Santa Anita Recap for Friday (1-27-23)
Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at 6f on dirt. On the turf course, a 5-2 dueling front runner graduated in the 8f opener, a 2-1 stalker scored at one mile, a stalking favorite rallied to beat three foes down the hill, and a 7-2 closer captured the 9f finale (rail at 30 feet).
Apprentice Armando Aguilar (dirt) and Juan Hernandez (turf routes) both booted home a pair. Mark Glatt saddled two sprint winners.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $92,192, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $1,005.10. The jackpot carryover stands at $219,195.
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (1-27-23)
SA 1 Irish Prophet/Admiralty Place/Ridley’s Major Trifecta (Best Bet #1, $257.00)
SA 6 MI HERMANO RAMON (Best Bet #2, $3.20)
Double (races 5-6, $5.20)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $20.60)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (1-28-23)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. On the turf course, a presser broke her maiden at 6.5f, a last-to-first closer scored at one mile, a 7-2 front runner graduated at 6f, a 5-2 presser earned his diploma at 6f, and a stalking favorite reeled in the runaway early leader in the flat mile finale.
Leading rider Juan Hernandez guided home four winners. Phil D’Amato saddled two winners and Hernandez rode both. Jeff Mullins saddled two turf winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 1-28-23
Las Virgenes (G3): Maiden Sweet Trouble was intent on the early lead and was chased by surface switcher Broadway Girls. Betting favorite Faiza broke from the inside post, and Ramon Vanquez tapped on the breaks and slowly eased her outside to stalk the two early runners. Pride of the Nile sat behind the top three, and Uncontrollable and Justique trailed early. Faiza made her move outside and got first run. Pride of the Nile came after her and was slowly gaining, but Baffert’s filly dug in and prevailed by a half-length to remain unbeaten. Pride of the Nile was clearly second best and Justique rallied outside and plugged along for the show. She is best as a late running sprinter. Sweet Trouble weakened to 4th and was followed by Uncontrollable and distant trailer Broadway Girls. The final time was 1:38.46. Faiza ($4.00) has done nothing wrong in three starts but these California sophomore fillies seem like a cut below the top runners in this division.
San Pasqual (G2): Hopper, making his first start since June 2022, surged to the fore from the rail to carve out the splits. Baffert’s returnee was the betting favorite and was ridden by Edwin Maldonado. He got clear early but was pressured by Parnelli and Newgrange down the backside. Hopper kept Parnelli at bay and Newgrange was hard ridden to keep up around the far turn and approaching the stretch. Juan Hernandez rode the latter and he kept him to task, and he found his best side in the lane once he straightened out, and he got past Hopper in the late stages to score by a length. Newgrange ($10.40) acts like he will handle the 10f Big ‘Cap distance, and that G1 event on March 4 is probably his next target. Hopper should have gotten plenty out of this affair and should be fitter next time. Parnelli just missed the place by a head and was a surprisingly clear show finisher at 18-1. Messier was bet down to 2-1 and he was a wide, clear 4th from the outside post. Tripoli, American Admiral, Breakfast Ride, Perfect Flight, and Go On also ran. The final time was 1:49.97.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $125,559, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $1,533.12. The jackpot carryover stands at $247,942.
Jan. 28 Claims: Race 4 – Cornelia Fort ($50k, John Sadler).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (1-28-23)
SA 1 ALBAYAADER ($4.80), Trifecta ($108.80)
SA 2 FAIZA (SA Best Bet #1, $4.00)
Double (races 1-2, $11.40)
SA 3 SHOCKING GREY ($7.80), Trifecta ($155.80)
Double (races 2-3, $25.80)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $34.80)
SA 4 Cornelia Fort/Sweet Hello Exacta ($17.00)
Double (races 3-4, $32.00)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $52.80)
SA 5 Denim in Gold/Lucky for You Exacta ($13.80)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $184.40)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $451.20)
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5, $1,099.20)
SA 7 Spiritual Advisor/Moon Ice ($15.80)
SA 8 NEWGRANGE (SA Best Bet #2, $10.40), Exacta ($30.00)
Double (races 7-8, $52.80)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $304.40)
Double (races 8-9, $25.40)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $135.20)
GG 9 LADY OF THE LIGHT ($6.40), Trifecta ($59.40)
$5 Golden Hour Double (SA 9, GG 9, $46.50)
GP 12 ATONE ($9.60)
Double (races 11-12, $53.40)
Pick 3 (races 10-12, $408.40)
Double (races 12-13, $265.40)
Pick 3 (races 11-13, $899.40)
OP 10 ARABIAN KNIGHT ($2.80)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (1-29-23)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running sprint winners on dirt (7f, 6f, 6f). On the turf course, an 11-1 longshot stalked and graduated by a neck in the 9f opener, a 5-1 stalker tallied at 6f, a 4-1 front runner earned his diploma at 6.5f, and an outside stalker scored at 2-1 odds in the Clocker’s Corner on the hillside course (rail at 20 feet).
Juan Hernandez (dirt sprints) and Tiago Pereira both booted home a pair. Richard Mandella saddled two sprint winners. Steve Knapp both saddled two winners and Pereira rode both.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 1-29-23
San Vicente (G2): Even money favorite Havnameltdown ($4.00) was best. He got the early lead vs. three opponents and he stayed clear throughout. After leading by a length or so for much of the running, he spurted clear by three, and held safe by 1 1/2 lengths. His stablemate Faustin stalked the pace and was the only danger. He kept plugging away under Ramon Vazquez and was slowly making inroads while 8+ clear of show finisher Fort Warren. Man Child trailed. The final time was 1:22.29. The winner is a solid sprinter but I want Faustin out of this race. This was just his second career start and he sure acts like he wants more ground.
Clocker’s Corner (6.5T): Trips and post position made all the difference in this one. Tactical type Lane Way ($6.00) drew the outside post and fell into a perfect stalking trip while out in the clear. He moved up outside, bid for the lead, and burst clear to win by an easy 2 1/2 lengths under Mike Smith. Overbet favorite Motorius did not have the smoothest overall journey and found his best stride late to grab the place spot, and Respect the Code stalked from the inside post and was best of the rest in 3rd. Yeng Again set the pace and weakened to 4th, and Nero, Lambeau, and Coulthard (IRE) also ran. The final time was 1:12.05.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $173,747, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $695.18. The jackpot carryover stands at $287,716.
Jan. 29 Claims: Race 5 – High Heater ($20k, Bob Hess Jr.), Next Revolt ($20k, George Papaprodromou). Race 9 – Big Drinker ($50k, Peter Miller).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (1-29-23)
SA 5 High Heater/Next Revolt Exacta ($15.60)
SA 8 LANE WAY (SA Best Bet, $6.00), Exacta ($11.80)
Double (races 7-8, $10.60)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $49.20)
SA 9 THIRSTY ($8.00)
Double (races 8-9, $35.80)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $55.40)
Late Pick 4 (races 6-9, $345.80)
$5 Golden Hour Double (SA 9-GG 9, $128.00)
GP 10 FAST AS FLIGHT ($5.40), Trifecta ($100.20)
GP 11 MRS. ASTOR ($7.20)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
Article by Jarrod Horak
