Santa Anita Recap for Thursday (12-26-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two dueling front running winners on dirt (6.5f, 8.5f). Pressers/stalkers won the other three dirt races. On the turf course, a front running favorite won the downhill opener, a 1.60-1 stalker graduated at one mile, a 5-1 stalker scored from post 10 at one mile, stalking favorite Johannes won the San Gabriel (G2) at 9f, front running favorite King of Gosford went all the way from the inside post in the Mathis Mile (G2) at 8f, and stalking favorite She Feels Pretty dominated the American Oaks (G1) at 1 1/4 miles.
Kazushi Kimura and Umberto Rispoli (turf routes) both booted home a pair. Phil D’Amato (turf routes) and Doug O’Neill (dirt) saddled two winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 12-26-24
Grade 2 Laffit Pincay Jr. (8.5f): Katonah was best down to 3-2 odds and he was never a serious factor. Ashcroft dueled inside and weakened, and J B Strikes Back took a short lead after a half-mile. Tarantino chased and came after J B Strikes Back, and Express Train made an outside move but flattened out. J B Strikes Back ($34.80) was game in the stretch and edged away from Tarantino to win by a length and a quarter. American Admiral saved ground from the inside post, angled out in the stretch, and missed the place by a nose as the longest shot on the board. Express Train, Ashcroft, Katonah, Goldeneye, and Lammas completed the order of finish. Antonio Fresu rode the winner for Doug O’Neill. Fractions: 22.71, 45.67, 1:09.99, 1:36.92, 1:43.80.
Grade 2 San Gabriel (9T): Cabo Spirit, Nineeleventurbo, and Seal Team (GB) showed the way early, and strong favorite Johannes tracked them intently from the inside. Johannes ($2.60) was always traveling smoothly and he swung into action in the stretch under Umberto Rispoli’s confident handling, and he was best by 3/4ths of a length over outside stalker Mi Hermano Ramon. The latter rallied outside turning for home and made a bid for the lead but could not go with Johannes late. Seal Team finished third and Easter (FR) ran on for fourth and is expected to target longer races next year. Dicey Mo Chara (GB), Cabo Spirit, Astronomer, Nineeleventurbo, and Escape Artist completed the order of finish. Tim Yakteen saddled the winner. Fractions: 23.49, 47.07, 1:11.14, 1:34.91, 1:46.50.
Grade 1 Malibu (7f): Senior Officer scratched as expected, and Bentornato also came out and that was a surprise. The latter had a hot foot and was forced to defect, and since he was expected to impact the race from the inside post, the race shape changed dramatically. Not surprisingly, Pilot Commander took up the running from the inside and Raging Torrent was content to track from the advantageous outside post. Imagination stalked inside and Stronghold stalked outside. Raging Torrent ($7.20) was the betting favorite due to his tactical advantage and he made the lead in the lane and was clear by a length and a quarter at the end. My value top choice Stronghold found his best stride late and got up for the place, and Imagination completed the trifecta. The latter did not have the smoothest trip and ran a quality race over his favorite surface. Pilot Commander weakened to fourth and Winterfell and Mystik Dan also ran. The latter never got involved in his first start since the Belmont Stakes. There was an inquiry into the stretch run involving stablemates Imagination and Pilot Commander. The former came out from the rail seeking running room, and the latter was getting tired, and the incident did not impact the final order of finish. Frankie Dettori rode the winner for Doug O’Neill. Fractions: 22.19, 44.29, 1:08.66, 1:21.54.
Grade 2 Mathis Mile (8T): Curlin’s Kaos and Siennois (FR) scratched. The former figured to set the pace, and with that one out, strong favorite King of Gosford (GB) made the running from the inside post and the pace was controlled. Atitlan applied pressure from post 2 under Mike Smith, and Stay Hot stalked inside. The aforementioned forwardly placed runners dominated proceedings and King of Gosford ($3.40) held sway and beat Stay Hot by a length, and Atitlan was a clear third. Lord Bullingdon, Cathal (IRE), Call Sign Seven, and Heart Headed also ran. Flavien Prat rode the winner for Phil D’Amato. Fractions: 23.24, 48.04, 1:11.71, 1;23.10, 1:34.49.
Grade 1 La Brea (7f): Cavalieri, Tamara, and Ultimate Authority scratched. Sandy Bottom set the pace and Kopion chased from second. One Magic Philly was the favorite and she stalked wide and retreated. Kopion ($77.40), making her first start since April, pressed, took over, and was much the best by 2 3/4 lengths under Kazushi Kimura. Splendora stalked from the inside post, moved out, and was clearly second best. Sugar Fish rallied from last to pick up the show, and she loves Santa Anita but ran out of ground. Hope Road stalked wide from the outside post, moved up to second, and flattened out. Accuracy, One Magic Philly, Sandy Bottom, and Kinza rounded out the order of finish. Richard Mandella was the winning trainer. Fractions: 22.17, 44.32, 1:08.79, 1:22.08.
Grade 1 American Oaks (10T): The pace was honest and the patient runners did best. The race flow favored closers but it did not matter where strong favorite She Feels Pretty was positioned because she was much classier than these. The latter stalked and moved up to third after a half-mile, and Johnny V was content with his spot. Kathynmarissa made a bold wide move from 10th under Dettori, but She Feels Pretty ($3.20) let that one go, and Johnny V pushed the button and Cherie DeVaux’s talented filly took off, opened up quickly, and won easily by 2 1/2 lengths over Kathynmarissa. Medoro rallied from 9th to finish a clear third, and Rashmi rallied from last of 11 from the outside post to finish a clear fourth. Watchtower, Strutting (GB), Valence, Chatalas, Mizzyaan, Vibez, and Baltic Sky completed the 11-horse field, Fractions: 23.20, 46.25, 1:11.51, 1:36.06, 1:58.69.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $475,425 and tickets with six winners paid $9,070.80. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $73.60.
Dec. 26 Claims: Race 4 – Tizzy Twister ($20k, Hector Palma).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Thursday (12-26-24)
SA 2 MADAKET ROAD ($3.80), Trifecta ($32.80)
Double (races 2-3, $10.60)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $78.80)
SA 7 JOHANNES ($2.60)
SA 8 Raging Torrent/Stronghold Exacta (SA Price Play, $26.60)
Double (races 7-8, $9.00)
SA 9 King of Gosford/Stay Hot Exacta ($6.40), Trifecta ($17.60)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $22.20)
SA 11 SHE FEELS PRETTY ($3.20), Trifecta ($25.60)
$3 Turf Pick 3 (SA 7, 9, 11) – $15.90
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Friday (12-27-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. On the turf course, a 7-2 front runner captured the 6f opener, an outside pressing favorite won at one mile, an outside pressing favorite graduated at one mile, 5-1 stalker Mrs. Astor scored in the Robert Frankel (G3) at 1 1/8 miles, and a 3-1 stalker won the flat mile finale (rail at 30 feet).
Flavien Prat guided home two winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 12-27-24
Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel (9T): Hang the Moon chased the pace from second and faded to last of 6 as the beaten favorite. Mrs. Astor ($13) stalked the pace under Frankie Dettori, and she moved up, battled gamely in the stretch, and prevailed by a nose over inside stalker Mahina. Yerwanthere (IRE) rallied through traffic to pick up the show. Early runner Omaha Girl weakened to fourth and Mouffy and Hang the Moon brought up the rear in a bunched up field. Jonathan Thomas saddled the winner. Fractions: 24.65, 49.29, 1:13.56, 1:36.90, 1:48.57.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $115,795 and tickets with six winners paid $61,861.20. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $473.80.
Dec. 27 Claims: Race 2 – She Be Boss ($20k, Mark Rheinford).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (12-27-24)
SA 3 BIG MAMA SUE ($3.40)
SA 4 MARCH OF TIME ($4.60), Exacta ($8.40)
Double (races 3-4, $6.20)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (12-28-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. Pressers and stalkers won all five races on the main. On the turf course, a stalking favorite earned his diploma in the flat mile opener, a 5-2 closer graduated at one mile, stalking favorite Motorious won the Joe Hernandez on the downhill course, outside 5-1 stalker Casalu won the Blue Norther at one mile, and a 9-2 closer captured the 9f finale (rail at 10 feet).
Two turf route wins for Flavien Prat. A pair of dirt sprint wins for trainer Steve Knapp.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 12-28-24
Grade 2 Joe Hernandez (6.5T hillside): Code Duello made the lead and was chased by Central Dispatch and Air Force Red. Race favorite Motorious (GB) stalked from fourth and Sumter sat in fifth and forged to a short lead under Mike Smith, but Motorious ($3.80) was finishing with interest and got up by a head under Flavien Prat. Sumter was clearly second best in a fine effort and Irideo (ARG) closed from last of 8 to complete the trifecta. Code Duello weakened to fourth and Gaslight Dancer, Central Dispatch, Air Force Red, and Unconquerable Keen (IRE) rounded out the order of finish. Fractions: 21.81, 43.78, 1:06.07, 1:11.86.
Blue Norther (8T): Morning line favorite Will Then scratched. That development left a field of 8 and Supa Speed was bet down to 1.20-1. Resolve was aggressively handled under Dettori but she had no answer in the lane. Casalu ($13) stalked the pace from the outside post and got the jump on the closers and won by a length and a half for Kimura/Baffert. Schiliflied got stuck in traffic from the inside post and ran on for the place, and aforementioned chalk Supa Speed stalked the pace and missed the place by a neck, and she was 2 lengths clear of Tigerish. Resolve weakened to 5th and was followed by Sea Runner, Ce La Vi Charli, and Don’t Tell Tammo. Fractions: 22.21, 45.77, 1:10.56, 1:22.47, 1:34.63.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $144,793 and tickets with six winners paid $7,734.80. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $133.60.
Dec. 28 Claims: Race 4 – Concord Bridge ($50k, Ron Ellis), Spearfish ($50k, Robert Hess Jr.). Race 10 – Packs a Wahlop ($50k, John Sadler).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (12-28-24)
SA 1 SCIPIO (SA Best Bet, $3.40)
SA 3 STELLAR CAP ($4.20)
Double (races 3-4, $16.60)
SA 5 THE G M ($10.00), Trifecta ($56.80)
Double (races 4-5, $52.00)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $67.80)
Double (races 5-6, $21.60)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $75.20)
SA 7 BARTHOLDY ($4.40)
Double (races 6-7, $12.80)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $66.80)
GP 10 MUFASA ($10.20), Exacta ($28.80)
LRL 7 CAPRICE ($2.40), Exacta ($7.00)
Double (races 7-8, $7.80)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (12-29-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running winners at six panels on dirt. The other main track race at 6f was won by a presser. On the turf course, a 9-2 stalker graduated in the 6f opener, a 4-1 stalker tallied by a nose from the outside post at 6.5f, a closing favorite scored at 6f, stalking favorite Artislas won the Eddie Logan at one mile, and a first timer stalked and scored at 4-1 odds in the 6f finale (rail at 20 feet).
Flavien Prat guided home two turf winners. Jeff Mullins saddled two turf winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 12-29-24
Eddie Logan (8T): Game Warrior scratched in the paddock and seven faced the starter. Fomo Joe got out there and made the lead through slow splits. 46-1 outsider Tiz Happy chased from second and strong favorite Artislas was in a good tactical spot under Flavien Prat. Fomo Joe would not go away and Artislas ($3.20) had to work very hard in the stretch to get by, and the chalk got the job done by a neck. Fomo Joe was game in defeat and Sabertooth was best of the rest in third. Cano the Win rallied from last to complete the superfecta, and overseas shipper Precision (GB) made an early wide move under Dettori and weakened to 5th in the stretch. King of Dragons and Tiz Happy trailed. Jeff Mullins saddled the winner. Fractions: 24.26, 51.16, 1:15.02, 1:26.47, 1:37.70.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $144,673 and tickets with six winners paid $305.00. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $10.60.
Dec. 29 Claims: Race 5 – Ang N Ash ($50k, Ryan Hanson). Race 8 – Mega Moon ($20k, George Papaprodromou).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (12-29-24)
SA 4 BRUCKNER ($5.80), Exacta ($16.80)
Double (races 4-5, $18.60)
SA 6 Pratchett/Eagles Dare Exacta (SA Price Play, $19.20), Trifecta ($32.60)
Double (races 5-6, $7.00)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $19.60)
SA 7 ARTISLAS (SA Best Bet, $3.20)
Double (races 6-7, $5.20)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $12.60)
Double (races 7-8, $8.60)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $6.00)
Late Pick 5 (races 5-9, $188.40)
Pick 6 (5 out of 6, $10.60)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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