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Santa Anita Recap for Friday (5-31-24)

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (4.5f, 8f). On the turf course, a 6-1 debut front runner graduated in the 5f opener, a 4-1 stalker scored at one mile, a closing favorite tallied at one mile, and a 9-2 stalker won the flat mile finale (rail at 30 feet). 

Juan Hernandez and Edwin Maldonado both booted home a pair. Michael McCarthy saddled two turf route winners. 

The $1 Pick 6 pool was $120,740, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $2,150.10. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $30.80. 

May 31 Claims: Race 6 – Malibu Coast ($30k, Doug O’Neill). 

Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (5-31-24)
SA 2 LANSDOWNE ($6.20)
Double (races 1-2, $62.00)
SA 3 R HEISMAN ($2.40)
Double (races 2-3, $6.60)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $85.40)
SA 5 UR IN TROUBLE ($3.60)
SA 6 MALIBU COAST ($3.40), Trifecta ($25.60)
Double (races 5-6, $6.20)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $71.40)
SA 7 NANCI GRIFFITH (SA Price Play, $13.80), Exacta ($22.00)
Double (races 6-7, $32.80)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $66.80)
Double (races 7-8, $57.60)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $271.40)
Late Pick 4 (races 5-8, $454.80)
Pick 6 (5 out of 6) – $30.80
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted. 

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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (6-1-24)

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running sprint winners on dirt (7f, 6f). On the turf course, a 7-2 closer graduated in the flat mile opener, an inside stalker won at 6f as the second betting choice, a 5-2 closer graduated at one mile, a 3-1 stalker tallied in the Honeymoon (G3) at 1 1/8 miles, and a 19-1 stalker upset the flat mile finale. 

Antonio Fresu (turf routes) and Jeremy Laprida both booted home a pair. Phil D’Amato saddled two turf routes winners. 

Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 6-1-24

Grade 2 Triple Bend (7f dirt)

Fractions: 23.20, 45.96, 1:09.42, 1:21.32

Top 4 Finishers: Happy Jack, Dr. Venkman, Big City Lights, Tahoe Sunrise

Comments: These 4-horse fields can be tough to figure and this one looked competitive on paper. The key to success was getting to the front and Happy Jack ($7.80) dueled inside under Edwin Maldonado, and he put away Tahoe Sunrise and kicked away in the stretch to score by 4 1/2 lengths. Dr. Venkman was the favorite and this was his first start since October 2023, He stalked from the inside post and was a length better than Big City Lights, and it was 11 1/2 lengths in front of Tahoe Sunrise. Doug O’Neill has turned happy Jack into a quality sprinter. 

Grade 3 Honeymoon (9f turf)

Fractions: 23.21, 47.04, 1:11.50, 1:36.27, 1:48.40

Top 4 Finishers: Circle of Trust, Sakura Blossom, Faith Understood, Pink Whitney

Comments: Sea Dancer got clear early but could not keep in going. Visually and Shiloh’s Mistress chased and faded, and Circle of Trust (8.20) stalked, pounced, and edged clear to score by 1 1/4 lengths. Sakura Blossom rallied from last to pick up the place as the longest shot on the board at 28-1. Faith Understood had an uncomfortable trip under Mile Smith and could have been closer. She ran into traffic multiple times and came running for the show. She is worth following. Circle of Trust was ridden by Antonio Fresu and Phil D’Amato was the winning conditioner.  

The $1 Pick 6 pool was $118,174 and nobody had all six winners. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $2,705.40. There will be a Pick 6 carryover of $63,127 when live racing resumes on Sunday. 

June 1 Claims: Race 2 – Granada Flavor ($12.5k, Steve Knapp), Zimba Warrior ($12.5k, Bob Hess Jr). Race 4 – Man Overboard ($20k, Lorenzo Campuzano). 

Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (6-1-24)
SA 1 CATHAL ($9.00)
CD 6 OTTOMAN FLEET ($4.16)
CD 8 SCYLLA ($4.54), Trifecta ($63.04)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted. 

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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (6-2-24)

Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running winners on dirt (6f, 8f, 8f). On the turf course, an even money stalker graduated in the flat mile opener, a 6-1 stalker scored at 6.5f, a 7-2 front runner tallied at 6f, and a stalking favorite graduated in the 6.5f finale (rail at 10 feet). 

Hector Berrios booted home a pair of winners on turf. Phil D’Amato saddled two maiden turf winners. 

Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 6-2-24

Desert Stormer (6f dirt)

Fractions: 22.17, 44.39, 56.76, 1:09.70

Top 4 Finishers: Chismosa, Richi (CHI), Tom’s Reget, Anywho 

Comments: The surface switch was the winning ticket for my top choice Chismosa ($8.60). She clearly does her best work in dirt sprints and came rolling home from off the pace to win this listed stakes race by a length and a quarter. Tiago Pereira rode the winner for Rafael DeLeon. Richi ran a quality race in her first start since December 2023. The South American transplant dueled with Tom’s Regret and ended up a half-length in front of that runner. She is worth following for Bob Baffert. Anywho was a flat fourth as the beaten favorite. She was wheeling back quickly and bounced. As for Chismosa, she likes Del Mar and might be able to pick up another stakes win at that oval later this summer. 

The $1 Pick 6 pool was $844,680 and tickets with all six winners paid $16,593. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $255.10. 

June 2 Claims: Race 1 – Ketonia ($50k, Ron Ellis). 

Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (6-2-24)
SA 2 DANCING DANA ($2.80)
Double (races 1-2, $5.60)
Double (races 2-3, $13.80)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $27.40)
SA 5 DICK BEST (Price Play, $11.00), Trifecta ($352.00)
Double (races 5-6, $71.20)
SA 7 CHISMOSA ($8.60)
Double (races 6-7, $53.40)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $259.00)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $144.20)
*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.