Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (1-20-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (6.5f, 8f). On the turf course, a last-to-first closer won as the favorite at one mile, a front running favorite graduated at one mile, a 2-1 front runner earned her diploma at 9f, and a last-to-first closer graduated at 11-1 odds in the flat mile finale (rail at 10 feet).
Flavien Prat booted home a pair. Michael McCarthy saddled two route winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 1-20-24
Grade 3 La Canada (1 1/16 miles dirt): Musical Mischief battled on the lead from the inside post and strong favorite Midnight Memories pressed outside. Those two continued to knock heads (fractions of 24.01, 48.61, 1:13.12), and Desert Dawn was out in the clear waiting to pounce. The latter moved up in the stretch under Flavien Prat, and she went right past the early leaders. Coffee in Bed stalked inside and came after Desert Dawn, but time ran out and she ended up a clear 2nd. Midnight Memories was 11+ clear of Musical Mischief, and Signorina Merisi (GB) trailed. The final time was 1:44.05 and Phil D’Amato’s mare paid $5.80. Desert Dawn won for the first time since the 2022 SA Oaks (G2).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $136.786 and multiple tickets with six winners paid $2,435.80. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $34.20.
Jan. 20 Claims: Race 2 – Blue Cheese Olive ($25k, Steve Knapp), Pat’s Paddock Pick ($25k, Steve Knapp), The Bullion Bomber ($25k, Doug O’Neill). Race 5 – Bigredsandribeyes ($50k, Mike Puype), Race 9 – Caribbean King ($50k, Steve Knapp).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (1-20-24)
SA 1 MAYMUN ($3.80), Exacta ($23.60)
Double (races 1-2, $33.00)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $62.80)
SA 4 Mystic Flyer/Bendettijoe/Derecho Dandy Trifecta ($30.20)
SA 5 Maximum Capacity/Gold Foot Exacta ($26.00)
SA 6 SCARY FAST RIDE ($3.40), Trifecta ($51.20)
Double (races 5-6, $9.60)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $27.20)
Double (races 6-7, $13.00)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $29.80)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $41.20)
FG 10 WEST OMAHA ($3.80), Exacta ($9.80), Trifecta ($27.80)
FG 11 STRONG QUALITY ($3,80), Exacta ($8.60), Trifecta ($20.00)
FG 12 Saudi Crown/Red Route One Exacta ($12.00)
FG All Stakes Pick 4 (races 10-13, $49.00)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
Article by Jarrod Horak
