Santa Anita Recap for Friday (3-3-23)
Fast main track. Three races were originally scheduled for turf and moved to dirt. Four front running winners on dirt (8f, 5.5f, 8f, 8f).
Hat trick for Mario Gutierrez.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $102,283, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $373.78. The jackpot carryover stands at $237,774. There will be a Mandatory Payout on March 4, and the pool is expected to exceed $3 million.
March 3 Claims: Race 2 – Sangre Azul ($10k, Milton Pineda). Race 4 – Top of My Game ($20k, Doug O’Neill). Race 6 – Lookin for Revenge ($10k, Kristin Mulhall), No Hang Charlie ($10k, Cesar DeAlba). Race 8 – Bold Endeavor ($45k, Tim Yakteen), Midnight Mammoth ($50k, Craig Dollase).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (3-3-23)
SA 6 OUTRIGHT (SA Best Bet #2, $10.20), Exacta ($36.00)
Double (races 5-6, $26.80)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $82.60)
Double (races 6-7, $37.40)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $119.20)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $102.60)
SA Late Pick 4 (races 6-9, $381.40)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
————–
Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (3-4-23)
Fast main track and good turf course. Three front running sprint winners on dirt (6.5f, 6.5f, 7f). A presser (6f) and two stalkers (8.5f, 10f) won the other three dirt races. On the turf course, a front running favorite graduated in the 5.5f opener, a 2-1 stalker scored at 5.5f, a 3-1 midpack stalker won the Buena Vista (G2) at one mile, a 3-1 outside presser scored at 9f, an outside pressing favorite won down the hill, and a 10-1 midpack stalker scored from the inside post in the Kilroe Mile (G1).
Flavien Prat (sprints) and John Velazquez (turf sprints) both booted home a pair. Phil D’Amato saddled three turf winners and Tim Yakteen saddled two dirt winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 3-4-23
Grade 2 Buena Vista (8T): Kitty Kitana was the post time favorite and she made the lead under Prat, but she pulled up early and walked off. Quattroelle ($8.60) was the best finisher and she rallied wide and got up late to score by a half-length for the productive Berrios/Mullins team. Macadamia (BRZ) stalked the pace and landed the place, and Closing Remarks nipped School Dance and Nadette (FR). Tik Tok Famous (GB) attended the pace and weakened. The final time was 1:35.74.
Grade 2 San Felipe (8.5f): This was almost a carbon copy of the Los Al Futurity for Practical Move ($10.40). The Tim Yakteen runner save ground behind front runner Carmel Road before spotting up the rail and kicking away in the former. In this race, he did the same thing. He saved ground behind Hejazi and Geaux Rocket Ride, and he came though along the rail to score by 2 1/2 lengths. Geaux Rocket Ride finished a solid 2nd as the betting favorite, and Skinner came running for the show and was the only closer making up any ground. Hejazi weakened to 4th and Fort Bragg stalked wide and finished a clear 5th. Mr Fisk, Chase the Chaos, and Genius Jimmy were next, and maiden Bluegrass Go Go was rank, eased, and walked off. The final time was 1:42.01.
Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (8T): Air Force Red made the lead and tried to slow it down, but Masteroffoxhounds pressed him, and the interior fractions were solid. This one set up for the patient runners and the stretch run was exciting. Gold Phoenix ($23.60) rallied to score by a neck under Kazushi Kimura. Du Jour was motoring late and missed by a neck under Dettori. Cabo Spirit stalked and finished a better than expected 3rd at 37-1. Honk Kong Harry (IRE) was the favorite and he had every chance, but was ultimately outkicked and finished an even 4th under Prat. Air Force Red, Masteroffoxhounds, Balnikov (IRE), and Royal Ship (BRZ) rounded out the order of finish. The final time was 1:34.45.
Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap (10f): The 2023 renewal of the Big ‘Cap was a thriller. Defunded was the chalk and he carved out the fractions. His stablemate Hopper pressed him, and Stilleto Boy was up close early but Kent D wrangled him back to stalk the pace, and that was the right move. Defunded kept on finding and looked like he might get there, but Stilleto Boy ($29.80) surged late and won by a neck over late runner Proxy and Defunded. Hopper slowly weakened to 4th and There Goes Harvard, Tisquantum, Newgrange, Warrant, and Heywoods Beach completed the 9-horse field. The winner completed his 10f journey in 2:01.96 and Kent D deserves much of the credit for a smart and well-timed ride.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $2,141,520, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $208,011.84. There was a mandatory payout on Saturday and the Pick 6 jackpot pool starts over.
March 4 Claims: Race 8 – Stop and a Tres ($40k, Val Brinkerhoff).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (3-4-23)
SA 7 CASH EQUITY ($8.20)
SA 9 HONEY JAR (SA Best Bet #3, $5.40), Trifecta ($74.80)
AQU 4 Shidabhuti/Asset Purchase Exacta ($31.60)
GP 13 VALUE ENGINEERING ($13.40)
Double (races 13-14, $29.60)
GG 8 MOTHER’S PRAYER ($7.40)
GG 9 She’s Resilient/Get My Point Exacta ($37.60)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
————–
Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (3-5-23)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. On the turf course, a stalking favorite won the flat mile opener, a stalking favorite took the San Simeon (G3) on the hillside course, a 3-2 favorite smartly rallied for the win in the hillside Baffle, and a 37-1 longshot went all the way in the 6f finale (rail at 20 feet).
Flavien Prat guided home two stakes winners. Phil D’Amato saddled three winners (2 turf), and Tim Yakteen both saddled two winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 3-5-23
Grade 3 Santa Ysabel (8.5f): Spanning the Globe scratched, and that left a field of five. Faiza ($3.60) was the strong favorite and she did not disappoint. Blessed Touch set the pace as expected and Faiza stalked comfortably from the outside post under Prat. She edged closer to Blessed Touch, and took the lead in the lane and streaked across the line more than two lengths clear. And Tell Me Nolies got past Blessed Touch for the place in a solid effort in her first start since finishing up the track in the BC Juvenile Fillies (G1). Peter Miller said his filly would be a bit short for this and he was exactly right. This was just a starting point for her and she should move forward next time. Blessed Touch ran a quality race and ended up a clear 3rd. Justique raced wide and was no threat to the top three. The talented lane running sprinter loses her punch in route races. Pride of the Nile was fidgety in the gate and did not have a smooth beginning. She found some trouble after that and never got involved in a disappointing last place finish. I think she will end up back on turf at some point. The final time was 1:44.66 and Faiza is now 4-for-4. She is getting better for Baffert but is ineligible for the Oaks.
Grade 3 San Simeon (6.5T): Brickyard Ride made his first start since last May. He figured to need the race and did his thing on the front end as expected. My best bet top choice Motorius ($5) sat a great chasing trip under Prat, and he kicked past Brickyard Ride and was strong in the lane in a 2 1/4 length victory. Anarchist slipped past Brickyard Ride for the place. Whatmakessamyrun, Respect the Code, Sumter, and Count of Amazonia (IRE) also competed. The final time was 1:11.34.
Baffle Stakes (6.5T): A swift pace was anticipated and Johannes was expected to mix it up early, but he broke slow and Rispoli bided him time. Helladic got clear early and ran well, but there was no stopping Johannes ($5). The latter was crying out for room in the lane, and he found a seam and zipped to the front in a smart victory by a length and a quarter. 26-1 inside stalker Wizard of Westwood edged Helladic for the place by a neck. Mi Hermano Ramon did not have smooth sailing in the lane and checked in 4th. Hawker (5th) got forced out on the dirt crossing and Sharp Aza Tack, Kingdom Heart, first timer Golden Sombrero, and Malibu Coast also ran. The latter found trouble multiple times. The final time was 1:13.07.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $113,674, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $8,140.48. The jackpot carryover stands at $26,026.
March 5 Claims: Race 8 – Handsome Gary ($12.5k, Lorenzo Campuzano), Octopus ($12.5k, Peter Eurton).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (3-5-23)
SA 1 BUZZ OF NEW YORK ($2.60), Exacta ($5.80)
Double (races 1-2, $21.00)
SA 3 FAIZA ($3.60)
Double (races 2-3, $21.00)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $44.80)
Double (races 3-4, $21.00)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $121.20)
SA 5 MOTORIUS (Best Bet #1, $5.00)
Double (races 4-5, $33.80)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $46.80)
Double (races 5-6, $11.80)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $81.80)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $32.00)
GG 9 SPROSTON ($7.80)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
Article by Jarrod Horak
