Santa Anita Recap for Friday (4-7-23)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Early speed was strong on both surfaces. Three front running sprint winners on dirt (6f, 5.5f, 6f). On the turf course, a front running favorite won at 5.5f, a front runner tallied at 6f, a 9-1 presser graduated at 6f, a 12-1 front runner graduated at 6f, and a 4-1 front runner scored in the flat mile finale (rail at 20 feet).
Juan Hernandez booted home three winners. Librado Barocio saddled two winners.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $125,380, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $7,663.68. The jackpot carryover stands at $391,547. There is a Mandatory Payout on SA Derby Day, and the pool is expected to exceed $3 Million.
April 7 Claims: Race 2 – Excel Calculator ($62.5k, Steve Knapp). Race 4 – Big Shamrock ($20k, Steve Knapp). Race 8 – Howbeit ($100k, George Papaprodromou).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (4-7-23)
SA 3 Stressed/Alybaader Exacta ($6.80)
SA 4 Doris Mae/Big Shamrock Exacta ($8.40)
SA 6 HONEYMOON SUITE ($5.80)
Double (races 5-6, $50.20)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $141.20)
SA 8 SUNRISE JOURNEY ($6.80)
Double (races 8-9, $49.60)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (4-8-23)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three races were run on turf. After Midnight Jostar slipped, fell and walked off in the Charles Whittingham (G2) at 10T, the final three turf races were moved to dirt. One front running winner at one mile on dirt. On the turf course, a 17-2 stalker captured the hillside opener, a 5-1 closer won at one mile, and an 11-1 closer won the Whittingham (G2) at 1 1/4 miles.
Hat trick for Flavien Prat. Riding doubles for Juan Hernandez and Ramon Vazquez. Training doubles for Michael McCarthy and Tim Yakteen (2 stakes winners).
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 4-8-23
Evening Jewel (6.5f): Short field in this state bred stakes affair and Ceiling Crusher ($2.60) lived up to her name and absolutely crushed her foes. She pressed from the outside post, took over, and poured it on in the lane to score by 15 1/2 lengths. Tom’s Regret held the place over Cholly, and Lov U Mean It and Absolutely Zero also ran. The final time was 1:15.18.
Charles Whittingham (G2): In this graded turf route at 1 1/4 miles, Offlee Naughty ($25.20) went last-to-first as the longest shot on the board. Nice ride by Johnny V. Dicey Mo Chara (GB) tried to steal it on the front end but could not hold off the winner. Opry chased the pace and completed the trifecta. Gold Phoenix (GB) was the beaten favorite and his stablemate Masteroffoxhounds also disappointed. Midnight Jostar slipped, fell at the top of the stretch, and walked off. The final time was 2:02.45.
SA Derby (G1): Another perfect ground saving tactical trip for Practical Move ($4.00). Tim Yakteen’s colt did not kick away despite his wonderful journey ad just did get the bob over Japanese shipper Mandarin Hero. Skinner raced wide and rallied for the show in a solid effort. National Treasure was an even 4th and looked like a short horse. Not surprising since that was his first outing since Jan. 8. One in Vermillion, I Don’t Get It, Dazzlemesilver, and Low Expectations also ran. The final time was 1:48.69.
Echo Eddie (6.5f): Kangaroo Court ($3.00) chased Bus Buzz from the outset and the match race was on. Those two battled for the length of the stretch and the former prevailed by a head under Prat. It was 6+ back to show finisher Clouseau, and that one rallied to finish clear of the rest. Left hand Man, Clovisconnection, Good N Thirsty, and Barely Functional completed the order of finish. The final clocking was 1:15.66.
Monrovia (6.5f): This race was originally scheduled for the downhill course and moved to dirt. Four late scratches whittled this one down to seven runners, and returnee Elm Drive ($17.20) made all the running while facing pressure from the inside post, and she scored by a bit less than a length under Ramon Vazquez. Big Summer stalked the pace and landed the place, and Kirstenbosch was along for the show at 8-1. Awake At Midnyte was a disappointing 4th as the beaten chalk, and Canoodling, Freedom Flyer, and Leggs Galore rounded out the order of finish. The winner stopped the clock in 1:15.56.
SA Oaks (G2): Too bad Faiza ($3.60) is not eligible to compete in the Ky Oaks. She probably would have been the favorite in that race. She ran her record to 5-for-5 in a romping score under Prat in this 1 1/6 miles affair. She just keeps getting faster for Baffert. And Tell Me Nolies chugged along for the place and has earned enough points to run in the Ky Oaks for Miller. Window Shopping was a clear 3rd and inexperienced filly Clearly Unhinged checked in 4th. Venganza, Don’t Get Pickled, Cliquish, and Gila also completed. The final time was 1:43.27.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $2,683,475, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $361.48. There was a mandatory payout on SA Derby Day, so the jackpot starts over on Easter Sunday.
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (4-8-23)
SA 2 CEILING CRUSHER ($2.60)
Double (races 2-3, $10.20)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $122.60)
SA 7 Kangaroo Court/Bus Buzz/Clouseau Trifecta ($14.80)
SA 11 Faiza/And Tell Me Nolies Exacta ($13.00)
GG 8 SIGNORINA MERISI ($7.80), Exacta ($46.40), Trifecta ($107.20)
GG 9 CAISSON ($6.20)
$1 Golden Hour Pick 4 (SA 11, GG 8, SA 12, GG 9) – $85.30
$5 Golden Hour Double (SA 12, GG 9) – $35.50
GP 10 GANGLY ($3.60)
KEE 9 Tapit Trice/Verifying Exacta ($17.54), Trifecta ($87.66)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (4-9-23)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two turf races late in the card were moved over to the main track. Three front running winners on dirt (5.5f, 8f, 5.5f). On the turf course, a front running favorite graduated in the 9f opener, a 7-2 front runner scored at 5.5f, a 7-1 front runner tallied down the hill, and a 4-1 stalker won the John Shear Stakes on the downhill course (rail at 10 feet).
Armando Aguilar (dirt), Frankie Dettori (turf), Juan Hernandez (dirt), and Tiago Pereira (dirt) each booted home a pair.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 4-9-23
John Shear (6.5T): Helladic carved out the early fractions and Nullarbor chased from 2nd. First Peace ($10) was in a good spot in 3rd under Mike Smith, a she found running room and prevailed by a length over late runner Mas Rapido (GB). Valiancer rallied from last to land the show, and Conclude, Helladic, Fleet Feet, Nullarbor, and Marks Hip followed her across the line. The final time was 1:11.50.
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $183,356, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $24,486.90. The jackpot carryover stands at $41,978.
April 9 Claims: Race 2 – Big Bell ($20k, Jeff Metz), Teen Drama ($20k, Val Brinkerhoff). Race 6 – Mongolian Ford ($20k, Steve Knapp).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (4-9-23)
SA 1 ESCAPE ARTIST ($3.20), Superfecta ($136.40)
Double (races 1-2, $6.80)
SA 3 Maven/See Through It Exacta ($26.60)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $43.00)
SA 6 FIRST PEACE (SA Best Bet #2, $10.00), Trifecta ($207.20)
Double (races 5-6, $22.60)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $163.20)
Double (races 6-7, $109.20)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $305.80)
Pick 3 (raves 7-9, $446.20)
GG 8 SHERILINDA ($11.80)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
Article by Jarrod Horak