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Santa Anita Recap for Friday (10-4-24)

Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at one mile on dirt. On the turf course, a 2-1 stalker graduated from the inside post at 6f, a 5-2 stalker scored at 6f, a 7-2 stalker graduated at 6f, an inside stalking favorite won down the hill, and a stalking favorite graduated in the flat mile finale (rail at 30 feet). 

Antonio Fresu (turf sprints) and Umberto Rispoli (turf) both booted home a pair. Tim Yakteen saddled two route winners (one turf, one dirt). Carla Gaines saddled two state bred special weight turf sprint winners. 

The $2 Pick 6 carryover pool was $553,470 and tickets with six winners paid $3,581.20. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $62.80. 

Oct. 4 Claims: Race 2 – Keen to Go ($20k, Anthony Saavedra). Race 6 – Arromax ($20k, Steve Knapp). 

Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (10-4-24)
SA 3 TERRY’S BOY ($7.80), Exacta ($13.20), Trifecta ($80.00)
Double (races 2-3, $51.60)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $286.00)
SA 5 Prince Dolce/Cullen J Exacta ($17.40)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $332.80)
SA 6 BOWTIE BOYS (SA Best Bet #1, $5.40)
Double (races 5-6, $38.20)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $256.00)
Double (races 6-7, $14.60)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $76.20)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $47.60)
SA 9 SEA RUNNER ($3.60), Exacta ($9.40), Trifecta ($77.80)
$5 Late Double (races 8-9, $47.00)
KEE 7 FEDERAL JUDGE ($5.48), Exacta ($11.04), Trifecta ($39.40)
KEE 9 Immersive/Quickick Exacta ($23.26)

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

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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (10-5-24)

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running route winners on dirt (8f, 8.5f). Stalkers won the other three dirt races. On the turf course, a midpack closing favorite won the flat mile opener, last-to-first closer Pali Kitten ($29.80) upset three rivals in the Speakeasy at 5f, a closing favorite graduated at one mile, Hang the Moon ($21.80) went last-to-first in the Grade 2 Rodeo Drive at a mile and a quarter, and a 9-1 last-to-first closer broke his maiden by a head in the flat mile finale. 

Juan Hernandez (dirt) and Kazushi Kimura (turf) both booted home a pair. Bob Baffert saddled three winners including a pair of 2-year-olds in graded dirt route stakes (Non Compliant, Citizen Bull). Juan Hernandez rode two of Baffert’s winners and Martin Garcia guided home the other one. Phil D’Amato saddled three winners (2 turf routes) and two were in the graded ranks (One Magic Philly, Hang the Moon). Doug O’Neill saddled two turf winners including Pali Kitten in the Speakeasy Stakes at five panels.  

Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 10-5-24 

Grade 2 Oak Leaf Stakes (8.5f): Nooni stretched out and set the pace for Bob Baffert, and her favored stablemate Non Compliant ($4) stalked the pace and edged away to win by 2 1/4 lengths under Juan Hernandez. Nooni ended up 8 1/4 lengths in front of Tenma (also trained by Baffert). In the Air Tonight, Showers, and Om N Joy also ran. The final time was 1:45.08 and this Kentucky Oaks 2025 points race was also a win and you’re in for the BC Juvenile Fillies.  

Speakeasy (5T): Four horses scratched and we were left with four runners in this abbreviated turf sprint. Pali Kitten ($29.80) was the longest shot and she rallied from last to win by a neck for Kazushi Kimura and Doug O’Neill. Smash It had a bad start and was clearly second best in a solid effort. Beaten favorite Dreamaway set the pace and weakened to third, and Tiz Happy trailed. The final time was 56.11. 

Grade 3 Chillingworth (6.5f): Three runners scratched and Sweet Azteca was 10 cents on the dollar, but she came up empty after setting the pace and ran last in a puzzling performance. One Magic Philly ($9.60) promoted the pace outside and kicked clear to win by 2 3/4 lengths for Antonio Fresu and Phil D’Amato. Irish Wahine was the longest shot and she rallied to finish a clear second and paid a whopping $74 to place. Kirstenbosch was a non-threatening third. The final time was 1:16.14. 

Grade 2 Rodeo Drive (10T): 3-2 favorite Iscreamuscream got clear early but Lucky Girl (IRE) moved to the fore under Tyler Baze and opened up by 3 lengths through six panels, and she was still 2 1/2 lengths clear at the one mile mark. She started to fade and the closers were coming, and Hang the Moon ($21.80) went last-to-first and scored by a lengths and a half for Kazushi Kimura and Phil D’Amato. Aspen Grove (IRE) stalked the pace from the outside post and completed the exacta, and Beach Bomb (SAF) landed the show. Iscreamuscream was next and my top choice Sunset Glory (IRE) finished a troubled 5th. Be Your Best (IRE) was 6th and Lucky Girl faded to last. The final time was 1:58.58. 

Grade 1 American Pharoah (8.5f): Citizen Bull ($8.60) scooted right to the front under Martin Garcia and he was never headed. He turned away his stablemate Getaway Car and won by 2 lengths. My top choice Getaway Car chased the pace and the bet-down favorite and was clearly second best, and he was 5 3/4 lengths clear of show finisher McKinzie Street. Emerald Bay, Show of Force, Start Mo Up, and Mischief River completed the order of finish. Bob Baffert saddled the 1-2 finishers and the final time was 1:44.30. This Kentucky Derby 2025 points race was also a win and you’re in for the BC Juvenile. 

The $2 Pick 6 pool was $168,007 and tickets with six winners paid $22,434. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $351.60. 

Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (10-5-24)
SA 1 ZIO JO ($5.60), Trifecta ($134.20)
SA 3 NON COMPLIANT ($4.00), Trifecta ($18.20), Superfecta ($41.00)
SA 5 PILOT COMMANDER ($3.80)
Double (races 5-6, $10.20)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $104.40)
SA 9 Citizen Bull/Getaway Car/McKinzie Street/Emerald Bay Superfecta ($98.60)
BAQ 8 CHANCER MCPATRICK ($3.10)
KEE 6 OUR SHOT ($13.66)
KEE 8 GINA ROMANTICA (KEE Best Bet #1, $8.84), Trifecta ($446.24)
KEE 9 EAST AVENUE ($7.56), Exacta ($18.02)
KEE 10 CARL SPACKLER (KEE Best Bet #2, $4.14), Exacta ($15.10)
KEE $3 Turf Pick 3 (races 6, 8, 10, $259.47)
KEE Stakes Pick 5 (races 6-10, 4 of 5, $62.68)

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

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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (10-6-24)

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (6f, 8f). On the turf course, a front running favorite won the opener on the downhill course, a 4-1 front runner tallied at one mile, front running favorite Thought Process won the G3 Surfer Girl at one mile, a 5-1 inside closer graduated at 6f, stalking favorite Iron Man Cal was placed first through disqualification in the G3 Zuma Beach at one mile, and a stalking favorite won the flat mile finale (rail at 20 feet). 

Riding triples for Antonio Fresu (2 dirt sprints) and Juan Hernandez (turf). Phil D’Amato saddled two turf route stakes winners. 

Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 10-6-24 

Grade 3 Surfer Girl (8T): Thought Process ($2.40) was 20 cents on the dollar and she went straight to the front and never gave the others a chance. She widened throughout and won by 4 1/2 lengths over Casalu. The latter stalked the pace and finished a half-length in front of Tigerish. Tequilaandtherapy and Ce La Vi Charli were next, and Jack’s Magic Girl broke slow, pulled up, and was transported off the track via equine ambulance. Hector Berrios rode the winner for Phil D’Amato and the final time was 1:34.34. 

Grade 3 Zuma Beach (8T): Three horses battled to the wire and Artislas prevailed by a head over Iron Man Cal with Sabertooth a nose back in third. The inquiry sign came on shortly after the finish and after deliberating for several minutes, the stewards disqualified Artislas and placed him third. The latter drifted out and bothered Iron Man Cal, and Sabertooth was on the outside and got bumped as well. Iron Man Cal ($4.60) was elevated to first and Sabertooth was moved up to second. Antonio Fresu rode the winner for Phil D’Amato and the final time was 1:34.45. 

The $2 Pick 6 pool was $109,395 and tickets with six winners paid $1,085.20. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $31.20. 

Oct. 6 Claims: Race 5 – Eastside Cool ($25k, Kelly Bainum). Race 9 – Devil Among Us ($20k, Doug O’Neill).  

Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (10-6-24)
SA 1 CENTRAL DISPATCH ($7.00), Exacta ($24.00)
Double (races 1-2, $30.40)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $101.00)
SA 4 THOUGHT PROCESS ($2.40)
Double (races 3-4, $9.60)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $43.00)
SA 5 NAUVOO ($7.60), Superfecta ($314.00)
Double (races 4-5, $10.60)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $35.60)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $194.80)
Double (races 5-6, $37.60)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $90.20)
SA 7 I’M A BAD BOY (SA Best Bet #2, $4.80), Trifecta ($82.40), Superfecta ($135.60)
Double (races 6-7, $40.20)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $120.80)
SA Middle Pick 4 (races 4-7, $158.00)
SA 8 IRON MAN CAL ($4.60)
Double (races 7-8, $12.00)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $84.40)
SA 9 TOUCHDOWN BROWN ($5.60)
Double (races 8-9, $34.50)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $31.20)
$5 Late Double (races 9-10, $41.00)
$3 Late Pick 3 (races 8-10, $63.90)
Late Pick 4 (races 7-10, $96.00)
50 cent Late Pick 5 (races 6-10, $174.35)
Pick 6 (races 5 of 6, $31.20)
KEE 9 IDIOMATIC ($2.64)

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

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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.