Santa Anita Recap for Friday (5-17-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. On the turf course, a 5-1 stalker won at 6f, a 9-2 stalker scored at 6f, a 12- stalker tallied at 5f, and a 9-2 stalker graduated at 6.5f (rail at 30 feet).
Dirt route riding double for Antonio Fresu. A natural hat trick for Steve Knapp. He saddled the winners of the first three races and two were dirt routes.
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $60,144 and tickets with six winners paid $16,065.70. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $80.90.
May 17 Claims: Race 1 – Citadino ($20k, Jorge Periban). Race 7 – Warren’s Wild Ride ($16k, Jeff Bonde). Race 8 – Jai Ho (50k, Steve Knapp).
Black-Eyed Susan Day Full Card Highlights at Pimlico for Friday (5-17-24)
PIM 1 CASTLE ISLAND ($4.00)
Double (races 1-2, $27.40)
PIM 3 Irish Hero/Without Pretence/Nielson Trifecta ($144.20)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $167.00)
PIM 7 SUN BEE ($5.20)
PIM 8 SHOTGUN HOTTIE (Best Bet #1, $3.60)
Double (races 7-8, $13.40)
Double (races 8-9, $6.80)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $17.80)
PIM 10 Mystic Lake/Youalmosthadme Exacta ($50.40)
Pick 3 (races 8-10, $60.40)
PIM 12 PYRENEES (Price Play, $12.20), Exacta ($34.00), Superfecta ($403.80)
PIM 13 GUN SONG (Best Bet #2, $6.60), Exacta ($21.40)
Double (races 12-13, $48.40)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (5-18-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two dueling front running winners at six panels on dirt. On the turf course, a 9-2 closer got up at 5f, a last-to-first closer scored as the favorite at 6.5f, a last-to-first closer won the Mizdirection on the downhill course at 5-1 odds, and a midpack closer earned his diploma at 9-2 odds.
Antonio Fresu guided home three winners (2 turf sprints). Hector Palma saddled two dirt sprint maiden claiming winners. Phil D’Amato saddled two maiden winners.
Stakes Recaps for Saturday (5-18-24)
Mizdirection (6.5T hillside)
Fractions: 22.21, 44.26, 1:07.32, 1:13.82
Top 4 Finishers: Miss Lizzy, Getthemoney, Chismosa, Lucky Girl (IRE)
Mizdirection Comments: Getthemoney was the favorite and she dueled Rebalation and Chismosa. Miss Lizzy ($12) was patiently handled in last under Antonio Fresu, and the contested pace was to her liking and she finished with interest and passed them all to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Getthemoney held the place by a half-length over Chismosa. Doug O’Neill saddled the winner.
May 18 Notes: Watch out for romping sophomore maiden winner Mc Vay. He landed the place in a MSW affair second time out on Jan. 20. After that, he was 4th in the Robert Lewis (G3), 3rd in the San Felipe (G2), and 7th in the G1 SA Derby. He returned to the maiden ranks, raced very wide and well off the pace from the outside post under Mike Smith, and he inhaled the leaders with a quick outside move and won by 7 lengths. He was hand ridden and wrapped up late, and this was an impressive performance for the $1.25 million son of Constitution. He covered his flat mile journey in 1:37.41 and paid $5 to win. John Shirreffs mentioned the Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita on June 9 as a possible target.
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $92,218 and tickets with six winners paid $49,262.40. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $319.80.
March 18 Claims: Race 2 – Teen Drama ($25k, Ron Ellis). Race 5 – Dr. Soulfire ($25k, Steve Knapp), Petesoldfashioned ($25k, Steve Knapp).
Preakness Day Full Card Highlights at Pimlico for Saturday (5-18-24)
PIM 6 FROST FREE ($5.60), Exacta ($36.00)
PIM 7 FLUFFY SOCKS ($3.20)
Double (races 6-7, $10.80)
Double (races 7-8, $17.20)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $92.80)
PIM 9 FULMINEO ($6.60), Exacta ($25.80)
Double (races 8-9, $48.80)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $51.00)
Pick 4 (races 6-9, $209.00)
PIM 10 Corporate Power/Gould’s Gold/Imperial Gun Trifecta (Best Bet #1, $60.40)
Double (races 9-10, $16.60)
Pick 3 (races 8-10, $93.20)
Pick 3 (races 9-11, $142.40)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (5-19-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. On the turf course, a 5-2 stalker won the 6.5f opener, a front running favorite won at one mile, a stalking favorite won the Desert Code on the downhill course, a front running favorite tallied at 1 1/4 miles, and a 7-2 presser graduated in the 9f finale (rail at 20 feet).
Hat trick for Edwin Maldonado (2 turf routes). Antonio Fresu (2 turf sprints) and Tiago Pereira (dirt) both booted home a pair. Steve Knapp saddled three winners (2 dirt sprints) and Pereira rode two. John Sadler saddled two flat mile winners (one dirt, one turf).
Stakes Recaps (5-19-24)
Desert Code Stakes (6.5T hillside)
Fractions: 22.28, 44.96, 1:06.07, 1;12.02
Top 4 Finishers: King of Gosford (GB), All That Glory, Guy Named Joe, Sorrento Sky (IRE)
Desert Code Comments: Two horses controlled the proceedings throughout. All That Glory set the pace at 5-1 odds under Umberto Rispoli, and strong favorite King of Gosford chased from second. Those two battled through the stretch and King of Gosford was slightly better and prevailed by a neck. There was hardly any passing in this race. Phil D’Amato saddled the winner and quality pilot Antonio Fresu guided him home.
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $180,475 and multiple tickets with six winners paid $124.10. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $5.50.
March 19 Claims: Race 4 – Departure ($25k, Hector Palma). Race 9 – When Heroes Fly ($50k, Robert Hess Jr).
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