Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (3-5-22)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running winners on dirt (6f, 8.5f, 8f). On the turf course, a midpack stalker won the hillside opener, a last-to-first closer tallied at 5.5f, an aggressively handled front runner took the Buena Vista (G2) at one mile, a midpack stalker graduated at 8f, a stalker scored down the hill, and a closer captured the Kilroe Mile (G1).
Graded stakes triple for leading rider Flavien Prat. Turf riding double for Drayden Van Dyke. On the trainer side, Phil D’Amato saddled three turf winners (2 stakes wins). Bob Baffert saddled three winners overall and Prat rode both of his stakes winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 3-5-22
San Carlos (G2): Scratches changed the complexion of this race. With expected pacesetter Brickyard Ride and likely presser Eight Rings defecting, Cezanne was made the heavy favorite and he did not disappoint as my best bet top choice. He pressed the pace between runners, stuck his neck in front, and edged clear in the lane to win by a comfortable 2-1/2 lengths. Principe Carlo chased hard throughout and was clearly second best, and Canadian Pride set a pressured pace inside and weakened to 3rd. Wicked Trick, Shooters Shoot, and Phantom Dance also ran. Cezanne, ridden by Flavien Prat and trained by Bob Baffert, paid $3.20 to win and completed his 7f journey in 1:23.45.
Buena Vista (G2): Leggs Galore ($6.80) broke like a shot under Ricky Gonzalez, and she opened up a commanding lead after a half-mile. She was still in complete control in the lane but started getting a bit weary late. My top choice Going To Vegas was grinding away under Prat but fell a half-length short. Closing Remarks was up for 3rd and Mucho Unusual finished an even 4th. This one mile turf event had a final time of 1:34.29.
San Felipe (G2): This was almost a dirt carbon copy of the Buena Vista (G2). In this 8.5f Derby points race, Forbidden Kingdom ($4.00) blazed to the front under Juan Hernandez, and he put away Baffert chaser Armagnac with ease. He opened up by several lengths after 6f and my top choice Doppelganger started to come after him. Forbidden Kingdom showed no signs of slowing down and stayed well clear by 5+ lengths in an impressive speed display. Doppelganger was clearly second best for Prat/Baffert, and Happy Jack was well clear of the rest in 3rd. Beautiful Art had a troubled beginning and was along for 4th. Cabo Spirit, Armagnac, and Worse Read Sanchez also ran. The splits were 22.66, 45.60, 1:10.46, and 1:36.89, with a final time of 1:43.98. This was a simple case of a runner with superior early speed running them off their feet. He got slower as the race went on but it did not matter today.
Beholder Mile (G1): As Time Goes By ($2.60) did not have the best beginning, but she straightened herself out and was soon clear vs. three opponents. She was rolling right along on the front end, and Prat took a few peeks back and let it out a notch. She stayed clear throughout and won by 2+ lengths. Miss Bigly stalked the pace and was the only one with a chance to catch the front runner. She was not able to get to the winner but really tried hard in the lane and was miles best of the rest. Varda was 3rd and Envoutante trailed throughout. The final time for one mile was 1:37.55.
Kilroe Mile (G1): Count Again ($6.60) went about his business as the chalk. Beyond Brilliant carved out honest splits and hung in there for a long time. The closing favorites got going in the lane and Count Again finished best of all to edge always unlucky Space Traveler (GB) to score by a head. It was another head back to stalking show finisher Subconscious. Beyond Brilliant grudgingly weakened to 4th and it was another 3+ back to my value top choice Law Professor. The other six entrants did not take much action and failed to seriously threaten. Prat rode the winner for D’Amato and the final time was 1:33.24 for this flat mile turf event.
SA Handicap (G1): This was an exciting renewal of the Big ‘Cap at 10f on dirt. Express Train ($4.20) and Warrant stalked the pace and put on one heck of a match race in the lane. They hooked up turning for home and neither would give an inch. Express Train got his nose down late to score by a head and Warrant ran too good to lose. The top two were 9+ clear of show finisher Stilleto Boy. Spielberg and Why Why Paul Why were next, and it was a distance back to American Theorem and Soy Tapatio. Victor Espinoza rode the winner for trainer John Shirreffs, and the final time was 2:03.22.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $249,763, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $132.26. The jackpot carryover stands at $176,391.
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (3-5-22)
SA 2 TAIBA ($3.00)
SA 3 SAVVY GAL ($8.00), Trifecta ($141.20)
Double (races 2-3, $14.80)
SA 4 CEZANNE (SA Best Bet #1, $3.20)
Double (races 3-4, $11.40)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $22.80)
SA 5 Leggs Galore/Going To Vegas Exacta ($27.20)
Double (races 4-5, $17.70)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $71.40)
SA Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $98.20)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $29.40)
SA 7 WAR AT SEA ($6.00)
Double (races 6-7, $15.40)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $55.20)
SA 9 AS TIME GOES BY ($2.60), Exacta ($7.40)
SA 10 Count Again/Space Traveler/Subconscious Trifecta (SA Best Bet #3, $110.20)
SA 11 Express Train/Warrant Exacta ($19.20)
Pick 3 (races 9-11, $23.80)
GP 9 Speaker’s Corner/Fearless Exacta ($11.60), Trifecta ($47.00)
GP 10 TEMPLE ($10.40)
GP Late Pick 5 (races 9-13, 4 out of 5, $43.20)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (3-6-22)
Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at 5.5f on dirt. The main track seems to play fair overall. On the turf course, a closer graduated in the flat mile opener, a last-to-first closer scored at 6.5f, and a last-to-first closer won the 8f finale (rail at 20 feet).
Leading rider Flavien Prat booted home a pair.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 3-6-22
Santa Ysabel (G3): Eda ($8.60) sped to a clear early lead and that was all it took. She held a length advantage under Juan Hernandez, kicked two clear in the lane, and her off her stablemate Under the Stars to win by a half-length. The latter chased from the outside post and was clearly second best. Ain’t Easy saved ground stalking the pace and made an inside run in the stretch, but she could not go with the top two late and held off her stablemate Desert Dawn for show dough. The top four were well clear of the rest. The final time was 1:44.31.
China Doll: Pammy’s Ready set the pace and weakened as expected. Island of Love (IRE) chased from 2nd for a half-mile but failed to quicken. Lucky Girl (IRE) broke slow from the outside post, made a nice early move under Bravo, and held safe by a bit less than a length. She was exiting a stakes win vs. this kind and surprisingly went off at 6-1 again. An Agent Mistake stalked and finished 2nd at 23-1. Sterling Crest (IRE) was rank under Rispoli and ended up an okay 3rd. Island of Love could not quite muster enough in the lane and settled for 4th as the favorite.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $200,399, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $17,842.36. The jackpot carryover stands at $222,271.
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (3-6-22)
SA 1 BARRISTAN THE BOLD ($7.00)
Double (races 1-2, $14.00)
SA 3 HONG KONG HARRY ($3.00), Exacta ($5.20)
Double (races 2-3, $4.80)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $26.00)
Double (races 3-4, $37.40)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $67.80)
GG 8 MOHAWK KING ($6.20)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Monday (3-7-22)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running sprint winners on dirt (6f, 6,5f, 6f). On the turf course, a slow starting closer won the 6f opener, a stalker scored at 8f, a stalker tallied at 6.5f, and a stalker captured the flat mile finale (rail at 30 feet).
Hat trick for apprentice Diego Herrera.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $172,115, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $1,585.26. The jackpot carryover stands at $261,676.
March 7 Claims: Race 2 – Scream and Shout ($12.5k, Jeffrey Metz). Race 3 – Granada Flavor ($16k, Brian Koriner), Perfecto Amor ($16k, Charles Treece). Race 6 – Commander Khai ($50k, Mark Glatt).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Monday (3-7-22)
SA 1 LETSGETLUCKY ($4.60)
SA 2 SCREAM AND SHOUT ($5.80)
Double (races 1-2, $17.60)
Double (races 2-3, $12.20)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $36.40)
SA 5 MUSICA ($7.40)
Double (races 5-6, $26.80)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $135.80)
SA 8 ELEUTHERA (SA Best Bet #2, $7.80), Exacta ($24.00), Trifecta ($77.40)
Double (races 7-8, $41.00)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $142.60)
SA 50 cent Late Pick 4 (races 5-8, $166.45)
GG 4 BERNALINHO ($6.00), Exacta ($19.40), Trifecta ($28.60)
GG 5 ALQWANI ($4.60), Exacta ($14.00), Trifecta ($42.00)
GG 6 Emerald Magic/Satanta Exacta ($24.80)
$5 Golden Hour Double (SA 8, GG 9) – $81.00
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
Article by Jarrod Horak
