Democratic presidential hopefuls Amy Klobuchar and Tom Steyer were stumped when asked during a televised interview in Nevada to name the Mexican president.
Klobuchar, Steyer and fellow 2020 candidate Pete Buttigieg were asked during one-on-one interviews with the Spanish-language station Telemundo on Thursday night whether they knew the name of the president of Mexico. It is Andrés Manuel López Obrador — known by his initials, AMLO — who took office in December 2018.
Klobuchar, a third-term senator from Minnesota, responded, “No.”
Steyer, a billionaire businessman, replied, “I forgot.”
Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., was the only one of the three who knew the answer. “López Obrador, I hope,” he said with a smile.
The interviews occurred after a candidate forum hosted by the League of United Latin American Citizens, the nation’s largest Latino civil rights organization. Buttigieg, Klobuchar and Steyer were the only 2020 candidates to attend. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders addressed the audience via video.
Nevada has a large immigrant population, and Latinos are a crucial constituency for Democrats. The state will be the third to weigh in on the Democratic presidential nomination when it holds its caucuses Feb. 22.
Even one of UCLA’s biggest supporters was impressed.
After Oregon forward Ruthy Hebard dominated No.7 UCLA with 30 points and 17 rebounds in an 80-66 win on Friday at Pauley Pavilion, the 6-foot-4 senior heard Oregon coach Kelly Graves call her name.
Hebard, who was on her way to an on-court TV interview, whipped her head around. She saw Bill Walton’s smiling face, a 6-foot-11 tower standing on the baseline dressed in a blue UCLA polo and black pants. The Bruins legend extended his hand and shook hishead.
“Wow,” he said.
With Hebard’s inside presence and Sabrina Ionescu orchestrating another masterful offensive performance, No.3 Oregon hammered UCLA, which had a chance to climb into a tie for first place in the Pac-12.
Instead of seizing the opportunity, the Bruins (21-3, 10-3 Pac-12) never led while playing in front of a season-high 5,912 crowd that was at least one-third Oregon fans.
“We need to do a reality check and look in the mirror and figure out who’s fighting and who’s not,” senior Japreece Dean said of her message to her team after the game. “Because I felt like as a team, collectively, I feel like we didn’t fight and it starts with yourself.”
Junior Michaela Onyenwere scored nine of her team-high 23 points in the fourth quarter to help UCLA trim a 26-point deficit to 10 with two minutes remaining, but the Bruins couldn’t overcome a first quarter in which they made just two field goals while Oregon’s record-setting seniors rolled.
Needing just three assists to join former Gonzaga guard Courtney Vandersloot as the only NCAA players with 2,000 points and 1,000 assists, Ionescu finished with 18 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
The point guard is 27 rebounds away from becoming the first college player with 2,000 points, 1,000 assists and 1,000 rebounds.
While Oregon’s do-it-all star added another line to her impressive resume, the undersized Bruins had no answer for the 6-4 Hebard.
The NCAA’s active leader in field goals made towered over UCLA, which didn’t play anyone taller than 6-1, and overpowered anyone who met her in the paint. Oregon, which scored the first seven points and had a 20-point halftime lead, outscored UCLA 42-32 in the paint.
“We felt like they didn’t have an answer for her,” Graves said. “We felt like she was just too big and too skilled for them and that proved to be so.”
While UCLA has consistently played Oregon (23-2, 12-1) close recently, with four of the last five games coming down to five or fewer points, this season’s Ducks have ascended to another level.
With four starters returning from last year’s Final Four team, the offense is equally as lethal. The addition of USC transfer Minyon Moore, a two-time All-Pac-12 defensive team selection, boosted Oregon’s scoring defense from 135th last season to 30th this year.
The result is a team that’s won 11 in a row, a streak that includes eight ranked opponents. The wins have come by an average of 25.5 points.
CITY BOYS’ SOCCER DIVISION V First round, Friday Lakeview 18, East College Prep 0
CITY GIRLS’ SOCCER DIVISION I Second round, Friday Granada Hills 3, Eagle Rock 0 Birmingham 7, Marquez 0 Los Angeles Hamilton 3, Taft 2 El Camino Real 9, Narbonne 0 San Pedro 2, Garfield 1 (OT) Cleveland 6, Bravo 2 Chatsworth 2, Huntington Park 1 Palisades 9, Grant 0
Quarterfinals, Thursday, 3 p.m. #8 Birmingham at #1 Granada Hills #5 Los Angeles Hamilton at #4 El Camino Real #6 Cleveland at #3 San Pedro #7 Chatsworth at #2 Palisades
DIVISION II Second round, Friday Sylmar 1, Los Angeles University 0 Angelou 4, Port of Los Angeles 3 (OT) Northridge 2, Hollywood 1 Mendez 1, Verdugo Hills 0 Chavez 3, Wilmington Banning 1 USC Hybrid 4, Fairfax 2 Smidt Tech 1, Carson 0 North Hollywood 2, South Gate 1
Quarterfinals, Thursday, 3 p.m. #8 Angelou at #1 Sylmar #13 Mendez at #5 Northridge #6 USC Hybrid at #3 Chavez #7 Smidt Tech at #2 North Hollywood
DIVISION III Second round, Friday Los Angeles CES 2, Animo Robinson 0 Annenberg 3, Academia Avance 2 Los Angeles Wilson 1, Foshay 0 Fremont 3, Elizabeth 0 Sherman Oaks CES 3, Manual Arts 0 Arleta 1, Legacy 0 #10 Central City Value at #7 Los Angeles Marshall, score not reported Sun Valley Poly 4, Bright Star 0
Quarterfinals, Thursday, 3 p.m. #9 Annenberg at #1 Los Angeles CES #5 Los Angeles Wilson at #4 Fremont #6 Arleta at #3 Sherman Oaks CES #7 Los Angeles Marshall/#10 Central City Value winner at #2 Sun Valley Poly
DIVISION IV Second round, Friday Venice 6, Bernstein 0 #9 Jefferson at #8 Locke, score not reported #21 Animo Venice at #5 Stern, score not reported Los Angeles Kennedy 2, Burton 0 USC-Media Arts/Engineering 1, New Designs University Park 0 Valor 3, Sun Valley 2 #10 Franklin at #7 Hawkins, score not reported Maywood CES 3, Neuwirth 0
Quarterfinals, Thursday, 3 p.m. #8 Locke/#9 Jefferson winner at #1 Venice #5 Stern/#21 Animo Venice winner at #4 Los Angeles Kennedy #6 Valor at #3 USC-Media Arts/Engineering #7 Hawkins/#10 Franklin winner at #2 Maywood CES
DIVISION V Second round, Friday, 3 p.m. Panorama 3, Girls Leadership 1 Los Angeles 2, Dymally1 Gardena 10, Los Angeles Jordan 0 Gertz-Ressler 4, University Prep Value 2 Roybal 7, Crenshaw 0 East Valley 1, Larchmont 0 Alliance Marine 2, Math/Science 1 Sun Valley Magnet 2, Discovery 0
Quarterfinals, Thursday, 3 p.m. #9 Los Angeles at #1 Panorama #13 Gertz-Ressler at #5 Gardena #6 East Valley at #3 Roybal #23 Alliance Marine at #2 Sun Valley Magnet
Notes: Semifinals, Feb. 25, 3 p.m. at higher seeds. Championships, Feb, 28-29 at Los Angeles Valley College and Birmingham.
CITY BOYS’ BASKETBALL OPEN DIVISION Quarterfinals, Friday unless noted Fairfax 93, El Camino Real 48 Birmingham 70, Gardena 58 (Thursday) King/Drew 73, Taft 57 Westchester 71, Washington 51
Consolation semifinals. Wednesday, 7 p.m. #8 El Camino Real at#5 Gardena #7 Washington at #6 Taft
Championship semifinals, Feb. 22, 6 and 8 p.m. at Los Angeles Southwest College #4 Birmingham vs. # 1 Fairfax #3 King/Drew vs. #2 Westchester
Notes: Third-place and fifth-place games, Feb 26, 7 p.m. at higher seed. Championship, Feb. 29, 7:30 p.m. at Los Angeles Southwest College.
DIVISION I First round, Friday View Park 56, Cleveland 31 Venice 53, South Gate 50 Palisades 53, Van Nuys 41 Los Angeles University 52, Carson 46 Grant 62, Fremont 45 Narbonne 70, Eagle Rock 30 Crenshaw 88, Sylmar 75 Granada Hills 68, Dorsey 39
Quarterfinals, Wednesday, 7 p.m. #9 Venice at #1 View Park #5 Palisades at #4 Los Angeles University #6 Narbonne at #3 Grant #7 Crenshaw at #2 Granada Hills
Notes: Semifinals, Feb. 22, noon and 1:30 p.m. at Los Angeles Southwest College. Championship, Feb. 29, 3 p.m. at Los Angeles Southwest College.
DIVISION II Second round, Friday Chatsworth 71, Lincoln 45 Manual Arts 85, Los Angeles CES 74 Verdugo Hills 72, Los Angeles Marshall 59 South East 63, Los Angeles Wilson 45 Los Angeles Hamilton 72, Monroe 59 Los Angeles Roosevelt 50, Granada Hills Kennedy 38 Garfield 63, San Pedro 57 Sun Valley Poly 68, Bell 41
Quarterfinals, Wednesday, 7 p.m. #9 Manual Arts at #1 Chatsworth #5 Verdugo Hills at #4 South East #11 Los Angeles Roosevelt at #3 Los Angeles Hamilton #7 Garfield at #2 Sun Valley Poly
Notes: Semifinals, Feb. 22 at Palisades (times TBA). Championship, Feb. 28, 8:30 p.m. at Birmingham.
DIVISION III Second round, Friday Arleta 68, Canoga Park 49 Locke 49, Huntington Park 48 Santee 69, Legacy 63 Bravo 56, Mendez 44 San Fernando 67, Sotomayor 57 Los Angeles 54, Vaughn 52 Los Angeles Jordan 49, Middle College 37 Jefferson 69, Harbor Teacher 65
Quarterfinals, Wednesday, 7 p.m. #8 Locke at #1 Arleta #13 Bravo at #5 Santee #6 Los Angeles at #3 San Fernando #7 Los Angeles Jordan at #2 Jefferson
Notes: Semifinals, Feb. 22, 7 p.m. at higher seeds. Championship, Feb. 27, 7:30 p.m. at Birmingham.
DIVISION IV Second round, Friday Maywood 70, Aspire Ollin 61 Franklin 78, Elizabeth 61 Panorama 63, West Adams 54 Los Angeles Kennedy 49, Northridge 47 Marquez 48, Foshay 45 Rivera 78, New West 64 Animo Robinson 69, Port of Los Angeles 65 (OT) Sun Valley Magnet 60, Valor 52
Quarterfinals, Wednesday, 7 p.m. #9 Franklin at #1 Maywood #12 Panorama at #4 Los Angeles Kennedy #6 Rivera at #3 Marquez #10 Animo Robinson at #2 Sun Valley Magnet
Notes: Semifinals, Feb. 22, 7 p.m. at higher seeds. Championship, Feb. 26 at Palisades or Granada Hills, time TBA.
DIVISION V Second round, Friday Larchmont 72, Rise Kohyang 38 Animo Bunche 67, USC Hybrid 50 Neuwirth 46, University Prep 28 Maywood CES 46, Los Angeles Leadership 38 Belmont 55, Fulton 16 Academia Avance 68, Alliance Marine 25 Dymally 78, East College Prep 38 Math/Science 73, Orthopaedic 32
Quarterfinals, Wednesday, 7 p.m. #8 Animo Bunche at #1 Larchmont #5 Neuwirth at #4 Maywood CES #6 Academia Avance at #3 Belmont #7 Dymally at #2 Math/Science
Notes: Semifinals, Feb. 22, 7 p.m. at higher seeds. Championship, Feb. 26 at Palisades or Granada Hills, time TBA.
Hello, my name is John Cherwa, and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we have another handicapping lesson from Rob Henie.
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It’s time for our weekly contribution from Ron Flatter of the Vegas Stats and Information Network. He offers up an interesting idea about how the Kentucky Derby field is filled. Ron, what insights do you have?
“First, the good news. The 23 horses entered in Saturday’s Risen Star Stakes were split into two divisions. Since the combined purse was doubled, each race will still be worth a full 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for finishing first, seemingly enough to get to Churchill Downs on May 2.
“Now the bad news. There may not be room for all the ‘win and you’re in’ victors.
“It gets a little labyrinthine, but Saturday’s oversubscribed Risen Star at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans adds a 14th race, for which a win is worth 50 or 100 points on the road to the Derby. Among them are seven races starting in five weeks that also award 40 points for finishing second.
“That means that there are now 21 potential places for as many horses to get to Churchill Downs. But there are only 20 spots available.
“While single horses may and probably will collect points from two or more races, don’t forget that the early preps here in the U.S. have already put 49 horses on the qualifying list. Then there are the two invitations that are extended for the European and Japanese roads to the Derby, both superseding the American list.
“In short, it is possible to finish first in a ‘win and you’re in’ or even accumulate 50 points the hard way yet still be left in the stable while 20 other horses run for the roses. (For the record, Churchill Downs does not actually use the term ‘win and you’re in’; that is the work of us media types who are trying to keep things simple.)
“Just last year Win Win Win finished third in the Tampa Bay Derby and second in the Blue Grass, but with four weeks left in prep season he and his 50 points were on the bubble. If Anothertwistafate had won the Lexington instead of finishing second, and if Improbable, Country House, Omaha Beach and Long Range Toddy had finished 1-2-3-4 rather than 2-3-1-6 in the Arkansas Derby, Win Win Win would have been out of the Kentucky Derby.
“In 2018 there was the possibility that every horse with 40 points – including two-time prep winner McKinzie had he not bruised a hock – would have been left out if My Boy Jack had won the Lexington and a couple other dominoes had fallen a particular way in the Arkansas Derby.
“But Churchill Downs has set a dangerous precedent. What prevents the operators of big tracks from recruiting horsemen to oversubscribe other prep races while doubling their purses and cornering the market on Derby preps? In theory, as the operator of the Fair Grounds and Turfway Park, Churchill Downs could do this all over again for the Jeff Ruby Steaks and the Louisiana Derby. Gulfstream Park certainly has the horse population do the same, and on a good day so could Santa Anita.
“Now in its eighth year, the Derby points system was devised to encourage horsemen from chasing lucrative stakes purses that were once the sole criteria for filling America’s biggest race. Although it has its flaws (precocious fillies and stretching sprinters need not apply), it has raised the importance of some races that might otherwise get lost in the winter and early spring. Think Los Alamitos Futurity, Springboard Mile and Sunland Derby.
“For one day this weekend we will enjoy seeing not one but two full fields racing at New Orleans. But this summer, Churchill Downs might consider tapping the brakes on encouraging this in 2021.”
Ron Flatter is a host and reporter who covers horse racing for the Vegas Stats & Information Network, which is available at SiriusXM 204 and to subscribers at VSiN.com. On the current episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod, Fair Grounds track announcer John G. Dooley previews Saturday’s two divisions of the Risen Star Stakes, and National Thoroughbred Racing Association executive Keith Chamblin talks about the impact of the Santa Anita crisis and the growth of handicapping contests. Just click here.
Weekly handicapping lesson
t’s time for our weekly handicapping lesson from Rob Henie of the WCHR (West Coast Handicapping Report) and the ECHR (East Coast Handicapping Report). Today’s analysis comes from the fifth race at Santa Anita and incorporates some handicapping angles into the mix. Rob, take it away.
“This is a $25,000 N2L at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf, and though we’re no longer handicapping the staple, 6 ½ furlong downhill turf sprints seen here for years, these shorter turf sprints are a friend of the race track, something Gulfstream Park figured out and Santa Anita has followed. These short sprints allow for quicker turn arounds, meaning, larger fields, more races, etc. Then, you throw into the mix, this 5 ½-furlong distance, about the same as going 4 1/2 furlongs on the main track, meaning, not exactly the most taxing trip. As a result, even bad runners can often hang in there going this shorter distance, creating the illusion of an evenly matched group, when the reality is, it’s simply a distance which doesn’t allow for as much separation. The large fields also act as a barrier to all styles, so, what do we mean? In a field of five or six, the race is typically slow throughout until they ask for everything in the final eighth. With so many runners, you can expect many styles, including cheap early speed, allowing those from mid-pack a legitimate look with regard to making up ground down the lane, not to mention those looking to run on from a bit further back. Top selection is TERRIBLE TED (#10). He hasn’t shown up since last April, but again, this shorter distance and surface, isn’t overly daunting, with Hector Palma bypassing the state ranks in favor of this short assignment against open company. It tells us they believe they get a good effort with the right conditions on the track rather than in the condition book. The presence of Agapito Delgadillo tells us Hector is looking for an up-close trip throughout, the only style Agapito knows. The latest half-mile blowout certainly furthers our belief they’ll be pushing close up throughout, a trip which is usually advantageous compared to this zig-zag through the faltering speed. BATTLE OF MEMPHIS (#8) fits well class-wise here, and with the return to the turf sprint distance he tried two back, Steve Miyadi also removes the blinkers while adding Geovanni Franco, a really nice fit for this one’s style, giving us two contrary styles on the track to capture this event.
“Hot / Cold Race Trends: none
“Win Contenders (order of preference): 10-8-9
“X Out Runners (eliminating on the win end): none
“Positive Notes:
“9 Raul Rosas – Hasn’t been out in over a year, then again, as we often point out, this distance allows for runners to return off a layoff, looking to fire fresh, over this short distance where horses fire off the layoff, over and over. Throw in the fact Pederson knows few are gonna wanna claim a seven year old who’s only run three times, meaning, he can place without fear of losing him.
“Negative Notes:
“12 Moonoverthebayou – This 12 hole is gonna do him no favors here.
“TOP PICK: TERRIBLE TED (#10 10-1 Delgadillo)
“SECOND CHOICE: BATTLE OF MEMPHIS (#8 5-1 Franco)”
The West Coast Handicapping Report can be found at http://www.westcoasthorseracing.com It has been endorsed by leading trainers, handicappers and industry sources.
Santa Anita review
Friday’s feature was a $59,000 allowance/optional claimer for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles. It was gate-to-wire win for Der Lu for trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Abel Cedillo. The winning margin was a very comfortable 3 ½ lengths.
Der Lu paid $5.60, $2.60 and $2.10. First Star, the favorite, was second followed by Kaydetre, Starr of Quality and Chickatini.
“When you ride these horses for Baffert, you try to break good and they do the rest,” Cedillo said. “She was comfortable and we had plenty left at the top of the stretch.”
Santa Anita preview
This second card of the week is nine races starting at 12:30 p.m. It’s not a great card, but also not a terrible card. There are four turf races and a Grade 2 feature, the $200,000 Sanga Monica Stakes for older fillies and mares going seven furlongs.
The favorite, at 6-5, is the popular Hard Not to Love for trainer John Shirreffs and jockey Mike Smith. She has won four-of-five races but is best known for winning the Grade 1 La Brea. Oh, she also has only one eye, losing the left one after an infection. She’s also a little nervous going into the gate. Wouldn’t you be?
Second favorite is Mother Mother, at 8-5, for Baffert and Flavien Prat. She’s only won three of 10 but has been running almost exclusively at the graded stakes level. She was third in the La Brea. Post is around 4:05 p.m.
Here are the field sizes, in order: 7, 5, 5, 6, 12, 9, 11, 5, 12.
Ciaran Thornton’s SA pick of the day
RACE SEVEN: No. 2 Coast of Roan (8-1)
Coast of Roan was a value play for us last out in January. Raphael Bejarano was named to ride but Umberto Rispoli took over. After tracking the leaders into the stretch they made a very late move to run third, 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner. On the gallop out past the line he passed them all, something I like to look for. Rispoli, having ridden that horse on late notice will now be ready for the race today. Trainer Doug O’Neill cuts Roan back an eight and races the horse protected again Saturday. This horse has the top last race speed. We are getting 8-1 value today in a very wide-open race that I suggest you spread deep in your Pick 4 tickets. I also like Incredible Luck in this race as well at this good value price.
Friday’s result: Lucky Ms Jones fell asleep in the gate and was off slow. Rispoli tried to hustle the horse up but when he saw there was no chance eased and saved her for another day.
Ciaran Thornton is the handicapper for Californiapick4.com, which offers daily full card picks, longshots of the day, best bets of the day.
Big races preview
A look at graded stakes or races worth $100,000 or more on Saturday. All times PST.
10:50 Laurel (4): $100,000 John B. Campbell Stakes, 4 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Monongahela (2-1)
He is a big bodied runner who lost all chance in a 110-yard event 32 nights ago when the grey leaned back at the gate opening to lose multiple lengths and basically any chance to win his fourth straight. But even after that poor start and the short distance, the 5-year-old surged strongly to almost garner an underneath exacta placing. He’s facing high quality rivals like Grade 2 finalist Jess Flashee, but Alamode has many quality and competitive numbers and can certainly keep up with these foes.
Now, the stars of the show, Friday’s results and Saturday’s entries.
Santa Anita Charts Results for Friday, February 14.
Copyright 2020 by Equibase Company. Reproduction prohibited. Santa Anita, Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California. 24th day of a 60-day meet. Clear & Fast
FIRST RACE.
6½ Furlongs. Purse: $23,000. Maiden Claiming. Fillies. 3 year olds. Claiming Price $30,000. Time 22.13 46.14 1:12.20 1:19.18
Pgm
Horse
Wt
PP
St
¼
½
Str
Fin
Jockey
$1
3
Violent Speed
122
3
3
1–hd
1–1
1–4
1–10½
Bejarano
3.80
6
It’s a Riddle
122
6
2
4–1
3–hd
2–hd
2–ns
Cedillo
1.20
4
Golden Melodie
117
4
5
2–hd
2–½
3–1
3–4¼
Velez
6.50
1
Sassy and Hot
122
1
6
5–½
4–1
4–5
4–4¾
Trullier
24.50
5
Zippninthecity
122
5
4
3–hd
5–4
5–4
5–8¾
Diaz, Jr.
4.40
7
Muchomoneybaby
124
7
1
7
7
6–1½
6–5¼
Hernandez
70.60
2
Via Alpina
122
2
7
6–hd
6–hd
7
7
Maldonado
5.10
3
VIOLENT SPEED
9.60
4.40
3.00
6
IT’S A RIDDLE
2.60
2.20
4
GOLDEN MELODIE
3.00
$1 EXACTA (3-6)
$12.30
10-CENT SUPERFECTA (3-6-4-1)
$22.64
$1 SUPER HIGH FIVE (3-6-4-1-5)
$630.40
50-CENT TRIFECTA (3-6-4)
$19.55
Winner–Violent Speed Dbb.f.3 by Violence out of Orbital Affair, by El Corredor. Bred by Double Duck, Inc. (KY). Trainer: Doug F. O’Neill. Owner: Great Friends Stable, LLC, Bambauer, Bob, Bambauer, Sheila, Bruno, Art, Bruno, Jon, Friedman, Phil,. Mutuel Pool $104,904 Exacta Pool $48,461 Superfecta Pool $21,453 Super High Five Pool $47,913 Trifecta Pool $32,948. Scratched–none.
VIOLENT SPEED had good early speed and dueled inside, inched away on the turn, came off the rail into the stretch, kicked clear, remained clear under urging past midstretch and drew off under a long hold late. IT’S A RIDDLE prompted the pace four wide then stalked three deep on the turn and into the stretch and edged a rival for the place. GOLDEN MELODIE dueled between horses then stalked between foes on the turn and into the stretch, continued a bit off the fence in the drive and was edged for second. SASSY AND HOT saved ground stalking the pace to the stretch, remained inside and weakened. ZIPPNINTHECITY dueled three wide between horses, dropped back and angled in some on the turn and also weakened. MUCHOMONEYBABY hopped a bit at the start, chased three deep then outside a rival, also dropped back on the turn and gave way. VIA ALPINA came off the rail early and stalked the pace, fell back and angled in some on the turn and had little left for the stretch.
SECOND RACE.
6½ Furlongs. Purse: $18,000. Claiming. 4 year olds and up. Claiming Price $12,500. Time 22.36 45.27 1:10.75 1:17.64
Pgm
Horse
Wt
PP
St
¼
½
Str
Fin
Jockey
$1
1
Temple Knights
124
1
5
4–2½
3–½
2–4
1–1¼
Fuentes
2.90
4
Red Valor
119
4
3
1–hd
1–2
1–½
2–3¾
Velez
6.60
6
Concord Jet
124
6
1
2–1½
2–hd
3–hd
3–2
Pereira
0.90
5
Polity
124
5
6
3–1
4–10
4–8
4–4½
Bejarano
7.00
3
Rineshaft
124
3
2
5–5
5–hd
5–1½
5–¾
Diaz, Jr.
6.50
2
Derby Factor
114
2
4
6
6
6
6
Mussad
55.70
1
TEMPLE KNIGHTS
7.80
3.60
2.20
4
RED VALOR
6.60
2.40
6
CONCORD JET
2.10
$2 DAILY DOUBLE (3-1)
$42.60
$1 EXACTA (1-4)
$25.20
10-CENT SUPERFECTA (1-4-6-5)
$17.84
50-CENT TRIFECTA (1-4-6)
$24.45
Winner–Temple Knights Dbb.g.5 by Temple City out of Douxrah, by Rahy. Bred by Tom Trahey & Lynn Kober (KY). Trainer: Andrew Lerner. Owner: Robert J. Restaino. Mutuel Pool $96,253 Daily Double Pool $22,865 Exacta Pool $52,109 Superfecta Pool $20,453 Trifecta Pool $29,763. Scratched–none.
TEMPLE KNIGHTS stalked inside then a bit off the rail on the turn and into the stretch, bid outside the runner-up under urging in midstrech to gain the advantage approaching the sixteenth pole and inched away late. RED VALOR went up inside a rival to duel a bit off the rail, inched away on the turn, fought back in midstretch, drifted in through the final furlong and could not match the winner late. CONCORD JET sped to the early lead off the rail, dueled outside the winner, stalked on the turn, was between horses into the stretch and held third. POLITY stalked off the rail then outside, came three deep into the stretch and weakened. RINESHAFT was in a good position stalking the pace off the rail, dropped back outside a rival on the turn and did not rally. DERBY FACTOR saved ground chasing the pace, also dropped back along the inside and was not a threat.
THIRD RACE.
6 Furlongs. Purse: $32,000. Maiden Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 4 year olds and up. Claiming Price $50,000. Time 22.05 46.18 58.99 1:12.18
Pgm
Horse
Wt
PP
St
¼
½
Str
Fin
Jockey
$1
2
Your Royal Coil
124
2
2
2–½
1–1
1–5
1–5½
Pereira
3.90
3
Lady Ember
124
3
6
6
5–2½
2–hd
2–4
Cedillo
1.80
6
Mrs. Kimberly K
119
6
3
3–hd
2–1
3–3
3–8¼
Velez
4.60
5
Casillalater
115
5
5
4–1
3–½
4–2½
4–2
Lopez
11.30
4
Writing in the Sky
124
4
1
5–1½
6
5–1
5–5¾
Payeras
66.70
1
Love Not War
124
1
4
1–hd
4–½
6
6
Gryder
1.70
2
YOUR ROYAL COIL
9.80
4.80
3.40
3
LADY EMBER
3.80
2.80
6
MRS. KIMBERLY K
3.00
$2 DAILY DOUBLE (1-2)
$53.40
$1 EXACTA (2-3)
$15.10
10-CENT SUPERFECTA (2-3-6-5)
$14.16
50-CENT TRIFECTA (2-3-6)
$21.55
Winner–Your Royal Coil B.f.4 by Coil out of Miss Beekman Place, by Yes It’s True. Bred by Richard Barton Enterprises (CA). Trainer: Paul G. Aguirre. Owner: Wongs Stable. Mutuel Pool $126,613 Daily Double Pool $13,035 Exacta Pool $58,644 Superfecta Pool $26,430 Trifecta Pool $38,862. Scratched–none.
50-Cent Pick Three (3-1-2) paid $102.75. Pick Three Pool $27,610.
YOUR ROYAL COIL dueled between horses, inched away a bit off the rail leaving the turn, drifted to the inside in the final furlong and drew off under a couple backhanded taps with the whip turned down and a steady hand ride. LADY EMBER angled in and chased inside, came out on the turn and three deep into the stretch and was clearly second best. MRS. KIMBERLY K prompted the pace five wide then four wide leaving the backstretch, stalked three deep on the turn, angled in off the rail into the stretch and bested the others. CASILLALATER pressed the pace between horses, stalked between foes on the turn and weakened in the drive. WRITING IN THE SKY had speed between horses then stalked a bit off the rail, dropped back on the turn, came out into the stretch and also weakened. LOVE NOT WAR went up inside to duel for the lead, dropped back leaving the turn and into the stretch and gave way.
Winner–Teachers Big Dream B.f.3 by Mr. Big out of Corissa’s Birthday, by Half Term. Bred by Academic Farms (CA). Trainer: Eddie Truman. Owner: Academic Farms. Mutuel Pool $194,448 Daily Double Pool $14,497 Exacta Pool $93,633 Superfecta Pool $42,907 Trifecta Pool $59,254. Scratched–California Kook, She’s Devoted.
50-Cent Pick Three (1-2-6) paid $214.30. Pick Three Pool $15,715.
TEACHERS BIG DREAM had speed three deep then angled in and set the pace inside, responded when challenged on the second turn, edged away again under urging in the stretch, kicked clear and held. ALMOST A FACTOR chased outside a rival, came out leaving the second turn and three deep into the stretch and finished willingly. SASSYSERB three deep early, stalked off the rail, bid alongside the winner into the backstretch then stalked again, re-bid alongside that rival on the second turn and into the stretch and held third. WARRIOR’S MOON saved ground stalking the pace, came out a bit into the stretch, continued toward the inside, came out again late and was edged for the show. NAVY QUEEN saved ground chasing the pace, cut the corner into the stretch and weakened. BABY BOO stalked outside a rival, dropped back leaving the second turn, continued a bit off the rail into the stretch and had little left for the drive.
FIFTH RACE.
6 Furlongs. Purse: $57,000. Allowance Optional Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 4 year olds and up. Claiming Price $20,000. Time 22.32 45.55 57.59 1:10.38
Pgm
Horse
Wt
PP
St
¼
½
Str
Fin
Jockey
$1
7
Miss Megan
122
6
3
3–1½
2–2
1–½
1–2¼
Prat
0.60
3
Silk From Heaven
122
3
2
1–½
1–½
2–4
2–2¾
Flores
38.10
4
Time for Ebby
122
4
5
4–hd
4–hd
4–½
3–½
Cedillo
3.40
6
Stormin Ranger
122
5
4
2–hd
3–1
3–hd
4–nk
Blanc
13.40
2
Time for Suzzie
115
2
1
5–2½
5–4½
5–6
5–9¼
Velez
5.60
1
Lucky Ms Jones
122
1
6
6
6
6
6
Rispoli
7.70
7
MISS MEGAN
3.20
2.80
2.10
3
SILK FROM HEAVEN
16.40
6.00
4
TIME FOR EBBY
2.40
$2 DAILY DOUBLE (6-7)
$52.00
$1 EXACTA (7-3)
$25.20
10-CENT SUPERFECTA (7-3-4-6)
$23.60
50-CENT TRIFECTA (7-3-4)
$33.25
Winner–Miss Megan B.m.5 by Richard’s Kid out of Miss Cassia (GB), by Compton Place (GB). Bred by GoldGo Racing LLC (CA). Trainer: Philip D’Amato. Owner: Goldgo Racing LLC. Mutuel Pool $221,515 Daily Double Pool $21,803 Exacta Pool $126,035 Superfecta Pool $50,362 Trifecta Pool $75,309. Claimed–Time for Ebby by Integrity Thoroughbred Racing LLC and Victor Racing. Trainer: Matthew Chew. Scratched–Lippy.
50-Cent Pick Three (2-6-7) paid $63.40. Pick Three Pool $27,790. 50-Cent Pick Four (1-2-6-5/7) 142 tickets with 4 correct paid $463.35. Pick Four Pool $85,925. 50-Cent Pick Five (3-1-2-6-5/7) 85 tickets with 5 correct paid $2,646.95. Pick Five Pool $261,255.
MISS MEGAN dueled three deep then stalked early on the turn, re-bid outside the runner-up leaving the turn and into the stretch, took a short lead and pulled clear in the final sixteenth under some urging. SILK FROM HEAVEN had good early speed and dueled inside, inched away briefly early on the turn, fought back along the rail leaving the turn and into the stretch and until past midstretch and held second. TIME FOR EBBY stalked off the rail then outside a rival, went three deep leaving the turn and into and through the stretch and edged rivals for the show. STORMIN RANGER dueled between horses then stalked just off the rail on the turn, continued between rivals through the lane and was edged for the show. TIME FOR SUZZIE saved ground stalking the pace throughout and was edged for a minor award. LUCKY MS JONES broke a bit slowly, was sent along to chase the pace inside, came out on the turn and into the stretch and weakened.
SIXTH RACE.
1 1/8 Mile Turf. Purse: $33,000. Claiming. 4 year olds and up. Claiming Price $35,000. Time 22.13 45.74 1:09.78 1:34.69 1:47.25
Pgm
Horse
Wt
PP
St
¼
½
¾
Str
Fin
Jockey
$1
1
Hootie
124
1
2
3–4
3–1½
3–hd
1–1½
1–1¾
Rispoli
1.60
4
Holy Ghost
124
4
6
5–1½
4–2½
4–1½
2–2
2–1
Cedillo
11.60
7
Blame It On Kitty
124
7
8
8–2½
8–2½
7–½
3–1
3–2¼
Maldonado
35.10
8
Erotic
124
8
4
7–3
6–1½
5–1
4–2
4–hd
Van Dyke
6.10
2
Soberano
124
2
9
9
9
9
6–2
5–3¾
Bejarano
18.20
9
Lifeline
124
9
7
6–hd
7–1
8–1½
8–2
6–5½
Prat
4.80
5
Mr. Magico
124
5
5
4–1
5–½
6–½
7–1
7–6¼
Espinoza
8.00
3
Roaring Fork
119
3
3
2–3
2–1½
1–hd
5–½
8–hd
Velez
3.70
6
Spectator’s Dream
124
6
1
1–hd
1–hd
2–1
9
9
Flores
74.60
1
HOOTIE
5.20
3.40
3.00
4
HOLY GHOST
7.20
6.40
7
BLAME IT ON KITTY
10.40
$2 DAILY DOUBLE (7-1)
$9.20
$1 EXACTA (1-4)
$23.60
10-CENT SUPERFECTA (1-4-7-8)
$260.98
50-CENT TRIFECTA (1-4-7)
$209.65
10-CENT X-5 SUPER HIGH FIVE (1-4-7-8-2)
Carryover $1,997
Winner–Hootie B.g.6 by Candy Ride (ARG) out of Barbariansmile, by Giant’s Causeway. Bred by Halo Farms (KY). Trainer: Michael W. McCarthy. Owner: Bruce Treitman. Mutuel Pool $210,905 Daily Double Pool $27,716 Exacta Pool $111,917 Superfecta Pool $53,579 Trifecta Pool $80,576 X-5 Super High Five Pool $2,616. Scratched–none.
50-Cent Pick Three (6-7-1) paid $47.60. Pick Three Pool $33,661.
HOOTIE saved ground stalking the pace, bid between horses on the second turn, took the lead into the stretch, inched away in midstretch and held on gamely under left handed urging and a hold late. HOLY GHOST stalked inside then a bit off the rail leaving the backstretch, bid three deep leaving the second turn and alongside the winner into the stretch, drifted in a bit and held second. BLAME IT ON KITTY broke a bit slowly, angled in and saved ground off the pace, came out into the stretch and picked up the show. EROTIC between horses early, chased a bit off the rail then inside, came out on the second turn and three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed late kick. SOBERANO (FR) also a bit slow to begin, chased inside, cut the corner into the stretch, came out in the drive and improved position. LIFELINE three deep early, settled outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and lacked the necessary rally. MR. MAGICO stalked outside a rival, also came three deep into the stretch and did not rally. ROARING FORK stumbled at the start but recovered and angled in, dueled inside, fought back on the second turn and weakened in the drive. SPECTATOR’S DREAM angled in and dueled outside a rival, dropped back between foes on the second turn and also weakened.
1 1/16 Mile. Purse: $59,000. Allowance Optional Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 4 year olds and up. Claiming Price $62,500. Time 23.43 47.24 1:11.71 1:37.33 1:44.12
Pgm
Horse
Wt
PP
St
¼
½
¾
Str
Fin
Jockey
$1
2
Der Lu
122
2
1
1–1½
1–1½
1–1½
1–3
1–3½
Cedillo
1.80
3
First Star
122
3
3
2–½
2–½
2–1½
2–2½
2–2¾
Van Dyke
0.50
4
Kaydetre
122
4
4
3–1
3–1
3–1½
3–3½
3–3½
Blanc
13.80
1
Starr of Quality
124
1
2
4–½
5
4–3
4–12
4–26
Pereira
12.10
5
Chickatini
117
5
5
5
4–hd
5
5
5
Velez
47.00
2
DER LU
5.60
2.60
2.10
3
FIRST STAR
2.10
2.10
4
KAYDETRE
2.40
$2 DAILY DOUBLE (1-2)
$20.40
$1 EXACTA (2-3)
$5.00
50-CENT TRIFECTA (2-3-4)
$5.85
Winner–Der Lu Ch.f.4 by Orb out of Taboo, by Forestry. Bred by Merriebelle Stable, LLC (KY). Trainer: Bob Baffert. Owner: Baoma Corporation. Mutuel Pool $136,338 Daily Double Pool $18,672 Exacta Pool $63,466 Trifecta Pool $59,328. Scratched–none.
50-Cent Pick Three (7-1-2) paid $10.20. Pick Three Pool $26,883.
DER LU sped to the early lead, set the pace a bit off the rail then inside, came a bit off the fence into the lane, kicked away in the stretch, drifted in a bit and won clear under a crack of the whip inside the eighth pole and steady handling. FIRST STAR close up stalking the winner outside a rival then just off the rail to the stretch and was clearly second best. KAYDETRE three wide into the first turn, stalked outside then off the rail leaving the second turn and into the stretch and held third. STARR OF QUALITY saved ground chasing the pace, came off the rail on the second turn and into the stretch and did not rally. CHICKATINI four wide into the first turn, chased outside a rival, dropped back off the inside on the second turn and gave way.
EIGHTH RACE.
1 Mile Turf. Purse: $55,000. Maiden Special Weight. Fillies and Mares. 4 year olds and up. Time 23.49 47.03 1:11.68 1:23.88 1:36.25
Pgm
Horse
Wt
PP
St
¼
½
¾
Str
Fin
Jockey
$1
8
Oh Pretty Woman
124
8
9
2–1½
2–3
2–½
1–2
1–ns
Cedillo
3.20
7
Y Not Sizzle
124
7
2
4–hd
4–½
5–2½
3–hd
2–1½
Rispoli
5.60
5
Our Romance
119
5
5
3–1½
3–1½
3–1
2–hd
3–1¼
Velez
8.70
3
Durga
124
3
4
5–1½
5–1
4–hd
4–hd
4–1¼
Pereira
11.10
1
Too Hot for Curlin
124
1
3
9
9
7–2
6–2
5–2½
Franco
20.50
2
Starship Sky
124
2
6
6–2
6–2
6–hd
7–2½
6–½
Meche
98.30
9
DQ–Hot Magistrate
124
9
1
1–1½
1–2½
1–hd
5–2½
7–3¾
Van Dyke
2.90
4
Winds Aloft
124
4
7
8–2
8–hd
8–hd
8–2
8–7¼
Diaz, Jr.
47.50
6
Dance Costume
124
6
8
7–2½
7–2
9
9
9
Prat
2.50
8
OH PRETTY WOMAN
8.40
4.80
3.40
7
Y NOT SIZZLE
6.00
4.00
5
OUR ROMANCE
5.60
$2 DAILY DOUBLE (2-8)
$31.80
$1 EXACTA (8-7)
$17.00
10-CENT SUPERFECTA (8-7-5-3)
$42.45
$1 SUPER HIGH FIVE (8-7-5-3-1)
$2,419.90
50-CENT TRIFECTA (8-7-5)
$39.50
Winner–Oh Pretty Woman Dbb.m.5 by Scat Daddy out of Monkey Face, by Bertrando. Bred by Donald Valpredo & Martin Jones (CA). Trainer: Jeff Mullins. Owner: Alysam Racing and Valpredo, Donald J.. Mutuel Pool $241,443 Daily Double Pool $67,344 Exacta Pool $142,042 Superfecta Pool $80,646 Super High Five Pool $13,237 Trifecta Pool $107,845. Scratched–none. DQ–#9 Hot Magistrate–finished 7th, disqualified, placed 9th.
50-Cent Pick Three (1-2-8) paid $23.10. Pick Three Pool $78,171. 50-Cent Pick Four (5/7-1-2-8) 6810 tickets with 4 correct paid $36.40. Pick Four Pool $324,827. 50-Cent Pick Five (6-5/7-1-2-8) 477 tickets with 5 correct paid $442.35. Pick Five Pool $276,537. 20-Cent Pick Six Jackpot (2-6-5/7-1-2-8) 39 tickets with 6 correct paid $1,331.72. Pick Six Jackpot Pool $97,222. Pick Six Jackpot Carryover $251,760.
OH PRETTY WOMAN angled in and stalked a bit off the rail, bid alongside the pacesetter leaving the second turn to take the lead into the stretch, kicked clear under urging and held on gamely. Y NOT SIZZLE steadied when forced in between horses early, stalked outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and finished willingly. OUR ROMANCE also steadied when forced in between rivals early, angled in and stalked inside, came out in upper stretch, split horses in midstretch and bested the others. DURGA in tight early, angled in and chased inside, split horses into the stretch and lacked the needed late kick. TOO HOT FOR CURLIN steadied early, saved ground chasing the pace, came out in upper stretch and bested the others. STARSHIP SKY pulled along the inside early, chased outside a rival then just off the rail, went outside a foe on the second turn and three wide into the stretch and lacked the necessary rally. HOT MAGISTRATE crossed to the inside on a short early lead, set the pace along the rail, fought back leaving the second turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. WINDS ALOFT was in very tight between horses and clipped heels early, chased outside a rival then three deep into the second turn, continued off the rail into the stretch and did not rally. DANCE COSTUME also clipped heels in very tight between horses after the start, settled alongside a foe then a bit off the rail, angled in leaving the second turn and weakened. Following a stewards’ inquiry HOT MAGISTRATE was disqualified and placed ninth for interference after the start.
Attendance
Handle
On-Track
3,002
$530,407
Inter-Track
N/A
$1,299,211
Out of State
N/A
$3,528,178
TOTAL
3,002
$5,357,796
Santa Anita Entries for Saturday, February 15.
Santa Anita, Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California. 25th day of a 60-day meet.
FIRST RACE.
1 1/8 Mile Turf. Purse: $35,000. Claiming. 4 year olds and up. Claiming Price $32,000.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wt
Trainer
M-L
Claim $
1
Buster Douglas
Assael Espinoza
122
Milton G. Pineda
6-1
32,000
2
Implicitly
J.C. Diaz, Jr.
122
Mark Rheinford
12-1
32,000
3
Tequila Joe
Abel Cedillo
122
Mark Glatt
3-1
32,000
4
Start a Runnin
Eswan Flores
122
Hector O. Palma
8-1
32,000
5
French Getaway
Mike Smith
122
Robert B. Hess, Jr.
7-2
32,000
6
Swamp Souffle
Geovanni Franco
124
William Spawr
2-1
32,000
7
Tough It Out
Flavien Prat
122
Art Sherman
5-1
32,000
SECOND RACE.
1 Mile. Purse: $23,000. Maiden Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 4 year olds and up. Claiming Price $30,000.
Two teenage gang members have been arrested and charged in the November killings of two boys that stunned a San Francisco Bay Area community, authorities announced Friday.
Jason Cornejo, 18, of Castro Valley, and a 17-year-old boy from Hayward were charged Thursday with the murders of Sean Withington, 14, and Kevin Hernandez, 11, said Union City Police Chief Jared Rinetti.
The boys were fatally shot on Nov. 23 while sitting in a minivan in the parking lot of Searles Elementary School in Union City.
The teenage suspects are members of a gang, but officials didn’t name it during a news conference Friday, citing the ongoing investigation. A motive in the killings remains under investigation, authorities said.
They were charged with two counts of murder with gang enhancements, said Chief Assistant Dist. Atty. Kevin Dunleavy.
“These killings were done with the benefit, direction and association of a criminal street gang,” he said.
It wasn’t immediately known if the suspects had lawyers who could speak on their behalf. Cornejo is scheduled to be arraigned later Friday.
“Violent incidents like this one rarely happen in Union City,” Mayor Carol Dutra-Vernaci said. “This particular case occurred when an outside gang came into Union City to wreak havoc.”
Charging documents against Cornejo allege he and the co-defendant committed the attack as part of an ongoing gang rivalry. They also allege that there were social media posts about Cornejo buying the potential murder weapon — an AK-47 — as well as exchanges between him and the co-defendant discussing their involvement in the shooting, and even posts trying to sell the weapon after the shooting, the East Bay Times reported.
Police in January released a surveillance camera image of a silver car they believe the suspects used. They also offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.
The Union City Police Department said in a statement Thursday that its officers, “in coordination with partner agencies, have been dedicating countless hours to bring justice to the families of the victims and closure to the community.”
New Haven Unified School District Supt. John Thompson said the boys attended schools in the district.
Police Lt. Steve Mendez said there was no sign of a connection between the shooting and the school where it took place. People occasionally gather in the relatively secluded parking lot, Mendez said.
Five law enforcement departments and the state’s attorney general’s office helped in the investigation, officials said.
“A successful investigation, arrest, and we hope prosecution of two suspects — while it may not extinguish the anguish, disbelief or apprehension — maybe what it does is bring a sense of direction and purpose that we have to find some resolution to these senseless acts of violence,” said California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra.
At least 17 people were arrested this week and picketing continued Friday as part of a wildcat strike by UC Santa Cruz graduate student workers who are demanding higher pay because they are overburdened by high housing costs.
During the strike, which began Monday, graduate student workers have refused to teach, hold office hours, conduct research or post grades. They are demanding an increase in pay of $1,412 per month to cover their rent.
The average teaching assistant’s monthly salary is $2,400 a month. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Santa Cruz is $2,600 a month, according to RentCafe.
Demonstrations were held at the school’s main entrance Friday, although no one has been arrested since Wednesday, said UC Santa Cruz spokesman Scott Hernandez-Jason.
The arrests came after police said students blocked an intersection near campus and ignored repeated orders to disperse. Police surrounded demonstrators sitting in circles in the intersection with their arms linked and dragged them away one by one.
Those arrested face charges including unlawful assembly, obstructing a public roadway and disobeying a lawful order, Hernandez-Jason said. All but one were cited and released.
“Officers repeatedly tried to de-escalate the situation and made clear that blocking this major roadway had to stop or it would lead to arrest,” Hernandez-Jason said in a statement. “Demonstrators locked arms, sat in the roadway, and refused to move back onto the university field.”
“While we understand the frustration about housing costs in Santa Cruz, we also have responsibilities to the vast majority of our faculty, staff and students who simply want to do what they came to UC Santa Cruz to do — to study, to teach, and conduct research,” a statement from university said.
This week’s action follows a grading strike the students undertook in December.
The strike is a so-called wildcat strike, which means it is not endorsed by the union that represents the students. The UC system has a current labor contract with the United Auto Workers that covers all campuses.
Jack Davies, a second-year graduate student in the history of consciousness department and organizer of the graduate students, said roughly 350 students, including at least 200 teaching assistants, were participating in the strike.
Davies said police — including campus police and others from nearby San Francisco and Alameda — faced off against strikers. He said helmeted officers carrying batons and tear gas struck one student, who suffered a concussion, on Monday. On Wednesday another student sustained a concussion and several others had bruises, Davies said.
The university spokesman said that anyone with a complaint about police conduct can submit an online report that the department will review.
“Over the past four days, our officers have been consistently communicating with those participating in this unsanctioned strike,” Hernandez-Jason said. “The police department is committed to an individual’s lawful exercise of free speech, and officers have only intervened when there was a potential violation of law and/or a risk to the public’s safety. We are aware of many unsubstantiated rumors being spread on social media.”
In November 2011 university police at UC Davis pepper-sprayed a group of students protesting on campus as part of the Occupy movement. A video of the incident went viral and sparked outrage over the use of the irritant on campus.
The University of California is rolling out additional reforms of its admissions process after finding significant problems in how campuses track decisions to admit athletes, artists and students who do not meet minimum UC eligibility requirements, according to a review released Friday.
The sweeping audit of UC’s nine undergraduate campuses, triggered by the national college admissions scandal, found two cases of possible impropriety. One involves a student admitted as a recruited athlete who did not subsequently appear on the team roster. The other involves how one campus administers its appeals process for admissions decisions. Auditors referred both cases to the individual campuses for investigation, did not identify the universities in the report and did not provide additional details.
UC President Janet Napolitano told The Times she ordered the review as a proactive step to ensure the integrity of the nation’s leading public research university so that “California can have confidence that students admitted to the University of California are admitted on merit and so that we can bolster our defenses against any kind of fraudulent activity or gaming the system.
“Any student admitted through fraud is one too many,” she said.
The problems involve a small pool of students. Those admitted by “special exception” amount to about 1.7% of all students — 3,409 among 204,350 enrolled between fall 2017 and winter 2020. Napolitano said the regular admissions process for all others was “pretty solid” in equitably admitting students on merit.
Auditors found that no campus centrally monitored the admissions of students accepted for their special talents, such as athletics, music or art. As a result, they could not fully identify the actual number of such students, document their exceptional characteristics or identify who reviewed or approved their cases.
At many campuses, oversight of student athletes also was inadequate, the review found. UCLA and UC Berkeley require students who are admitted as athletes to participate on the team for at least a year. Systemwide policy reforms last year extended that requirement to all campuses. But the audit found that two campuses tracked practice logs at the team level but not by individual. Another campus identified a student who remained listed on the participation records a month after leaving the team.
UC admission requirements include a 3.0 GPA, the submission of SAT or ACT test scores and completion of prescribed coursework. Those admitted without meeting those requirements could include students without access to the UC-required courses — international or homeschooled students, for instance — or who may not have the required test scores or grades but show academic promise. Some slots are specifically reserved for underserved students.
Some students admitted for their special talents meet systemwide eligibility requirements while others do not.
The campus reviews were the second phase of a systemwide audit of admission practices that Napolitano ordered last year in the wake of the national college admissions scandal, which roiled elite institutions across the nation, prompting pledges of reform amid widespread public outrage.
While campuses with problems were not identified by name in the review released Friday, all nine campuses have initiated separate audit reviews and will specify corrective actions by March, Napolitano told UC regents and campus chancellors in a letter this week.
“Unethical and illegal means to gain admission will not be tolerated, and UC is committed to do everything possible to prevent fraudulent activity,” she wrote.
In the audit’s first phase, UC released a sweeping list of recommendations in June aimed at better policing of fraud and conflicts of interest in admitting students. Those recommendations included stronger verification of claims on students’ applications, reviews of potential links between donors and applicants, and stricter scrutiny of those admitted for special talents.
The second phase sought to take a deeper dive into campus admissions practices and provided additional recommendations.
All campuses, for instance, will be required to formalize the authority and responsibilities of campus committees charged with making admissions decisions. All students admitted for their special talents must be identified and tracked and greater controls will be imposed to document any changes to student participation in athletic programs.
The greater oversight comes after Newport Beach college consultant William “Rick” Singer last year admitted to masterminding a brazen scheme in which he charged affluent parents huge sums to rig their children’s entrance exams or to outright buy their entrance into top-tier colleges by paying coaches to designate students as recruited athletes. He has pleaded guilty to several felonies.
Federal prosecutors have charged more than 50 college administrators, coaches and parents in the sprawling scheme at schools across the country. Two UC campuses — UCLA and UC Berkeley — were ensnared in the fallout.
UCLA men’s soccer coach Jorge Salcedo was indicted on charges of racketeering conspiracy for allegedly accepting $200,000 in bribes from Singer in exchange for helping two students gain admission to the school as soccer players, though they didn’t play the sport competitively. Salcedo pleaded not guilty and resigned from his post.
At UC Berkeley, at least one student was admitted with fraudulent test scores, prosecutors allege. David Sidoo, a Canadian businessman and former professional football player, is accused of paying Singer to fix entrance exams for his two sons. The younger of the two, Jordan Sidoo, attended UC Berkeley. David Sidoo, indicted on charges of fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, has pleaded not guilty.
The trials for both men are pending.
In addition, The Times found that UCLA knew of allegations that parents were pledging donations to its athletic program in exchange for their children being admitted to the university years before the current college admissions scandal. UC prohibits the consideration of donations or family alumni, known as legacies, in admissions decisions.
One area of concern documented in the second audit involves verification of achievements claimed by all students on admissions applications, a task outsourced to a third-party contractor. In a random sample of 25 of the 2,000 verifications performed during the audit period, auditors found insufficient documentation, lack of reviewer follow-up, missing verification forms, verification of incorrect items and missed opportunities to request alternate documentation.
One applicant, for instance, provided a computer printout of her competition history for an equestrian association, but the document lacked a seal, statement on letterhead or signature of an association official that would authenticate the claim.
Napolitano said UC officials are giving the contractor “extensive training” and also have developed a new tool to allow them to centrally monitor the verification process.
Another problem area involves access to the IT system, where admissions decisions are logged and can be changed. The audit found several campuses did not periodically review who had access or consistently monitor user activity. Auditors have recommended that campuses tighten up their practices.
“The improvements that are being recommended and will be implemented will give just greater confidence that even those who are admitted by exception or into a special talent program are worthy of being admitted to the University of California,” Napolitano said.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement took the rare step of serving four administrative subpoenas Friday to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department for information on four Mexican nationals wanted for deportation.
The immigration subpoenas are the first of their kind in California, though they’re just the latest deployment of a new, month-old Trump administration tactic aimed at so-called sanctuary cities and states.
ICE, the Department of Homeland Security agency responsible for arresting and deporting people in the U.S. illegally, used the subpoenas Jan. 15 in Denver for what was believed to be the first time. The agency subsequently used them in New York and on Thursday in Connecticut.
According to an ICE spokeswoman, the subpoenas are not court-ordered or signed by a judge. But if the Sheriff’s Department does not comply, ICE said it can coordinate with federal prosecutors to seek an order from a federal judge that would compel the Sheriff’s Department to comply.
ICE officials said in a news release the agency has “not historically needed to use its lawful authority to issue subpoenas for information from other law enforcement agencies,” but that so-called sanctuary laws have essentially forced them to turn to the tactic.
But an immigration attorney called the new tactic a “farce,” a retaliation against states and cities seeking to protect immigrants and a “publicity stunt” aimed at vilifying immigrants.
“The cases cited are the most egregious cases, aimed at making all immigrants seem dangerous,” Tessa Cabrera, an associate attorney with the immigration law firm Hurwitz Holt, said.
A Sheriff’s Department spokesman confirmed in an emailed statement that his department had received the subpoenas and was in the process of reviewing them.
“If able to, the Department will comply with the lawful requests in a timely manner,” Lt. Ricardo Lopez wrote in the statement.
Personnel from the Sheriff’s Department’s legal affairs unit declined to comment, referring all questions to the media relations unit.
The ICE news release said the subpoenas were aimed at forcing the Sheriff’s Department to turn over information about four Mexican men, two who are still in Sheriff’s Department custody, and two who have recently been released. They were arrested on serious charges, including sexual assault of a child, robbery, battery of a spouse and assault with force.
ICE said it lodged immigration detainers with the Sheriff’s Department for all four men that were ignored “due to California sanctuary state laws.”
Under the California Values Act, also known as Senate Bill 54, law enforcement agencies in California are limited in how they can interact with federal immigration authorities — partly in an effort to ensure undocumented immigrants can report crimes without fear of deportation — and the San Diego Sheriff’s Department “does not hold individuals based on federal detainer warrants,” according to Department policy.
Pedro Rios, director of the U.S./Mexico Border Program with the American Friends Service Committee, said he was not surprised the Sheriff’s Department would comply with the subpoenas.
“They would openly collaborate if they could with ICE officials,” Rios said, citing Sheriff Bill Gore’s initial opposition to the California Values Act.
Both Rios and Cabrera, the immigration attorney, also questioned the validity of the subpoenas because they are not court ordered or signed by a judge. Rios likened them to ICE arrest warrants that are signed by ICE supervisors instead of a judge, and which his organization urges individuals not to comply with.
It was unclear how long ICE had given the Sheriff’s Department to comply with the subpoenas. The Associated Press reported that when the federal agency served similar subpoenas last month in Denver, it gave the local law enforcement agencies 14 days to comply with three of the subpoenas, and just three days to comply with the fourth.
When Lana Condor found out that a new suitor would be complicating the love life of her “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” heroine Lara Jean Song Covey, she texted YA author Jenny Han, on whose books the Netflix films are based: “Why would you do this to me?”
Lara Jean had already sorted through a confusing tangle of emotions in the first film, based on Han’s 2014 bestseller, in which the teenage heroine finds that private love letters have been sent out to five of her old crushes.
One of them, gregarious jock Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo), hatches a plan to pose as a pretend couple that ends up with them — spoiler alert for anyone who’s never seen a rom-com — falling in love for real.
But in “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You,” the second of three films based on the books, things get more complicated as Lara Jean navigates her first relationship. Then the final recipient of her letters enters the picture: John Ambrose McClaren, the sensitive and erudite boy of her dreams — at least, on paper.
“The question ‘What team are you on?’ keeps me up at night because I don’t know from one day to another,” said Condor during a recent stop in Los Angeles, where billboards not far away towered high above Sunset Boulevard, playing up the #TeamPeter vs. #TeamJohn dilemma.
During the casting process on the first film, she said, she knew instantly that they’d found their Peter Kavinsky when she read with Centineo. (Their on-screen spark turned both actors into social media superstars overnight.)
The same thing happened after an exhaustive search for their John Ambrose when Jordan Fisher, who’s currently starring on Broadway in “Dear Evan Hansen,” came in for a chemistry read.
The character was briefly portrayed by actor Jordan Burtchett in a credits sequence cameo in the first film. But in “P.S. I Still Love You,” directed by Michael Fimognari, it would be a pivotal central role.
The filmmakers recast John Ambrose with the multiethnic Fisher, an actor and singer whose credits include “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” “Dancing With the Stars,” “Grease Live!” and 2019’s “Rent: Live.”
In many ways John Ambrose is not a typical teen movie love interest, said Fisher. “He’s sophisticated and intentional, super kind, and warm and thoughtful — and a person of color.”
Through all of her relationships, romantic and otherwise, Lara Jean learns to listen to herself, not to the idealized fantasies in her head drawn from romance novels and movies. “The whole reason I wrote [‘P.S. I Still Love You’] was for the character of John Ambrose McLaren,” said Han.
Their dynamic brings a flush of confusion to Lara Jean’s young life, but it also forces her to figure out what she really wants.
“When Lara Jean and John Ambrose are together there’s more movement, it’s more colorful,” Condor said. “She was a little bit freer. When it’s with Peter it’s really intimate and quiet because that’s where you see the beauty of their relationship.”
Lana Condor
“To All the Boys” readers might be surprised by how the movie version of John Ambrose deviates from the novel. His ties to Stormy (Holland Taylor), the retirement-home mentor who gives Lara Jean love advice, for example, are absent in the script by Sofia Alvarez and J. Mills Goodloe.
“I wanted the spirit of Lara Jean’s experience to stay true,” said Han. “As an author I genuinely feel it’s two different mediums and I understand that things change from book to screen. As long as the feeling was the same, the heart, that’s what I wanted. And I think that’s true.”
A third film based on Han’s trilogy-capper, “Always and Forever, Lara Jean,” was filmed back to back with the second installment and will see Lara Jean wrestling with her post-high school future. To Han, the character’s journey is about more than just the fantasy, which is why she threw the John Ambrose wrench into Lara Jean’s life.
“For me it represents how so much of life is about timing and proximity,” said Han. “He is the ‘what if?’ If he’d never moved away back in middle school they probably would have found each other, and it wouldn’t be her and Peter. The way that life can end up, you never know what can happen. There are so many different ways your life can go the right way.”
Fisher agreed. And he knows “To All the Boys” fans will have feelings about who wins Lara Jean’s heart.
“Timing is everything, and that’s one thing I hope that the audience takes away from this,” he said. “We are 99.9% of the time out of control of time, and that’s OK. It’s OK for us to submit to timing and recognize that we can’t fully control it,” he said.
The popularity of the franchise has inadvertently made Han and Condor feel like life coaches to some fans, but they both stress that they don’t necessarily have the right answers.
“People think I’m a love expert or a relationship guru because of these movies and books,” said Condor. “People think I have all the love answers. I try to help them out but I’m like, I don’t know. This is a big responsibility!”
“I just want everyone to be safe, especially with young people,” Han said. The takeaway? Don’t think of it as a matter of #TeamPeter or #TeamJohn — but #TeamLaraJean.
“A lot of questions come up like, ‘How do I break up with my boyfriend?’ and I’m like, I don’t know! I need context!” said Condor with a smile. “Make good choices, everyone.”