Santa Anita Recap for Friday (3-8-24)
Good main track and off the turf. One front running sprint winner at six furlongs on dirt.
Mario Gutierrez booted home the late double.
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $85,465 and multiple tickets with six winners paid $397.00. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $7.00.
March 8 Claims: Race 5 – Billy’s Bet ($25k, Mike Puype). Race 6 – Irish Wahine ($10k, Rosemary Trela), La Paloma Blanca ($10k, Victor Garcia). Race 7 – Don’t Swear Dave ($40k, Steve Knapp).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (3-8-24)
SA 3 NESSO’S LASTHURRAH ($2.60), Exacta ($9.00)
Double (races 2-3, $16.80)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $48.40)
SA 4 FLYING DRUMMER ($3.20), Exacta ($9.60)
Double (races 3-4, $4.00)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $32.40)
SA 6 IRISH WAHINE ($2.40)
Double (races 6-7, $6.80)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (3-9-24)
Fast main track and good turf course. Three front running winners on dirt (6.5f, 8.5f, 8f). On the turf course, a 5-2 stalker won the 5f opener, a 9-2 stalker graduated at 6f, a 5-2 closer tallied at one mile, a front runner captured the San Simeon (G3) on the downhill course, and a 6-1 closer broke her maiden in the 5f finale.
Hat trick for Juan Hernandez (2 turf wins, 2 graded stakes wins). Flavien Prat booted home a pair. John Sadler saddled two turf winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 3-9-24
Grade 3 Santa Ysabel (8.5f): Kinza was too strong for this group. Bob Baffert’s filly won her first two starts on the front end, and she scooted straight to the front and dominated this 1 1/6 miles affair. She widened throughout and was five lengths to the good at the end. Maiden Where’s My Ring stalked wide and landed the place, and She’s a Tempest was best of the rest in third. My value top choice Unlimited Authority made a mild wide bid and ended up an even fourth under Flavien Prat. The final time was 1:44.16. This was a Kentucky Oaks 2024 points race but Kinza was not eligible for the points due to Bob Baffert’s ongoing Churchill ban.
Grade 3 San Simeon (6.5T): Mucho Del Oro grabbed a short early lead and kept on finding in a gritty half-length victory over pace presser Dancing Buck. My top choice Lane Way landed the show and missed the whole ball of wax by a less than a length. Sumter rallied to finish an even fourth. The final time was 1:12.76.
Grade 1 Beholder Mile (8f): Sweet Azteca got to the front under Flavien Prat and that was the winning ticket. Adare Manor was the even money favorite. She was making her first start since the BC Distaff and she likes to be on or very near the early lead. She was stuck inside and was hemmed in under Juan Hernandez. She moved out in the lane and came after Sweet Azteca, but the early runner held on by 3/4ths of a length. Adare Manor was clearly second best and my top choice Green Up held the show by a bit less than a length. Desert Dawn was one-paced in fourth. The final time was 1:36.40.
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $107,182 and multiple tickets with six winners paid $4,771.70. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $62.80.
March 9 Claims: Race 2 – John Dunbar ($16k, Keith Craigmyle). Race 5 – Thrumps Dream ($50k, Steve Knapp).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (3-9-24)
SA 8 Sweet Azteca/Adare Manor/Green Up Trifecta ($94.60)
SA 9 HEADED FOR OM ($14.60), Exacta ($30.80)
Double (races 8-9, $50.60)
TAM 11 DOMESTIC PRODUCT (Purse Money Only)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (3-10-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (6f, 8f). On the turf course, a 1-2 favorite stalked and scored in the 5f opener, a 3-1 dueling front runner tallied at 6f, a 1.60-1 stalker graduated at 6.5f, and a stalking favorite won the China Doll at one mile (rail at 20 feet).
Main track riding double for Edwin Maldonado booted home a pair on the main track. Doug O’Neill saddled two winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 3-10-24
China Doll (8T): Medoro stalked the pace as the favorite, and she pounced outside and kicked away to score by 2 1/4 lengths. My top choice Zona Verde (IRE) stalked from second and remained there throughout. Antifona (FR) rallied to grab the show by a head over Mo Fox Givin. Visually was next and pacesetter Girl of My Dreams weakened to last. The final time was 1:36.21 and Antonio Fresu rode the winner for Peter Eurton.
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $227,151 and multiple tickets with six winners paid $2,357,20. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $51.60.
March 10 Claims: Race 2 – Patron d’Oro ($16k, Keith Craigmyle), Slew’s Joy ($16k, Mark Glatt). Race 8 – Final Storm ($50k, Phil D’Amato). Race 9 – Montana ($20k, Bob Hess Jr).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (3-10-24)
SA 1 PHENOM ($3.00)
SA 2 PATRON D’ORO ($2.80)
Double (races 1-2, $4.60)
SA 3 Kind of Gosford/Final Boss Exacta ($29.40), Trifecta ($109.60)
Double (races 2-3, $12.20)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $19.20)
SA 4 Mor Tequila/Bag’s Gold/Soul of Midnight Trifecta ($113.80)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $79.40)
SA Early Pick 5 (races 1-5, $385.20)
SA 7 Medoro/Zona Verde Exacta (SA Best Bet #1, $15.20), Trifecta ($33.60)
SA 8 FINAL STORM (SA Best Bet #2, $3.60), Exacta ($9.40), Trifecta ($24.20)
Double (races 7-8, $9.80)
Double (races 8-9, $21.80)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $60.00)
GG 7 Cowboy Kisses/Count Asher/Lord of Light Trifecta ($78.00)
GG 8 VALIANT SON ($6.80), Exacta ($50.80)
$1 Golden Hour Pick 4 (SA 8, GG 7, SA 9, GG 8) – $216.40
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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