PROFILES FROM THE GRANDSTAND

Anthony Gutierrez: The Southern California Kid

No journey in life can begin without a defining moment, a wrinkle in time when everything that was formerly understood becomes forever changed. Horse players often happen upon this moment during their first visit to the track, yet for Anthony Gutierrez, that initial trip to Santa Anita Park in 2006 was far from unforgettable. “All I can remember was a feeling of boredom and wanting to leave,” Tony recalls. Just eight years later, it is essential to now reflect on the evolution of a horse player by taking a closer look at the growth of the man.

Anthony Gutierrez and girlfriend Carla at Santa Anita Park

Tony was born in the Southern California city of Long Beach in 1987. The oldest of four children, he has two brothers and a younger sister. He spent a portion of his childhood in the Central Valley town of Modesto, but has called Long Beach home for the vast majority of his years. Memories from youth often draw out like a highlight reel in the mind, and if this holds truth for Tony, the most treasured images on his reel are those revolving around his mother. He credits her for both his upbringing and for making the sacrifices necessary to raise four children as a single parent. “My mom was the ultimate role model,” Tony stated.

In school, Tony excelled in history, but also admits to having harbored an intense dislike for math. Sports played a pivotal role in his early life as well. “It seemed that I was involved in one sport or another at all times,” he explains. “Baseball was definitely close to my heart, but soccer will always be my first love.” As he matured into adulthood, Tony would soon carry that affection he held for competition into an arena he had yet to explore.  

The young man from Long Beach would first watch the horses run at the insistence of his girlfriend, Carla. Despite the detachment he felt during that first trip to the race track, Tony chose to give horse racing another chance. Eventually, the sport that he had once declared a mystery had attracted him to a new way of life.

A Day at the Races

Tony has attended races at all of the tracks on the Southern California thoroughbred circuit. This includes Santa Anita Park, Del Mar, Fairplex, and the recently closed Betfair Hollywood Park in Inglewood. Each venue offers something distinct and appealing to its guests, yet none are as special to Tony as Los Alamitos Race Course in the city of Cypress. The track best known for its quarter horse racing is the site that Tony considers his home away from home. It is there he can likely be found on most any weekend of the year.

Horse players develop their craft with a particular style by which they approach the game. For Tony, the pick four is by far and away his favorite of all the possible wagers. His tickets are primarily designed based on the strength of his selections and on the sequence that awaits him. “I enjoy the value that can be found in a succession of races,” Tony remarked.

Incorporating various handicapping angles to finalize his tickets, Tony relies heavily on both class and pace to help determine his action plan. He also employs another tactic that is utilized by many seasoned horse players, and that is to play the entire race out in his head prior to the horses ever stepping onto the track.

Tony feels that his greatest strength lies with the quarter horses, attributing this to the experience he has gained while watching them run on a regular basis. He does concede, however, that he hopes to improve his handicapping through a greater understanding of fractions. “I would like a more in depth grasp of how the fractions in a race will ultimately impact the outcome of a contest,” he says.

Thus far, Tony has used the knowledge he has attained to make several notable scores, the largest coming on a pick four ticket at Los Alamitos that netted him roughly five-thousand dollars. 

Over the years, he has had the opportunity to witness many of the sport’s greatest athletes compete. Garrett Gomez and Rodrigo Aceves are two jockeys he admires greatly. Bodemeister and Curlin are among his most beloved thoroughbreds, and he is quick to note Apolitical Jess, Wave Carver, and Blues Girl Two as three of his all-time favorite quarter horses. The most memorable moment Tony recounts in racing was watching Zenyatta win her nineteenth consecutive start in the Lady’s Secret Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Eight years has eternally altered the course of Anthony Gutierrez’s life. In that short period of time, an inquisitive young man became a horse player, but perhaps more importantly, that horse player has begun to realize his dreams not only at the track, but away from it.

Tony does construction work part-time and is currently working towards a college degree in communications. He lists jogging, reading, and spending time at the beach as just a few of his other interests. He is an avid sports fan aside from racing, and he places great emphasis on the relationships that he maintains with others. Family is an integral part of Tony’s life, but food is a main ingredient as well. The Southern California Kid would happily direct anyone interested to the best spot in Long Beach for a torta de asada or a wet burrito.

The goals that Tony has set for himself are admirable. Graduating from college is near the top of this list, but the idea of marriage at some point in the future is also a very motivating objective. “When I have children, I plan on becoming the male role model that was absent in my own youth,” he professes. Stability is now of the utmost importance to Tony, and it takes little more than a brief conversation with him to sense his sincerity.

No journey in life can begin without a defining moment, but then again, no moment in and of itself can define the entire journey, either. Unfinished stories are commonly riddled with uncertainty, yet as Anthony Gutierrez’s story continues to unfold, it is brilliantly clear that his outgoing nature and sharp intellect will allow him to accomplish many great things.  

Follow Tony on Twitter at Anthony Doubles@tony_pk4

Knocking At The Door Of Destiny

Equine athletes are not unlike those found in any other sport. In order to achieve success, they must exhibit a certain degree of speed, strength, and endurance. These are vital to the performances seen on the track, yet the traits alone cannot define greatness. The longest, most grueling of the Triple Crown races is the Belmont Stakes. It is a twelve-furlong battle of attrition, designed to humble the faint-hearted, and referred to as the Test of Champions.   

Ernest Hemingway once wrote that courage is grace under pressure. As tens of thousands prepare to descend upon Belmont Park in New York, it is easy to believe that Hemingway might have coined this phrase with the Belmont Stakes on his mind. There can be but one champion as ten others will fall desperately short. The Belmont is a test of courage, and he who triumphs here will have displayed an unequaled amount of grace under pressure.

The Contenders

Rock Star Royalty: This designation is for the elite in the current three-year-old division.

California Chrome- Art Sherman’s prized colt has been victorious in six consecutive races. He has shown a versatility which allows him to run on the lead or sit comfortably in behind the pace setters. He has also engineered an uncanny knack for steering clear of in-race traffic and trouble. Breaking from gate number two coincides nicely with his running style. California Chrome moves with a seemingly effortless stride, and his blinding turn of hoof is about to earn him a Belmont victory and a place among horse racing’s immortal few.

The Gladiators: These warriors will battle down the stretch and should hit the board.

Commanding Curve- Dallas Stewart’s colt sat out of the Preakness after finishing a hard-charging second in the Kentucky Derby. He should relish the added distance in this one.

Ride On Curlin- The runner-up in the Preakness Stakes ran a troubled seventh in the Kentucky Derby. He has followed Chrome’s every move and is peaking at the right time.

Tonalist- Christophe Clement’s colt scored an impressive win over a sloppy track in the Peter Pan Stakes. Drawing outside in post eleven could potentially prove a daunting task.

The Bandits: This group is sly enough to be within striking distance at the quarter pole.

Commissioner- Commissioner is a fresh face on the Triple Crown circuit and has had the advantage of a race over the Belmont track. Todd Pletcher is sure to have him in high gear.

Samraat- New Yorkers will be cheering on this son of Noble Causeway. He ran fifth in the Derby and will benefit from his use of tactical speed as he breaks from post number seven.

Wicked Strong- The winner of the Wood Memorial ran fourth in the Kentucky Derby and has two wins in six starts. The added distance should help his chances of hitting the board.

The Also-Rans: This motley bunch is fortunate to have insured a spot in the starting gate.

Genral A Rod- Competed in all three Triple Crown races and ran fourth in the Preakness. Maker’s colt is simply not talented enough to have any significant impact in the Belmont.

Matterhorn- Pletcher’s other entry is lightly raced, and he most recently ran an uninspired fourth in the Peter Pan Stakes. The on track performance should justify his very long odds.

Matuszak- This son of Bernardini’s lone win came in a Maiden Special Weight contest held in September of 2013. He will clearly be out of his league as he takes his place in the gate.

Medal Count- Medal Count won the Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland before placing eighth in the Derby.  He appears to have a bright future on synthetic surfaces, but drawing the rail post here will certainly not help his chances against this group.  

The atmosphere at Belmont Park on June 7^th is sure to be an electric one. Some will have the good fortune of witnessing history be made first hand, while others will gather around television sets to revel in the magical moment alongside of their family and friends. Eleven equine athletes will pit their courage and skill against one another, but in the end, the horse that has been knocking at the door of destiny will pass through and become a legend.  

Perfectly Polished

California Chrome Poised For Kentucky Derby Run

In a time when the collective cheers of a nation are typically reserved for Super Bowl MVPs and World Series champions, horse racing is about to unleash its own version of unbridled pandemonium. The field for the 140^th running of the Kentucky Derby has now been set. This year’s bunch is perhaps the most meaningful to load into the gates at Churchill Downs in recent memory. Racing has endured its fair share of black eyes in 2014, and the sport presently sits at a crossroads that can only be traversed on the back of a newfound hero.

In 2012, J. Paul Reddam’s colt I’ll Have Another was blazing a triumphant path towards the ever-elusive Triple Crown. This achievement would never be realized, however, as injury forced him into retirement just one day prior to the Belmont Stakes. Not since the likes of the great Zenyatta has an equine athlete captivated audiences outside of racing’s inner circle. The sport has been waiting for its next guiding light, that transcendent figure capable of pumping excitement back through the veins of mainstream America. This wait may soon be coming to an end as a California-bred three-year-old is about to take center stage on racing’s most coveted day.

Perry and Denise Martin, Carolyn and Steve Coburn (Photo Courtesy of Benoit Photo)

The stories behind California Chrome and his connections have been well-chronicled. The horse nicknamed “Junior” is the first foal out of a little known mare named Love The Chase.  The mare was purchased by first-time owners Perry Martin and Steve Coburn for a meager $8,000. Love The Chase earned only one victory during her brief time on the track, yet that did not deter Martin and Coburn from their lifelong dream. A groom standing nearby as they made the purchase remarked that someone would have to be a “dumb ass” to buy the old girl. 

Naturally, the new owners next did what seemed most fitting as they aptly named their operation DAP Racing, short for Dumb Ass Partners. They chose green and purple for their racing silks in honor of their wives’ favorite colors. A bright green jackass was also emblazoned on the silks as their way of poking fun at the high society and riches so often associated with the sport. Yes, it’s safe to say that Martin and Coburn are as blue-collared and well-liked as they come in a world that centers squarely on the almighty dollar.

Love The Chase was bred in California to a sire named Lucky Pulpit. When the time came to name their new foal, Martin and Coburn remained unconventional, asking a waitress at a restaurant to pull a name out from a hat during dinner. The name that waitress pulled was none other than California Chrome.

Art Sherman (Photo Courtesy of Benoit Photo)

Trainer Art Sherman’s career in racing dates back to an era when female carhops were still delivering food on roller skates. As an eighteen-year-old in 1955, Sherman found his way to the Kentucky Derby as an exercise rider and traveling companion for the legendary Swaps. The trip out to Louisville took the pair four days in a dusty rail car. Swaps, also known as the California Comet, went on to win the Derby that year and would eventually go down as one of only three California-bred horses in history to pull off the herculean feat.

Sherman’s first professional mount as a jockey came in 1957 at Hollywood Park, and over the next twenty-one years, he enjoyed moderate acclaim at race tracks all across the land.  For many athletes, life after their career can be deflating, but Art Sherman was determined to make a name for himself as a trainer long after his days in the saddle had come to an end.

Back in March of 2013, Art Sherman received an email from Perry Martin that included a very specific outline for the two-year-old colt heading to his barn. The email was entitled “The Road to the Kentucky Derby.” Martin listed the races that California Chrome would need to successfully compete in so that his spot in the 2014 Kentucky Derby was secured.  Rather than dismiss the outlandish blueprint from this first-time owner, Sherman read it through with great sincerity, and opted instead to set Martin’s detailed plan into motion.

California Chrome (Photo Courtesy of Eric Dives)

California Chrome’s first race came in April of 2013. He was entered in a four and one half furlong maiden special weight affair held at Betfair Hollywood Park. Chrome did not win. He would run a solid second that day, but was entered back just three weeks later at the same level to record his first victory.  The next four races included a fifth in the Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes, a first in the Graduation Stakes at Del Mar, and consecutive sixth place finishes in the Del Mar Futurity and the Golden State Juvenile Stakes.

It was then that Art Sherman used his thirty-five years of training experience to make a difficult decision. Alberto Delgado had ridden California Chrome in all but one of his career starts. Delgado had done an admirable job, but Sherman also knew that racing at the elite level would require a more seasoned and savvy rider. Enter Victor Espinoza.

The majestic chestnut and his new jockey were about to reel off the most divine string of victories that California horse racing had seen in quite some time. The final stakes race run on the hallowed ground at Hollywood Park was the King Glorious on December 22, 2013. California Chrome was dominant, pulling away late from his in-state rivals under a hand ride by Espinoza. He would do the same in the California Cup Derby at Santa Anita one month later. These victories were important, but the team knew that their horse would only be taken seriously if he were to face off and win versus non-state-bred competition.

California Chrome delivered again. He obliterated a talented field in the San Felipe Stakes, and it was around this time that stories behind the horse and his connections truly began to surface. Much to the surprise of many, California Chrome was training at Los Alamitos, a venue best known for its weekend quarter horse racing. His presence there brought great credibility to the track destined to fill the void left by Hollywood Park’s closing.

The racing community learned of Junior’s affinity for Mrs. Pasture’s Horse Cookies, and fans were subsequently shocked as they uncovered the lineage behind the sport’s newest icon. Reporters were lining up for interviews with Martin and Coburn, hoping to unearth as much information as they could about the enigmatic pair. Art Sherman referenced the mighty colt as his “Swaps” and stated repeatedly that Chrome was nothing short of a rock star. All that remained in the Golden State was to go out and win the Santa Anita Derby.     

California Chrome Romps in the Santa Anita Derby (Photo Courtesy of Eric Dives)

Bob Baffert, John Sadler, and a host of other trainers saddled their very best in hopes of ending the California-bred Prince’s streak at three. Fortunately for Art Sherman and his team, hope and reality can rarely stand together in the winner’s circle. California Chrome did not break smoothly, yet once Victor Espinoza helped him regain his composure down the backstretch, the outcome was all but sealed. Hoppertunity and Candy Boy turned in commendable performances, but the day would unequivocally belong to the horse from the humble beginnings. California Chrome was victorious, this time by more than five lengths.

Perhaps Denise Martin (Perry’s wife) said it best as she described California Chrome’s meteoric rise to a Sacramento based reporter. “He’s not just our horse anymore; he’s his own horse, the people’s horse.” Martin explained.

As the gates break open for the 140^th running of the Kentucky Derby, there will be factors and uncertainties that simply cannot be accounted for. The horse racing world will still be lying in wait for its next guiding light. Some people will scream for a longshot, while others will root on a jockey, but their voices will quickly be silenced as the cheers rain down for the horse that is perfectly polished. 

Capture The Turnstile Gang

Sunrise. This one eases ever so gently out of bed. She turns back the down comforter and stretches her naked arms in the air to praise the glory of morning. Her gratitude does not end there. Recently painted toenails are guided into a pair of sheepskin slippers, and as she stands, the smell of freshly ground coffee begins to overwhelm her senses. She fashions her auburn hair in a schoolgirl’s ponytail as she saunters off towards the kitchen. An avocado omelet and the Daily Racing Form are awaiting her arrival.

This one is fast at work, desperately gathering up loose change from the four corners of his apartment. He tears back the couch cushions, and then proceeds to ransack the pockets of his previously worn trousers. The coins are deposited in a small plastic bag, yet they do not slide easily from the clutches of his clammy palms. He amasses just enough for bus fare, the entrance fee, and three six-dollar plays that have been mapped out with cautious optimism. It is almost time to leave, but before he can do so, a decision must be reached as to whether or not a shower or shave will be worth the added effort.  

This one refuses to depart without his lucky pen, and that one places an old Irish florin at the bottom of her aging purse. This one will not go without her multi-colored paper clips, and that one never forgets to slip three rubber bands over his right hand and onto his wrist.

1957 Ford Thunderbird

Daylight. A 1957 Ford Thunderbird is rolling down the boulevard. This one is married to a man that specializes in classic car restoration. Her delicate fingers fumble through a gaudy Coach Handbag as she searches for her instrument of choice. A small cylindrical gadget is then pulled from the bag and the rubbing of red gloss along her puckered lips commences. The rear view mirror has been positioned to reflect a lone image. She pushes the Maui Jim sunglasses up past her hairline, while smiling pretentiously into the glass. The Thunderbird is virtually driving itself as the reflection she admires is set to turn heads in the clubhouse. 

This one parks his powder blue Oldsmobile just inside the gates which separate the dead from the living. It is his last stop on the way to the track each and every Saturday morning. Typically, he brings sunflowers, but today a bouquet of white lilies is placed atop the grave he dreams of in his sleep. The headstone bears his last name and the year of birth inscribed is strikingly close to his own. A cardigan sweater clings to his arched back as he bends down to lovingly dust cobwebs off of the marble. He lets out a calculated sigh, wipes Saturday’s tear from his wistful eye and whispers, “Bring me a winner today, Pumpkin.”

In The New Colossus, Emma Lazarus once wrote, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Some believe the inspiration for these timeless words came from Lady Liberty herself, but to the horse player, these words imply something altogether different. Here they are, the huddled masses, converging in droves and making a mad dash for the entrance as first post draws near. They are spirited and filled with hope, a merry band of eccentrics fixated on success and yearning to breathe. This is the Turnstile Gang.

This one invests in Jimmy Jack's Jive Picks in the parking lot, and that one tucks a copy of the Daily Racing Form under his left arm. This one relies solely on her Nokia smart phone, and that one swears a program is all he needs to get the job done. Others require fewer visual aids. These are the souls who have already studied the card long into the wee hours of yesterday morning. Their plays have been painstakingly designed, and on occasion, a crumpled sheet of yellow paper is all that stands between them and a better way of life.

The Turnstile Gang Settles Into Place (Photo Courtesy of Eric Dives)

Families are here to enjoy a day in the sun together. Journalists are here to chronicle the efforts of the horses and trainers, owners and jockeys. The Fashionistas are here to make an impression, and the Grunts are here to grind out good fortune. The beauty of the track is that no individual is any more or less important than the next.

This one has budgeted ninety dollars for the day. Ten of these dollars went for parking, fifteen will be reserved for lunch, and twenty will be hidden in the secret compartment of his wallet, just in case of an emergency. That one carries no cash. She is here in admiration of the horses. This one flashes a Diners Club Gold Card near the automated teller machine, and that one pulls a chunky roll of bills from his sock each time he is in need of money.

Bets are made and wagers placed, some with deep thought, but others in haste. This one stashes the voucher back in her bra between races, and that one frequents the window of the teller who remembers more than simply faces. This one bets the jockeys, and that one bets the number nine. This one bets the trainer, and that one bets the horse that dropped their lunch not far behind.

The track offers uncensored exposure to a wide array of sights, sounds, and peculiar smells. This one is scraping Wrigley’s spearmint off the soles of his Nike Air Max sneakers, and that one is recounting her days in junior high band as she soaks in the majesty of the bugle call. This one is up to his elbows in an order of chili cheese fries, and that one has undoubtedly robbed local retailers of their annual supply of Chanel No. 5.

In Anticipation of the 77th Santa Anita Handicap (Photo Courtesy of Eric Dives)

The Turnstile Gang congregates in flocks. This one is part of the Baseball Cap Constituency. He is red in the face, laughing, and has been drinking the afternoon away sixteen splendid ounces at a time. The Preppies migrate to places inhabited by Silver Hairs and Hippies, while the Grunts do their best work alone or in small packs. This one sips pink lemonade through a straw and associates exclusively with fellow Lemonade Sippers and Fashionistas. That one speaks Mandarin and plenty speak Spanish. This one talks to a hearing impaired child with her hands, and God only knows what language that one is trying to speak.  

The races themselves bring out the best and worst humanity has to offer. This one prays to St. Christopher before each race, convinced that the patron saint of travelers will insure a safe trip for both the jockeys and the horses. That one paces incessantly during the post parade, while calling out to the track’s leading rider in hopes he might sit slightly off the speed. This one offers a high five to anyone within an arm’s length away, and that one seems to forget there are words in the English language containing more than four letters. This one screams until his cheeks have turned a shade of purplish-blue, and that one likes to toss her Stetson high in the air anytime her horse finishes in the top two. Let us also make mention of the Braggarts and Dancers, Program Slappers and Whippersnappers.

Celebrations break out among certain flocks, while tantrums are thrown and excuses become rampant in others. This is the way of things as the racing card lumbers along.

The Turnstile Gang springs into action for the last time as twilight closes in. This one cashes out at the window and makes a beeline for the ladies’ room. Once inside, she enters a stall and locks the door behind her. She tallies up the winnings in private, a firm believer that flaunting her luck in public will make for bad karma. That one begins the long, arduous walk over the hot asphalt and back to his car. A lump he has never felt before settles in like a potato at the back of his throat. He cannot breathe. He has barely come to terms with the fact that dinner this week will now consist of little more than Saltine Crackers in a watered-down chicken broth.  

Nightfall. This one puts her head upon the pillow and sleeps, dreaming of the day she will next venture off to visit the palace of infinite possibilities. That one curls his battered body into the fetal position on the kitchen floor. He vows never to return again to the scene of his financial undoing. This one is something like you. That one is something like me.

This one.