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Santa Anita Recap for Friday (4-26-24)

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running sprint winners on dirt (6f, 5.5f). On the turf course, a 7-2 front runner scored at one mile, a stalking favorite tallied at 6f, a 4-1 stalker earned his diploma at 6f, a stalking favorite won at one mile, and a midpack stalker graduated at 6-1 odds in the flat mile finale (rail at 30 feet). 

Riding double for Frankie Dettori (turf) and Umberto Rispoli (sprints). 

The $1 Pick 6 pool was $94,843 and multiple tickets with six winners paid $8,444.70. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $130.80. 

April 26 Claims: Race 2 – Mr. Leasure ($50k, Tim Yakteen), Vegas Burner ($50k, Steve Knapp). Race 3 – Grazed ($20k, Steve Knapp), Please Focus ($20k, George Lopez). Race 5 – Uncle Reg ($50k, Richard Baltas). 

Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (4-26-24)
SA 2 Vegas Burner/Mr. Leisure Exacta ($5.00), Trifecta ($18.20)
SA 3 GRAZED ($4.80)
Double (races 2-3, $7.20)
SA 4 Ms Moab/Donita Rose Exacta (SA Best Bet #2, $27.00)
Double (races 3-4, $38.80)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $37.00)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $190.20)
SA 6 PARENTING ($8.80), Exacta ($16.80)
Double (races 5-6, $49.80)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $99.20)
SA 7 LUNAR ECLIPSE ($4.80), Trifecta ($59.20)
Double (races 6-7, $29.60)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $117.60)
Double (races 7-8, $14.40)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $50.40)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $100.00)
50 cent Late Pick 4 ($114.40)

*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted. 

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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (4-27-24)

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (5.5f, 8.5f). Pressers won the other three dirt races. On the turf course, a 10-1 presser won the 9f opener, a 4-1 presser tallied at one mile, a 7-2 stalker won at one mile, a 7-1 closer won on the downhill course, a 5-1 closer won the Royal Heroine (G3) at one mile, and a last-to-first closer graduated in the 9f finale. 

Hat trick for Kyle Frey (2 turf wins) and Umberto Rispoli (2 turf wins). Juan Hernandez booted home a pair. Peter Miller (turf) and George Papaprodromou both saddled two winners.

Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 4-27-24 

Kona Gold (6.5f)

Fractions: 21.95, 44.36, 1:08.68, 1:14.82

Top 4 Finishers: The Chosen Vron, Happy Jack, Express Train, Zeus’ War

The Chosen Vron ($2.40) pressed, got a short lead, and fought all the way to the wire to score by a bit less than a length over Happy Jack. The latter pressed outside and gave the chalk a battle, and was 5 lengths clear of show finisher Express Train. The latter was making his first start since October 2022 and he was a clear third at a distance shorter than his best. 

Grade 3 Royal Heroine (8T)

Fractions: 22.57, 46.24, 1:10.77, 1:22.56, 1:34.06

Top 4 Finishers: Uncorked (AUS), Justice, Stay and Scam, Fuente Ovejuna (GB)

The closers did will in this race and that is not surprising given the fractions. Uncorked ($12.80) was making his first start since November 2023 for his new trainer D’Amato, and she worked out a nice patient trip under Dettori and scored by two lengths. Justice rallied from last to land the place, and Stay and Scam staked and was best of the rest in third. The latter tried hard but ran out of stamina and is best in turf sprints. 

The $1 Pick 6 pool was $161,926 and tickets with six winners paid $28,834.30. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $249.90. 

April 27 Claims: Race 6 – Lansdowne ($25k, Steve Knapp). Race 10 – It’s My House ($50k, Steve Knapp). 

Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (4-27-24)
SA 2 Our Bucky Charm/Smokem If I Gottem Exacta ($5.00)
SA 4 THE CHOSEN VRON ($2.40), Exacta ($11.00)
Double (races 3-4, $15.00)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $18.80)
Double (races 4-5, $8.80)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $61.80)
SA 6 TOP GUN TOMMY ($3.60)
Double (races 5-6, $22.60)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $25.00)
Double (races 6-7, $30.00)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $155.00)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $136.00)
GG 7 LAMMAS ($21.60), Trifecta ($630.80)

*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted. 

Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (4-28-24)

Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running sprint winner at 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt. On the turf course, a 68-1 stalker upset the flat mile opener, a last-to-first closer tallied at 9-2 odds at 6f, a 4-1 front runner scored at one mile, a midpack stalking favorite won at one mile, and a closing first timer struck at 27-1 odds in the 6f finale  (rail at 10 feet). 

Riding doubles for Ricky Gonzalez (dirt) and Jose Valdivia Jr. 

The $1 Pick 6 pool was $174,539 and multiple tickets with six winners paid $11,655.40. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $143.70. 

April 28 Claims: Race 4 – Dramatizer ($10k, George Lopez), Vulin ($10k, Vladimir Cerin). Race 8 – Tizzy Twister ($20k, George Papaprodromou).  

Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (4-28-24)
SA 4 VULIN ($4.60), Exacta ($13.20)
Double (races 3-4, $32.00)
SA 5 CROSBY BEACH (SA Best Bet #1, $10.60), Exacta ($25.00)
Double (races 4-5, $22.20)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $227.60)
Double (races 5-6, $64.80)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $122.20)
SA 7 Curlin’s Kaos/Two by Four Exacta (SA Best Bet #2, $26.40), Trifecta ($83.80)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $194.60)
GG 7 IMPERIAL HORNET ($3.00), Superfecta ($44.60)
$5 Golden Hour Double (SA 9, GG 7, $211.00)

*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.

Please visit The Runaway Horse Shop to purchase my Santa Anita Park analysis and Triple Crown Series full cards.  

Jarrod Horak

Jarrod Horak posts stakes recaps from Del Mar and Santa Anita Park, along with full card recaps and free stakes picks from Southern and/or Northern California.