Santa Anita Recap for Friday (6-19-20)
Fast main track and firm turf course. One dueling front running winner at six furlongs on dirt (4.5f, 8.5f, 6.5f). The turf course winners were three stalkers at one mile, a stalker at 5.5 furlongs, and a front runner at one mile (rail at 20 feet).
Richard Baltas saddled two winners.
The Rainbow 6 pool was $231,658 and multiple winning tickets paid $2,097.62 each. There will be a jackpot carryover of $977,355 when live racing resumes Saturday, June 20.
June 19 Claims: None.
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for 6-19-20
SA 1 Eastern Ocean/Lane Way Exacta ($9.90)
SA 3 Tiberius Mercurious/War Path Exacta ($9.30)
SA 5 SLY (Best Bet, $10.60), Exacta ($16.50)
Double (races 4-5, $28.40)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $19.15)
Double (races 5-6, $58.60)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $39.05)
SA 7 LOUD LOUD MUSIC ($6.00)
Double (races 6-7, $54.40)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $62.25)
Double (races 7-8, $15.20)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $32.00)
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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (6-20-20)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (6f, 8.5f). The turf course winners were two front runners at 5.5 furlongs, a prominent throughout runner at one mile, two stalkers at 5.5 furlongs, a stalker at a mile and an eighth, and a stalker at one mile.
Flavien Prat guided home five winners. He has thoroughly dominated since live racing restarted. Peter Miller saddled two winners and Prat rode both. Neil Drysdale saddled two winners.
The Rainbow 6 pool was $491,283 and multiple winning tickets paid $62.74 each. There will be a jackpot carryover of $1,089,836 when live racing resumes Sunday, June 21.
Wilshire Stakes (G3) Recap (6-20-20) – Winner: Toinette ($3.40)
Toinette took over in this spot, and Flavien Prat was not about to let Keeper Ofthe Stars get out there and control the pace, but Toinette did not have the early lead for long. Mike Smith let a keen Gypsy Spirit go, and she pulled clear after a half-mile. Toinette sat comfortably in 2nd, and after Gypsy Spirit was done having fun up front, the Neil Drysdale trainee set sail for the lead again, and she would not give it up this time. Toniette coasted home by a very easy 2-3/4 lengths, and Red Lark went from last-to-first to garner the place. Sharp late running turf sprint specialist Querelle ended up 3rd as the longest shot on the board. Gypsy Spirit and Keeper Ofthe Stars weakened.
Lazaro Barrera Stakes (G3) Recap (6-20-20) – Winner: Collusion Illusion ($2.80)
Ragtime Blues was fast early as expected, and it looked like he had complete control of this race. Collusion Illusion chased inside under Flavien Prat, and he tipped out and came after the front runner in the stretch. Once the latter started to gather momentum, it was over in a blink of an eye. He won going away by more than three lengths. Ragtime Blues was clearly second best and Howbeit out finished Phantom Boss for 3rd. Alcools was outrun. The winner might be the best sophomore sprinter in the land.
Snow Chief Stakes Recap (6-20-20) – Winner: Indian Peak ($7.00)
Margot’s Boy never got a breather, and that was the big story in this nine furlong turf route for California-breds. Bam Bam Again made Margot’s Boy work early, and Indian Peak made a wide middle move under Mike Smith, and he dueled with Margot’s Boy. The latter fought hard every step of the way, but Indian Peak’s decisive early move made all the difference, and he scored by a half-length. My value top choice California Kook was slowly gaining in the lane and nipped Margot’s Boy for the place by a nose. I actually think the latter ran best of all. The flat mile specialist never gave up. Descartes was 4th, followed by Sacred Rider, Canyon Crest, and Bam Bam Again.
June 20 Claims: Race 5 – All American Hero ($25k, Doug O’Neill).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for 6-20-20
SA 1 UTALKNBOUTPRACTICE ($5.40)
SA 2 TOINETTE ($3.40)
Double (races 1-2, $11.60)
Double (races 2-3, $26.20)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $17.10)
SA 4 MOONHALL MILLY ($5.40)
Double (races 3-4, $33.00)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $19.70)
Double (races 4-5, $65.00)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $121.35)
SA 6 Silardi/Whooping Jay/Unbridled Ethos Trifecta ($29.20)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $71.70)
SA 8 Brickyard Ride/Preaching Trainer/Offshore Affair/Jetovator Superfecta ($33.11)
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (6-21-20)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running winners on dirt (4.5f, 6.5f, 6.5f). The turf course winners were two front runners at 5.5 furlongs, a patient runner at fourteen furlongs, a closer at one mile, a front runner at one mile, and a stalker at one mile.
Riding doubles for Ruben Fuentes and Drayden Van Dyke. Umberto Rispoli and Phil D’Amato teamed up for two turf route wins.
The Rainbow 6 pool was $5,649,128 and multiple winning tickets paid $12,304.70 each.
Lure Stakes Recap (6-21-20) – Winner: Big Runnuer ($5.40)
Big Runnuer just ran these off their feet. He dueled outside, shook clear, and scored by a bit more than a length. Mesut rallied and nipped Torosay for the place. Yes I am Free was an even 4th, and behind him were Sparky Ville, Untimate Bango, and Portando.
San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3) Recap (6-21-20) – Winner: Red King ($9.80)
Stamina was the name of the game in this fourteen furlong marathon. Post Time favorite Ward ’n Jerry set the pace but Kershaw make him work to get it, and that expended early energy hurt him late. Red King finished 3rd in this race last year, and he turned in midpack and kicked well clear to score by 4+ lengths under Umberto Rispoli. Siberian Iris got past Ward ’n Jerry late to secure runner-up honors. Tintoretto was next, followed by Swamp Souffle, Avalanche, Soberano, and Kershaw.
Melair Stakes Recap (6-21-20) – Winner: Warren’s Showtime ($10.60)
It sure looked like strong favorite Big Sweep was the controlling speed from the rail in this dirt route for California-bred 3-tear-old fillies, but Reiwa had other ideas. The latter was aggressively handled under Abel Cedillo, and that set the table for flat mile turf specialist Warren’s Showtime. The eventual winner stalked wide and out finished Smiling Shirlee by a length. Big Sweep chased the pace and just held 3rd over Homehome. Kristi’s Tiger was next and Reiwa was well behind the others.
American Stakes (G3) Recap (6-21-20) – Winner: Blitzkrieg ($16.80)
Blitzkreig stole this one. Victor Espinoza put the eventual winner on the lead from the outset, and the late runners never had a chance. He was in complete command throughout and scored by a length over late running Bowies Hero. The latter was clearly second best, and Sharp Samurai and Souter finished in a dead-heat for 3rd. True Valour was just behind them, and Border Town and Cleopatra’s Strike were next. King of Speed and Bolo trailed.
June 21 Claims: None.
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for 6-21-20
SA 5 YOUR ROYAL COIL ($8.20)
SA 6 RED KING (Best Bet, $9.80)
Double (races 5-6, $40.40)
Double (races 6-7, $65.20)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $51.80)
SA 8 DANCEFORMUNNY ($6.20), Trifecta ($158.90)
Double (races 7-8, $50.40)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $48.00)
SA 9 With This Vow/Saving Sophie Exacta ($10.20)
Double (races 8-9, $34.60)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $58.15)
SA 11 PROVOCATION ($3.20), Trifecta ($13.05)
Double (races 11-12, $41.20)
Article by Jarrod Horak