Santa Anita Recap for Friday (5-27-22)
Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at one mile on dirt. On the turf course, a closer graduated in the 6f opener, a front runner tallied at 6f, a closer scored at 8f, a patient runner won at 5f, and a last-to-first closer ended the card with a win at 9f (rail at 30 feet).
Riding double for Juan Hernandez. Turf sprint training double for Eric Kruljac, and John Sadler saddled two winners as well.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $157,457, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $1,911.76. The jackpot carryover stands at $485,398.
May 27 Claims: Race 4 – Big Scott Daddy ($25k, George Papaprodromou), Superman Shaq ($25k, George Papaprodromou). Race 6 – Divine Armor ($50k, George Papaprodromou). Race 7 – Tapit Doux ($25k, Lorenzo Ruiz).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (5-27-22)
SA 4 BIG SCOTT DADDY ($5.00), Exacta ($19.00)
Double (races 3-4, $10.00)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $52.00)
Double (races 4-5, $18.40)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $45.40)
SA 6 DIVINE ARMOR ($3.80)
Double (races 5-6, $13.00)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $47.00)
Double (races 6-7, $30.60)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $105.00)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $142.20)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (5-28-22)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. On the turf course, a front runner started the day with a hillside victory, a last-to-first closer scored at 8f, a front runner tallied at 9f, a midpack closer drove home down the hill, and a stalker won the flat mile finale (rail at 10 feet).
Juan Hernandez owned the day with five wins (4 stakes scores).
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 5-28-22
Crystal Water: Five horses broke from the gate and Carmelita’s Man ($4.80) went last-to-first in a nice 8T score in the first state bred stakes race on the card. Jimmy Blue Jeans did all of the pace dirty work and just held 2nd over Irish Heatwave. Loud Mouth and Prodigal Son also ran.
Thor’s Echo: Fashionably Fast and Good With People dueled on the lead and Desmond Doss ($10.00) sat in 3rd, pounced, and pulled away in a sharp victory at 6f on dirt. Fashionably Fast held 2nd over late runner Tigre Di Slugo. Good With People weakened to 4th and Moose Mitchell trailed.
Snow Chief: In this 9f turf affair, my best bet top choice Bally’s Charm ($6.20) got out there and controlled the pace under Jessica Pyfer, and the 3yo gelding turned away strong favorite Smuggler’s Run and scored by 5+ lengths. Royal ’n Rando nipped Smuggler’s Run for 2nd and they were followed by Worse Read Sanchez, So I’m Told, and Vincero Grande.
Melair: Strong favorite Big Switch ($3.40) was clearly best. She stalked the pace under Juan Hernandez, and she just kicked away from Rose Maddox in a strong effort. The latter was 10+ clear of Youteyourhonor, and that one was 9+ clear of Everlys Girl in a strung out field. It’s Simple and Roman Empress were far back.
Fran’s Valentine: 1-2 favorite Alice Marble ($3.00) looked to be in deep trouble but Juan Hernandez kept his cool. She did not have the best start and ended up in chase mode inside. She was bumped, blocked, and shuffled a bit around the far turn and into the stretch, and once she got clear she rolled home late to score by a bit less than a length. Sassyserb was up for the place and front running longshot Flying to the Line was best of the rest in 3rd. Self Isolation, Pulpit Rider, Super Game, and Fi Fi Pharoah also ran.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $164,724, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $737.42. The jackpot carryover stands at $523,107.
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (5-28-22)
SA 1 Funny Feline/Current Mood Exacta ($21.20), Trifecta ($47.60)
SA 5 BALLY’S CHARM (SA Best Bet #1, $6.20)
Double (races 4-5, $64.80)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $77.80)
Double (races 5-6, $34.00)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $131.60)
SA 8 BIG SWITCH ($3.40), Trifecta ($22.20), Superfecta ($38.80)
SA 9 ALICE MARBLE ($3.00)
Double (races 8-9, $5.40)
GG 8 Natural Colour/Assignation Exacta ($28.40)
GG 9 ROISTER ($24.80)
$2 Golden Hour Pick 4 (SA 8, GG 8, SA 9, GG 9) – $392.00
$10 Golden Hour Double (SA 9, GG 9) – $191.00
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (5-29-22)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. Speed has not holding on the main track this weekend. On the turf course, an outside presser won the hillside opener, front running favorite Bran won the G3 Daytona down the hill, a presser/stalker graduated at 8f, pressing/stalking favorite Cairo Memories took the G3 Honeymoon at 9f, and a loose front runner captured the 8f finale (rail at 20 feet).
Joe Bravo and Juan Hernandez both booted home a pair. George Papaprodromou saddled four winners. Three were on turf and one was 7f graded winner American Theorem, and Bravo rode two. Sean McCarthy saddled two main track winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 5-29-22
Daytona (G3): Bran ($4.00) fought off Burnin Turf early to set the pace under Juan Hernandez. He got clear but was never loose, and Burnin Turf, Majestic Eagle, and Homer Screen came after him in the stretch. Bran dug in gamely and was resolute to the end in a one-length victory in this graded downhill sprint. Majestic Eagle just got 2nd over Burnin Turf, and Homer Screen was a close 4th. Kanderel trailed throughout and never got involved.
Triple Bend (G2): An early speed duel developed between Brickyard Ride and Principe Carlo in this extended sprint. American Theorem ($26.00) sat behind them and got a great trip and ride under Joe Bravo. Brickyard Ride was the first to crack, and Principe Carlo got the lead bit was quickly confronted by American Theorem. It looked like the latter would roll right on by but that did not happen and they hit the wire together. American Theorem got his nose down to defeat an unlucky Principe Carlo, who did all of the pace dirty work and ran a winning race. Get Her Number picked up the pieces in a clear show finish, and Exaulted, Brickyard Ride, and Elector completed the order of finish.
Honeymoon (G3): Sterling Crest (IRE) set the pace in this 9T affair but his early advantage would not last. Cairo Memories ($3.00) was always traveling smartly under Mike Smith, and she chased from 2nd, took over, and was confidently handled in a length and a quarter victory over Island of Love (IRE). The latter stalked, bid outside the winner, but could not match strides in the lane in a solid runner-up effort. Ballet Dancing had an uncomfortable start and was a clear 3rd, and Sterling Crest, Ellamira, and Gold Dragon Queen also ran.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $285,560, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $7,264.22. The jackpot carryover stands at $588,485, and there is a Mandatory Payout on Monday. The pool is expected to approach $5 million.
May 29 Claims: Race 6 – Besame Mucho ($20k, Charles Treece), Vetoed ($20k, George Papaprodromou). Race 8 – Storminside ($10k, Steve Knapp).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (5-29-22)
SA 1 BRANDON’SMYLAWYER ($8.20)
SA 2 ALL DIALED IN ($4.80), Trifecta ($15.40)
Double (races 1-2, $19.40)
SA 3 BRAN (SA Best Bet #1, $4.00)
Double (races 2-3, $7.80)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $40.60)
SA 7 Cairo Memories/Island of Love/Ballet Dancing Trifecta ($16.00)
SA 8 STAY HAPPY ($8.20)
Double (races 7-8, $19.20)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $48.40)
SA 9 HAMWOOD FLIER ($5.20), Exacta ($27.60)
Double (races 8-9, $34.20)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $66.20)
50 cent SA Late Pick 4 (races 6-9, $64.00)
59 cent SA Late Pick 5 (races 5-9, $1,036.75)
GG 8 ST ANTHONY ($7.00), Trifecta ($119.40)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Monday (5-30-22)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (8f, 6f). On the turf course, two front runners went all the way at 6f, a closer won the Shoemaker Mile (G1), a front runner graduated in a Mcl-100k at 8f, a stalker won down the hill, and a last-to-first closer captured the Gamely (G1) at 9f.
Four-bagger for Irad Ortiz Jr. (2 G1 wins). Riding double for Juan Hernandez. Trainer Michael McCarthy saddled two winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 5-30-22
Hollywood Gold Cup (G1): This race began a very frustrating day for my top choices. I thought Defunded might be able to steal this and he did everything but win. He scooted to the front under Cedillo and continued to hold the edge through solid splits while turning away Stilleto Boy. I thought he was home free turning for home but inside stalker There Goes Harvard ($19.60) tipped out, came after Defunded in the lane, and was best late by a length under Ortiz Jr. Defunded ran too good to lose in a clear runner-up finish, and Royal Ship got past Stilleto Boy for show honors. Spielberg trailed throughout.
Shoemaker Mile (G1): It looked like Smooth Like Strait was the controlling speed on paper, but trainer Phil D’Amato had other ideas. Dance Some Mo acted as a rabbit for his closing stablemate Count Again ($7.00), and their pace plan worked to perfection. Dance Some Mo was intent on the lead through quick, contested splits of 22.54 and 45.58, and those 23 and change internal fractions softened up the early leaders. The rabbit was done after four panels and pace pressing favorite Smooth Like Strait inherited the lead, but it would not last long. Count Again was rumbling past rivals on the outside and collared the favorite and kicked clear to score by 2+ lengths under Ortiz Jr. Smooth Like Strait was clearly second best in a fine effort but the rabbit clearly ruined his win chances. Masteroffoxhounds grabbed the show while no threat to the top two. Haywood’s Beach was next and it was a long way back to Restrainedvengence and Dance Some Mo.
Gamely (G1): I would be golden today if they offered a Place Pick All at Santa Anita. Going to Vegas was my fifth top choice to finish 2nd on the Memorial Day card. Canoodling set the pace and Going to Vegas chased and led while getting first run, but Ocean Road ($12.20) stormed home from the back of the pack to score by a half-length under Rispoli. The winner shipped from Keeneland for Walsh and has a wicked turn of foot. Going to Vegas was second best and beaten favorite Going Global checked in 3rd. Canoodling weakened to 4th and was followed by Eddie’s New Dream and Thrumps Dream.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $4,584,629, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $889.62. There was a Mandatory Payout on Monday and the jackpot pool starts over this week.
May 30 Claims: Race 2 – Wine and Whisky ($20k, Isidro Tamayo).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Monday (5-30-22)
SA 7 Isola Mia/Sunny Morning Exacta (SA Best Bet #1, $8.40)
GG 8 FREEPORT JOE ($18.00), Trifecta ($857.80)
GG 9 Refi Now/Diamond Willow Exacta ($23.40)
LS 10 PARK AVENUE ($3.60), Trifecta ($98.60)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
Article by Jarrod Horak