Santa Anita Recap for Friday (9-27-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (6f, 8f). On the turf course, a stalking favorite graduated in the 6f opener, a stalking favorite scored at 6f, a 4-1 front runner tallied at one mile, an inside stalker scored at one mile, and a 10-1 stalker broke his maiden in the flat mile finale (rail at 30 feet).
Abel Cedillo (routes) and Diego Herrera (dirt) both booted home a pair. George Papaprodromou saddled two route winners.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $92,123 and multiple tickets with six winners paid $4,921.40. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $74.60.
Sept. 27 Claims: Race 2 – Dr. Ray D. ($20k, Steve Knapp). Race 5 – Empress Ellie ($25k, George Papaprodromou), Vronsky Feint ($25k, Steve Miyadi).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (9-27-24)
SA 5 Sareeha/Classymademoiselle/Empress Ellie Trifecta (SA Price Play, $181.20)
SA 6 PURE MADNESS ($2.60), Trifecta ($3.60)
Double (races 5-6, $9.40)
SA 8 VANZZY ($4.20)
SA 9 ILLHAVEANOTHERWON ($23.40), Exacta ($84.80), Trifecta ($359.00)
$5 Late Double (races 8-9, $134.50)
BAQ 6 HUSH OF A STORM ($8.50), Exacta ($17.60)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (9-28-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at six panels on dirt. Stalkers won the other three dirt races. On the turf course, a 10-1 front runner held on by a head in the 6-1 opener, an even money stalker graduated at one mile, even money front runner Toupie won the Unzip Me on the downhill course, 24-1 longshot Cabo Spirit stole the John Henry Turf (G2) at a mile and a quarter, closing favorite First Peace captured the Eddie D (G2) on the downhill course, and stalking favorite Johannes was best in the City of Hope Mile (G2).
Flavien Prat and Mike Smith (2 graded stakes wins) both booted home a pair. Bob Baffert saddled two winners on the main track.
California Crown Day Stakes Recaps
Unzip Me (6.5T): Toupie ($4) wired the field as the even money favorite for Flavien Prat and Graham Motion. The 3-year-old Uncle Mo filly was never seriously challenged and scored by a length and a half. Queen Maxima rallied to finish a clear 2nd at 18-1 and Alluring landed the show at 30-1. Six others ran including second betting choice Zona Verde (IRE). She threw her head at the start and rallied from last to split the 10-horse field. The Del Mar specialist wants more ground. Final time: 1:11.94.
Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship (10T): Cabo Spirit ($51.20) stole this one on the front end for trainer George Papaprodromou. The fractions were slow (50.43, 1:15.13) and jockey Abel Cedillo was enjoying his forward position. He stayed clear throughout and won by a length over outside stalker There Goes Harvard. Master Piece (CHI) was 3rd and Dicey Mo Chara (GB) completed the superfecta in the 11-horse field. There was no closing going on in this event so you can give horses like Gold Phoenix (IRE), Divin Propos (FR), and Balnikhov (IRE) the benefit of the doubt. Final time: 2:01.26.
Grade 2 Eddie D (6.5T hillside): Mike Smith gave First Peace ($5.80) a great ride. He was patiently handled inside from post 2, and he moved up, slipped through a narrow opening along the hedge, and won by a length and a half. Air Force Red stalked the pace and was second best. King of Gosford (GB) edged my top choice Big Invasion by a head for the show in the 11-horse field. Final time: 1:11.56.
Grade 1 California Crown (9f): This was a Win & You’re In for the BC Classic. National Treasure set the pace as expected and I thought he had this one after a half in 47.19. He was clear turning for home but Subsanador (ARG) and Newgate were in hot pursuit. This turned into a three-horse battle to the wire and Subsanador ($14.20) prevailed by a head for Mike Smith and Richard Mandella. The winner saved ground stalking the pace, moved out in the stretch, and just scored. National Treasure was a nose better than his stablemate Newgate for the runner-up spot, and the latter was making his first start in half a year. The top three finishers finished 7 lengths in front of Katonah, and he was 8 lengths clear of Senor Buscador and beaten favorite Muth. Final time: 1:48.68.
Grade 2 City of Hope Mile (8T): This was a Win & You’re In for BC Mile, and strong favorite Johannes ($3.60) did not disappoint. Tim Yakteen’s colt worked out a nice inside stalking trip under his regular rider Umberto Rispoli. He came after front runner Conclude and those two got in a bit of a wrestling match before the chalk edged clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Almendares (GB) came running to just nip Conclude by a nose for the place, and my value top choice Trikari was 4th. Easter (FR), Du Jour, Astronomer, and Packs a Wahlop also ran. Final time: 1:32.45.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $183,936 and tickets with six winners paid $19,652.60. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $183.80.
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (9-28-24)
SA 2 KALEA BAY ($2.60), Exacta ($5.00)
Double (races 1-2, $32.80)
Double (races 2-3, $5.20)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $62.00)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $16.60)
SA 5 TOUPIE ($4.00)
Double (races 4-5, $14.60)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $60.00)
SA Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $40.00)
SA 6 Rizzleberry Rose/Going Deep/Cloudy Rose Trifecta ($169.80)
Double (races 5-6, $28.80)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $93.60)
BAQ 6 Far Bridge/War Like Goddess Exacta ($15.00)
BAQ 11 ZULU KINGDOM ($3.70), Trifecta ($59.48)
CD 10 HIT SHOW ($8.56)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (9-29-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at six panels on dirt. On the turf course, a 26-1 closer graduated from post 10 in the 6f opener, a 9-1 closer scored from post 11 at 6f, a 19-1 closer tallied from the inside post at 6f, a 26-1 stalker scored at 6f, and a 6-1 front runner captured the flat mile finale (rail at 10 feet).
Tyler Baze (dirt routes), Hector Berrios (turf sprints), and John Velazquez (sprints) each booted home a pair. George Papaprodromou saddled three winners (2 turf winners). Hector Palma saddled two sprint winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 9-29-24
Grade 2 Zenyatta (8.5f): My top choice Alpha Bella stumbled badly at the start from the inside post. She recovered quickly and dueled inside of post time favorite Nothing Like You. She put away the favorite and was clear in the lane, but inside stalker Sugar Fish was on the move. The rail was wide open in the stretch and Sugar Fish ($7.20) went right up the inside and got past Alpha Bella late to score by a length and a half for Tyler Baze and Jeff Mullins. Alpha Bella ran a quality race and was 9 lengths clear of show finisher Desert Dawn. Nothing Like You weakened to 4th and it was a long way back to Che Evasora (ARG). The final time was 1:43.53.
G2 SA Sprint Championship (6f): Straight No Chaser ($5) never gave the other runners a chance. He was sharp out of the gate under John Velazquez and rolled through splits of 21.83 and 44.28. That first interior fraction of 22.45 was too much for my top choice For All Mankind, and he gave up the chase quickly. Roll On Big Joe stalked inside and post time favorite Fort Bragg tried to move up outside, but there was no catching Straight No Chaser. Dan Blacker’s fleet sprinter spurted away in the lane and streaked across the line more than 6 lengths in front of Roll On Big Joe. See Through It rallied from last to pick up the show and was followed by Fort Bragg, Mbagnick (CHI), For All Mankind, and Neiman. The final time was 1:08.54.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $157,120 and nobody had all six winners. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $1,893.20. There will be a Pick 6 carryover of $83,940 when live racing resumes on Friday.
Sept. 29 Claims: Race 6 – Give Me the Lute ($25k, George L. Lopez), Whatmakessammyrun ($25k, Mark Glatt).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (9-29-24)
SA 2 Magic Account/Chasing Rain Exacta ($23.60)
SA 3 WHY BEHAVE ($14.00)
Double (races 2-3, $48.00)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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