Santa Anita Recap for Friday (1-6-23)
Good main track and no turf races scheduled. Two front running sprint winners on dirt (6.5f, 6f).
No riding or training doubles on Friday.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $110,515, and nobody had all six winners. Multiple tickets with five winners paid $1,513.56. The jackpot carryover stands at $275,877, and there is a Mandatory Payout on Cal Cup Saturday.
Jan. 6 Claims: Race 3 – Big Buzz ($16k, Reed Saldana), High Heater ($16k, Steve Knapp). Race 5 – Ardis ($12.5k, Steve Knapp). Race 7 – Del Mar Drama ($32k, Peter Miller), Kristi’s Tiger ($32k, Librado Barocio).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (1-6-23)
SA 1 Unwritten Code/Double Fantasy Exacta ($16.80)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (1-7-23)
Fast main track and good turf course. Three front running winners on dirt (6f, 6f, 8.5f). On the turf course, a 7-1 front runner held on by a head to graduate at 5.5f, a front running favorite tallied down the hill, an inside stalker captured the Sunshine Millions F&M Turf Sprint down the hill, a closer just got up in the Cal Cup Oaks at one mile, and a stalker took the Unusual Heat Turf Classic at a mile and an eighth (rail at 10 feet).
Riding doubles for Hector Berrios (2 stakes wins), Juan Hernandez (dirt routes), and Edwin Maldonado (sprints) each booted home a pair. Carla Gaines saddled two stakes winners on turf.
Cal Cup Day Stakes Recaps
Cal Cup Sprint (6f): Big City Lights looked like the main speed but he did not break on top. The Chosen Vron ($2.80) took it to his rivals from the outset. He shook off outside pace pressure from Resilient. The heavy favorite opened up in the stretch under Berrios, and stalker Big City Lights came after him. The chalk just lasted by a neck and Big City Lights was clearly second best in a fine effort. Resilient held 3rd by a neck over Tigre Di Slugo. Finneus and I’ll Stand Taller also ran. They completed the six panel journey in 1:08.96.
Sunshine Millions F&M Turf Sprint (6.5T): A big effort from Big Summer ($9.80). Bravo was able to work out a nice trip from the difficult inside post. He stalked, battled on the lead, got clear, and held off Eddie’s New Dream and Alice Marble to prevail by 3/4ths of a length. The top three were clear of 36-1 longshot Tam’s Little Angel. Bella D, Taming the Tigress, Sunshine Babe, Klein Karma, and fading front runner La Deuxieme Etoille also competed. The final time for this downhill sprint was 1:13.10.
Cal Cup Derby (8.5f): Nice training job by Peter Miller. Thirsty John ($6.60) won his 4.5f bow in May and Miller was his new trainer for this race. He returned from a 7+ month layoff and stretched his speed another half-mile in this spot. He controlled the tempo from the inside post under Hernandez, and he kept post time favorite and experienced stakes winner Giver Not a Taker at bay to score by a half-length. Passarando was no threat to the top two and was best of the rest in 3rd. The order of finish was completed by Crypto Ride, Geezer, Amigo G A, and Merit Song (pulled up, walked off). The final time was 1:45.51.
Cal Cup Oaks (8T): My best bet top choice Sell the Dream lost a heartbreaker. She set the pace under Prat and Cast Member and Johnny V hounded her throughout. Those two showed the way throughout and it looked like Sell the Dream would last to the wire, but closer Grazed My Heart ($13.80) rumbled down the center under Berrios and got her nose down on the line. Sell the Dream was a half-length in front of Cast Member, and Golden Again completed the superfecta at 65-1. Carole Lombard was next, and she was followed by Cholly, Quickly Park It, and Loyal to a Fault. The winner completed her flat mile journey over a course labeled good in 1:37.41.
Unusual Heat Turf Classic (9T): Trips made all the difference in this race. Kings River Knight made the early running but Dettori backed off when longshot Bang For Your Buck pushed to the fore. Doc Adams was in the early mix as well, and Coalinga settled into a nice stalking rhythm. Prat bided his time along the inside aboard Aligato. Coalinga Road ($8.60) made a wide move around the far turn and struck the front in the lane. That was the winning move and he scored by a length. Defending champ Aligato was the unlucky runner-up. He was stuck in traffic along the inside, and finished with a flourish once clear but had to settle for the runner-up spot. He was probably best. Luvluv rallied from last at 30-1 odds and finished a couple of necks behind the top two. Kings River Knight failed to quicken in the lane and ended up an even 4th, and behind him was Bang For Your Buck, Royal ’n Rando, beaten chalk Carmelita’s Man, and Doc Adams. The final time was 1:49.79.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $2,311,782, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $2,429.74. There was a mandatory payout on Saturday and the jackpot pool starts over on Jan. 8.
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (1-7-23)
SA 3 SASSY NATURE ($6.40), Exacta ($11.60), Trifecta ($43.60)
Double (races 3-4, $16.20)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $78.60)
SA 7 THIRSTY JOHN ($6.60), Trifecta ($33.60)
Double (races 6-7, $39.20)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $163.80)
GG 11 LUXURY LINER ($9.20), Exacta ($27.80)
GP 11 MOON CAT ($9.00)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (1-8-23)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running winners at one mile on dirt. On the turf course, an inside stalking favorite graduated in the flat mile opener, a 5-1 early runner wired the field at 8f, a 6-1 closer got up in the final strides at 9f, a midpack stalking favorite scored down the hill, and an 18-1 stalker upset the 9f finale (rail at 30 feet).
Hat trick for Juan Hernandez. Training doubles for George Papaprodromou and John Sadler.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 1-8-23
Grade 3 Santa Ynez (7f): Strong morning line favorite Justique spiked a fever and scratched. That left a 5-horse field and Ice Dancing was the overwhelming 1-2 favorite. She ran like it for Prat/Mandella. Stablemates Parody and Fast and Shiny dueled. Huntingcoco stalked outside in 3rd, and Satin Doll and Ice Dancing were patiently handled. Ice Dancing ($3.00) made a sustained outside run, reeled in the early runners in the stretch, and kicked away to win by 3 1/4 widening lengths. She was much the best and figures to enjoy getting back around two turns next time. Satin Doll just edged Fast and Shiny for 2nd, and it was a long way back to Parody and Huntingcoco. The final time was 1:22.78.
Grade 3 Sham Stakes (8f): Speed Boat Beach was a late scratch, and with the expected pacesetter out, the race shape was a mad scramble. Reincarnate, the least fancied of three Baffert trainees, dueled early with stretch out maiden winner Spun Intended. Solid favorite National Treasure sat behind those two and was hemmed in by surface switcher Packs a Wahlop. Newgate trailed the compact field. Reincarnate edged clear, Spun Intended and Packs a Wahlop dropped back, and Newgate was unwinding from last. National Treasure was still stuck inside. Reincarnate ($35.00) dug in gamely and withstood the onslaught of his stablemate Newgate to prevail by a neck. National Treasure was less than a length behind those two and he was a country mile in front of Packs a Wahlop. Spun Intended pulled up in the stretch and walked into the van. Lots to unpack here. The top three stablemates were separated by less than a length. Reincarnate showed determination under Hernandez and Newgate closed nicely under Dettori. As for National Treasure, he may have been best. Johnny V had nowhere to go for much of the running, and he seemed to want more ground while galloping out nicely. Packs a Wahlop will return to turf and hopefully Spun Intended is okay. The final time was 1:35.87.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $150,101, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $20,047.10. The jackpot carryover stands at $34,366.
Jan. 8 Claims: Race 4 – Clooney ($40k, John Sadler). Race 5 – Flint Stroll ($32k, Doug O’Neill).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (1-8-23)
SA 1 THIRSTY PAPPY ($6.20), Exacta ($27.60)
Double (races 1-2, $20.60)
SA 6 ICE DANCING (SA Best Bet #1, $3.00)
Double (races 6-7, $11.00)
GP 5 BREATH AWAY ($7.80)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
Article by Jarrod Horak
