move in a race, George Woolf was one of the premier jockeys of his era. In 1935, he made history when he rode Azucar to victory in the Santa Anita Handicap - the first horse race worth $100,000.

David Flores Will Ride Speedy Bob Black Jack in Vernon O. Underwood

David Flores, recently nominated for this year's prestigious George Woolf Award, has the call on Bob Black Jack in the 28th running of the Grade 3 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes at Hollywood Park on Saturday. Bob Black Jack, who established a world record of 1:06.53 for six furlongs at Santa Anita in January, returns to the races to face older horses at his record distance.

Bob Black Jack, a son of Stormy Jack, finished third in the San Felipe, then second to Colonel John in the Santa Anita Derby, earning a trip to the Kentucky Derby, where he set the pace before tiring to finish 16th. Trained by Jim Kasparoff for owners Jeff Harmon and Tim Kasparoff, Bob Black Jack has won 3 of 8 starts for earnings of $442,925.

Flores was among five finalists for the 2009 Woolf Award announced by Santa Anita Park yesterday. He has long been regarded as one of Southern California's top jockeys and is known for a level temperament and coolness under fire. A native of Mexico, Flores won his first race at Agua Caliente racetrack on March 5, 1984. He has won more than 3,180 races including three Breeders' Cup races. Flores believes in giving back to his community and hosts his own golf tournament each summer at Del Mar to raise funds for the charity "Orphans of Tijuana."

Here's the complete field for Saturday's feature:

Vernon O. Underwood S. (G3)
November 22, $100,000, 3yo & up, 6f, Hollywood Park, 3:35 PM PT

PP Horse              Sire            Jockey          Wt.  Trainer
1. Wiredfortwotwenty  Greatness       Joseph Talamo   116  Brian Koriner
2. Six Pack Abs       Forest Wildcat  Tyler Baze      118  John Sadler
3. Noble Court        Doneraile Court Mike E. Smith   122  John Sadler
4. Master Daniel      Broken Vow      Rafael Bejarano 114  Doug O’Neill
5. Bob Black Jack     Stormy Jack     David Flores    122  James Kasparoff
6. Johnny Eves        Skimming        Garrett Gomez   122  Jay Robbins
7. Northern Soldier   Yankee Victor   Aaron Gryder    118  Brian Koriner

George Woolf Jockey Award Finalists Named

Santa Anita Park today announced a list of five finalists for the 2009 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. Jockeys named were Gary Baze, Calvin Borel, Javier Castellano, David Flores and John Velazquez. The nominees will be judged by their peers, with the winner being announced in January.

The Woolf Award has been presented annually by Santa Anita since 1950 to a North American jockey who demonstrates high standards of personal and professional conduct both on and off the racetrack. The trophy is a replica of a full-size bronze statue of George Woolf that stands in the paddock at Santa Anita Park. Woolf, who was revered by his fellow riders for his riding ability, competitiveness, and professionalism, died at the age of 35 following a spill at Santa Anita.

Known as "The Iceman" becuase of his renowned cool and patience while waiting for his horse to make the right move in a race, George Woolf was one of the premier jockeys of his era. In 1935, he made history when he rode Azucar to victory in the Santa Anita Handicap - the first horse race worth $100,000.

The Woolf Award will be presented during the Santa Anita Winter/Spring meeting, which runs from Dec. 26, 2008 through Apr. 19, 2009.