Santa Anita Recap for Thursday (4-4-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running sprint winners on dirt (6f, 6.5f). On the turf course, a stalking favorite graduated in the 6.5f opener, a 3-1 stalker earned his diploma at 6.5f, a last-to-first closer won as the favorite in 1 1/4 miles, a 3-1 closer went last-to-first in the Wilshire (G3) at one mile, and a stalking favorite captured the Grade 3 American at one mile.
Antonio Fresu (turf sprints) and Mike Smith both booted home a pair. Phil D’Amato saddled two turf winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 4-4-24
Grade 3 Wilshire (8T): My top choice Stay and Scam made the running, lost the lead to wide early mover Adday in Asia (GB), and regained the advantage. The favorite kicked away by 2 1/2 lengths in the stretch and I thought she was home free, but Nadette (FR) stormed home from 10th and last to win impressively by two lengths. Stay and Scam was clearly second best and 50-1 longshot Ascendancy rallied for the show. Turnerloose, Glenall (IRE), Leisurewear (IRE), School Dance, Adday in Asia, Selenaia (IRE), and Thirty Carats also ran. The final time was 1:34.16 and the last fraction was 11.54.
Grade 3 American (8T): Johannes was returning from a long layoff for Tim Yakteen. I made him my top choice and he was bet down to 1.30-1. It proved to be smart money. He stalked the pace from the inside post under Umberto Rispoli. He sat in third for much of the running, moved up around the far turn, and struck the front in the stretch and won by 1 3/4 lengths. War At Sea stalked the pace and landed the place over fellow stalker Sumter. Early runner Air Force Red weakened to fourth, and Prince Abama (IRE), Fuerteventura, Irideo (ARG), Parnelli, Gold Phoenix (IRE), and Genius Jimmy also ran. The final time was 1:32.08 and the last fraction was 11.51.
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $127,620 and multiple tickets with six winners paid $1,842.60. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $43.70.
April 4 Claims: Race 6 – Irish Wahine ($20k, Librado Barocio).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Thursday (4-4-24)
SA 1 PARADISE LAKE ($3.80)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $19.00)
SA 9 JOHANNES ($4.60)
Double (races 8-9, $15.40)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $49.80)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Friday (4-5-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running sprint winners on dirt (7f, 6f). On the turf course, a 5-2 stalker graduated in the flat mile opener, a 7-1 closer scored at 6.5f, a 5-1 stalker scored at 6f, a stalking favorite tallied at one mile, and a 6-1 stalked earned her diploma in the 6f finale (rail at 10 feet).
No riding or training doubles on Friday.
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $90,187 and nobody had all six winners. Tickets with 5 out of 6 winners paid $1,720.70. There will be a Pick 6 carryover of $48,181 into SA Derby Saturday.
April 5 Claims: Race 2 – Soul of Midnight ($16k, Gary Stute). Race 7 – Time to Party ($32k, Kelly Bainum).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (4-5-24)
SA 4 De’ Medici/Feel the Magic Exacta (Best Bet #1, $55.40)
SA 6 Sky Cloud/Eligio Exacta ($118.60)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (4-6-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at 6.5f on dirt. On the turf course, a 5-2 presser graduated in the 6f opener, an 8-1 stalker scored at 6f, a 6-1 stalker earned her diploma at one mile, a 4-1 favorite stalked and scored at a flat mile, a dueling 3-2 favorite won the Grade 3 Monrovia on the downhill course, and a 5-1 closer tallied at one mile.
Frankie Dettori was the SA Derby Day riding star with six consecutive wins (races 2-7). Mark Glatt saddled three winners (2 dirt sprints). Phil D’Amato saddled two stakes winners including Stronghold in the G1 SA Derby. Leonard Powell saddled two turf winners and Dettori rode both.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 4-6-24
Evening Jewel (CA-bred, 6.5f): Roberta’s Love was aggressively handled by Frankie Dettori. She put away Clubhouse Bride and held off Safa to win by 3/4ths of a length. Clubhouse Bride was a clear third, and Quick Kate, beaten favorite Mirinda, and Grease Missle also ran. The winner stopped the clock in 1:16.83 and paid $21.60.
Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks (8.5f): Kinza was the strong favorite and she made the lead as expected, but Kopion made her work for it early. The chalk just had to work a bit too hard on the lead and was ripe for the picking in the stretch. Kinza’s stablemate Northing Like You save ground behind the speed and was loaded under Frankie Dettori. She swept past Kinza and romped by 7 1/2 lengths. Kinza held the place by a half-length over Corposo. Kopion was another 8 lengths back in fourth, and it was a long way back to Ituaintfirsturlast. The final time was 1:43.21. The winner paid $16.40 and Bob Baffert saddled the 1-2 finishers, and they were both ineligible for Oaks points. Kinza seems to have distance limitations and Kopion is definitely better around one turn.
Grade 3 Monrovia (6.5T hillside): Ag Bullet dueled with Gracelund Gray, got the better of that one, and won by 1 1/2 lengths as the 3-2 favorite. Miss Lizzy rallied from last to pick up the place, and Getthemoney stalked the pace from the outside post and landed the show. Lucky Girl (IRE), Gracelund Gray, Chismosa, and Comanche Country (IRE) also ran. Umberto Rispoli rode the winner for Richard Baltas and the final time was 1:12.67.
Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby (9f): Tapalo made the lead from post 2 and post time favorite Imagination chased from second under Frankie Dettori. E J Won the Cup stalked from the outside post and Stronghold was on the chase from post 3 under Antonio Fresu. Imagination moved up and grabbed a short lead, and was quickly confronted by Stronghold. The two favorites kicked away and Stronghold was moving slightly better and prevailed by a neck. Imagination was clearly second best and E J Won the Cup was best of the rest in third. Curlin’s Kaos completed the superfecta and was followed by Tapalo, Wynstock, Mc Vay, and Tessuto. Phil D’Amato saddled the winner and he paid $6.40. The final clocking was 1:49.98. Stronghold continues to improve and I like his tactical speed and consistency. He deserves to be in the Derby but is probably a cut below the top contenders. Imagination probably has a bit more to offer. I don’t think he has put everything together physically and mentally. The Preakness is a possible target.
Echo Eddie (CA-bred, 6.5f): Shady Tiger was best in this race. He stalked, ran up on his rivals, moved out, and came after the lead. He struck the front in the stretch and pulled away to win by 5 1/2 lengths at 3-1 odds. 27-1 longshot Stay On the Fence waited for running room from the inside post and held the place by a nose over my 7-1 value top choice Two by Four. Beaten favorite Tom Seaver stalked wide from the outside post and was an even fourth on the surface switch. Known Idea, Refocus, Prince Prancealot, Puddin head Jones, and Last Call London completed the order of finish. Juan Hernandez rode the winner for Phil D’Amato and he stopped the clock in 1:16.61.
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $467,247 and multiple tickets with six winners paid $4,024.20. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $62.70.
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (4-6-24)
SA 1 MOMENT’S PLEASURE ($7.80)
SA 2 Ball Don’t Lie/Santarena/Winterfell Trifecta ($42.40)
Double (races 1-2, $30.20)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $305.40)
SA 5 Kathynmarissa/Loterie Exacta (SA Best Bet #1, $37.80)
SA 8 LEFT HAND MAN ($6.60), Exacta ($17.60)
Double (races 7-8, $37.20)
Double (races 8-9. $18.80)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $101.00)
SA 10 STRONGHOLD (SA Best Bet #3, $6.40)
Double (races 9-10, $15.60)
Pick 3 (races 8-10, $47.60)
Double (races 10-11, $38.60)
Pick 3 (races 9-11, $122.00)
Pick 3 (races 10-12, $191.20)
GG 7 KIKI KRAZY ($8.80)
GG 8 River of Ambition/Shadow Thoughts Exacta ($56.40)
KEE 10 SIERRA LEONE ($5.32), Exacta ($19.92)
Double (races 9-10, $32.32)
Pick 3 (races 8-10, $118.28)
Pick 4 (races 7-10, $799.32)
$3 Big 3 Pick 3 (AQU 10, KEE 10, SA 10) – $226.50
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (4-7-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at 6f on dirt. On the turf course, a 7-2 stalker won the flat mile opener, a 16-1 front runner scored on the downhill course, a 2-1 stalker from the inside post won the John Shear Stakes on the downhill course, a front running favorite graduated at 6f, a 5-2 stalker captured the Angels Flight on the downhill course, and a front running favorite broke his maiden in the flat mile finale (rail at 10 feet).
Hat trick for Antonio Fresu (2 downhill sprint stakes wins). Riding double for Tyler Baze (dirt sprints) and Umberto Rispoli (turf routes). Phil D’Amato saddled two downhill turf sprint stakes winners and Fresu rode both.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 4-7-24
John Shear (6.5f hillside): King of Gosford (GB) chased from the inside post, stayed inside and made the lead, and was best by a length for Fresu/D’Amato. He paid $6.40 to win. Raging Torrent found running room from off the pace and was clearly second best, and Miracle Mark was along for the show. Charge for Gold, beaten favorite Heart Headed, and Practically Broke also ran. The final time was 1:11.98.
Angels Flight (6.5T hillside): Antonio Fresu and Phil D’Amato teamed up to win the SA Derby with Stronghold, and they clicked again with King of Gosford (GB) in the John Shear. Could they make it a stakes hat trick with Laulne (FR)? Absolutely. Laulne stalked the pace and surged at the wire to beat Alluring by a nose. Girl of My Dreams set the pace and settled for the show, and Antifona (FR), Invincible Molly (GB), beaten favorite Zona Verde (IRE), and She Is Romantic also ran. The winner stopped the clock in 1:12.37 and paid $7.40.
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $417,098 and tickets with six winners paid $13,107.60. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $169.90.
Apri 7 Claims: Race 1 – Mighty Kai ($32k, Victor Garcia). Race 6 – Satellite Heart ($32k, Bob Hess Jr). Race 8 – Lansdowne ($12.5k, Ryan Hanson). Race 10 – American Cat ($16k, Lorenzo Campuzano), Motorcade ($16k, Bob Hess Jr.), Thales ($16k, Ed Moger Jr).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (4-7-24)
SA 4 THE BIG CHEESOLA ($6.80), Exacta ($12.60)
Double (races 4-5, $22.80)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $124.80)
SA 7 BIT’S TIGER MAGIC ($4.40)
Double (races 6-7, $28.40)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $134.40)
SA 9 LAULNE ($7.40)
GG 8 TIMELY COMFORT ($6.20)
$5 Golden Hour Double (SA 11, GG 8) – $52.00
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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