After four decades, John Shirreffs gets first Big 'Cap win with Express Train – Los Angeles Times

Trainer John Shirreffs is notorious for sneaking away after a big win and putting all the attention on everyone else connected to the horse. But Saturday was different. It took modest prodding, but there he was in the winner’s circle with Express Train after winning his first Santa Anita Handicap.“Oh, yeah, this is the Santa Anita Handicap,” Shirreffs said. “You don’t have to ask me twice. … I’m really over the top about [winning] it. I’ve been it a few times and never won. Seabiscuit won this race. It’s one of those icon races.”Seabiscuit won in 1940 by about two lengths. It wasn’t so easy for Express Train, who looked as if he had the race won down the stretch but a game Warrant kept coming back on the 5-year-old horse. In the final strides, Express Train got just enough in front to win the Grade 1 $650,000 race by a head.“Yeah, I was nervous [down the stretch],” said the 76-year-old Shirreffs, who has been a trainer for more than four decades.The 1¼-mile race unfolded with American Theorem going to the lead. Victor Espinoza, aboard Express Train, was content to sit in fourth. Coming off the clubhouse turn, he moved…
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