Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (2-10-24)
Fast main track and good turf course. Two front running winners at one mile on dirt. On the turf course, an outside presser won the flat mile opener at 9-1 odds, a closing first timer graduated at 7-1 odds at 6 1/2 furlongs, a last-to-first closer was placed first through disqualification at 9-1 odds, an inside stalking favorite won the San Marcos (G3) at a mile and a quarter, and an early-pressing favorite captured the hillside finale (rail at 20 feet).
Riding doubles for Juan Hernandez (routes) and Flavien Prat (dirt sprints).
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 2-10-24
Grade 3 Palos Verdes (6f): Hopkins almost stole this under Juan Hernandez. Heavy favorite Big City Lights was a bit slow to get going early and it almost cost him dearly. Hopkins was quickly clear by a length and a half through a 1/4 in 22.75 and maintained that position after a half-mile in 45.09. Big City Lights found his footing and got into a decent stalking position, but would it be too late? Flavien Prat got busy aboard the favorite in the stretch and he kept on coming and got up at the last possible moment to prevail by a nose. Hopkins ended up 4 lengths in front of show finisher See Through It. Mystification and The Big Wam also ran. The final time was 1:09.91.
Grade 3 Las Virgenes (8f): Kinza accomplished what her stablemate Hopkins could not. The latter set the pace under Juan Hernandez and got tagged very late in the Palos Verdes. Once again, Hernandez seized control early under Kinza, and this talented filly had no intention of stopping. She was just cruising along on the front end as the even money favorite. My top choice Kopion chased from second throughout and never stopped trying, but Kinza had the tactical advantage and never let her rival get too close in a 2 length victory. Kopion was second best under Flavien Prat, and She’s a Tempest chased the pace and was miles clear of the rest in third. Nothing Like You and Great Forty Eight also ran. The final time was 1:37.03. Bob Baffert saddled the winner and his runners are ineligible to earn Kentucky Oaks points. Kinza is now 2-for-2, and the Santa Ysabel on March 3 and the SA Oaks on April 6 are the next two stakes routes for sophomore fillies at Santa Anita.
Grade 3 San Marcos (10T): Balladeer found himself on the lead as expected, but he was not able to keep in going in the lane. This one came down to my top choice Missed the Cut and Planetario (BRZ). Under Joel Rosario, Missed the Cut saved ground stalking the pace from the inside post, moved up to take the lead in the lane, and drew clear to win by a length and a quarter. Planetario found his best stride in the lane and was clearly second best but ran out of ground as anticipated. He needs a mile and a half or more. Balladeer just held 3rd but was placed 4th for interfering with Irish Prophet. Eastern Ocean and Shortman also ran. The final time was 2:01.14.
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $144,961 and multiple tickets with six winners paid $1,291.50. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $25.20.
Feb. 10 Claims: Race 6 – Kanderel ($32k, Steve Knapp).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (2-10-24)
SA 2 BIG CITY LIGHTS ($2.80), Trifecta ($8.80)
Double (races 1-2, $31.40)
SA 3 EL REY DORADO ($5.40)
Double (races 2-3, $9.00)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $83.00)
SA 7 ENJOY IT STRAIT ($10.00), Trifecta ($323.40)
Double (races 6-7, $152.60)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $290.00)
SA 8 MISSED THE CUT (SA Best Bet #2, $4.40)
Double (races 7-8, $35.40)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $284.20)
SA 10 STAY AND SCAM ($3.60), Trifecta ($59.60)
Double (races 9-10, $13.20)
Pick 3 (races 8-10, $29.60)
Late Pick 4 (races 7-10, $232.20)
50 cent Late Pick 5 (races 6-10, $513.50)
$1 Pick 6 (races 5-10): 5 of 6 – $25.20
$3 Turf Pick 3 (races 6, 8, 10) – $199.50
GG 7 ENDLESSLY ($3.40)
$1 Golden Hour Pick 4 (SA 9, GG 7, SA 10, GG 8) – $120.90
$5 Golden Hour Double (SA 10, GG 8) – $91.00
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (2-11-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (8f, 5.5f). On the turf course, a stalking favorite won the flat mile opener, a stalking favorite graduated at 6.5f, a 12-1 stalker earned his diploma at 6.5f, a closer from post 10 won the Sweet Life on the downhill course, and a stalking favorite tallied in the flat mile finale (rail at 10 feet).
Riding doubles for Hector Berrios (turf sprints), Juan Hernandez (dirt), Flavien Prat, and Joel Rosario (turf).
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 2-11-24
Sweet Life (6.5T hillside): Patient runners dominated this downhill sprint. The pace was fast in this 11-horse field and Antigone (FR) came running from 10th place to win by two lengths for Hector Berrios and John Sadler. He paid $22.00. Zona Verde (IRE) rallied through traffic to land the place. Alluring stalked the place and completed the trifecta, but she bothered Elegant and was placed 10th through disqualification. Visually was elevated to third and was followed by Dial a Friend, Sea Dancer, Grannie Budgie (GB), Voodoo Magic (FR), Girl of My Dreams, Elegant, a demoted Alluring, and Julias Dream. The final time was 1:12.91.
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $132,567 and tickets with six winners paid $17,705.60. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $204.30.
Feb. 2 Claims: Race 1 – National Generaux ($25k, George Papaprodromou). Race 2 – Gypsy Lynn ($12.5k, Manuel Ortiz Sr).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (2-11-24)
SA 1 INTO IT ($4.60), Exacta ($10.40)
SA 2 GYPSY LYNN ($3.20), Trifecta ($13.40)
Double (races 1-2, $7.80)
SA 3 Oobubbakakayo/Travelin’ Show/Drive for Show Trifecta ($8.20)
Double (races 2-3, $4.20)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $11.60)
SA 4 Sakura Blossom/Pink Whitney/Deficit Maja Trifecta ($210.60)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $29.40)
SA 6 MAYMUN ($2.60), Exacta ($3.80)
SA 9 CALI BAY ($4.20)
Double (races 8-9, $33.00)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
