Santa Anita Recap for Friday (2-28-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. On the turf course, a stalking favorite won the 6f opener, a 4-1 stalker scored at 9f, an even money front runner tallied at one mile, a front running favorite graduated at 6f, and a stalking favorite earned his diploma in the flat mile finale (rail at 30 feet).
Antonio Fresu (2 turf sprints) guided home three winners. Apprentice rider Welfin Orantes booted home a pair of dirt sprint winners.
The $2 Pick 6 carryover pool was $59,244 and tickets with six winners paid $2,434.60. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $52.40.
Feb. 28 Claims: Race 1 – Jai Ho ($22.5k, Jay Nehf), Matina ($25k, Ryan Hanson). Race 2 – Discrepancy ($8k, Sergio Morfin). Race 6 – Joe Vittori ($8k, Alfred M. Vuocolo). Race 7 – Lee’s Baby Girl ($50k, Carla Gaines).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (2-28-25)
SA 1 JAI HO ($4.20)
SA 2 DISCREPANCY ($3.00)
Double (races 1-2, $7.40)
SA 3 EL REY REY ($10.60), Exacta ($26.80), Trifecta ($58.60)
Double (races 2-3, $24.80)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $41.80)
Double (races 3-4, $35.20)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $59.20)
SA 5 I’M A BAD BOY (SA Best Bet, $4.00), Exacta ($6.20)
Double (races 4-5, $11.20)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $67.40)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $117.60)
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5, $299.40)
SA 9 Muscled/Mythical Reel Exacta (SA Price Play, $24.60)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (3-1-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running sprint winners on dirt (6f, 6.5f, 6f). On the turf course, a front running favorite won the flat mile opener, last-to-first closer Liguria won the Buena Vista at 8T, an even money favorite rallied to earn her diploma at 6f, an 11-1 closer tallied at 6f, 5-1 stalker Formidable Man won the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) at one mile, and a 6-1 stalker won the 9f finale.
Turf hat trick for Flavien Prat (2 route wins). Umberto Rispoli guided home two graded stakes winners. Michael McCarthy saddled four route winners. He saddled three graded stakes winners and three turf route winners, and Rispoli rode two of his graded winners. Prat booted home two of his turf route winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 3-1-25
Grade 2 Buena Vista (8T): Morning line favorite Alpha Bella scratched and Rashmi was the even money chalk when the gates opened. 39-1 longshot Omaha Girl ran off early and was 8 lengths to the good after a half-mile. Her lead shrunk to a length after six panels, and Tirupati made the first run and took the lead. Rashmi was making up ground and my value top choice Liguria ($11.40) got a great closing ride and trip under Flavien Prat, and she made the last run and won by a head. Tirupati was an unlucky loser and it was another neck back to Rashmi in third. Uncorked and Big Hug were next, and Omaha Girl weakened to last. Michael McCarthy saddled the winner. Fractions: 22.50, 45.37, 1:10.18, 1:22.26, 1:34.31.
Grade 2 San Felipe (8.5f dirt): Barnes took all the money and he set sail for the early lead under Juan Hernandez. His stablemate Rodriguez chased from second and got to within a half-length at the half-mile mark. Barnes let it out a notch and was clear again, and Rodriguez was under a drive and could not keep pace under Flavien Prat. Journalism ($8.20) track the pace inside from fourth, and he tipped out, came after Barnes in the stretch, and went past that one and scored by 1 3/4 lengths under Umberto Rispoli’s smart handling. Barnes was easily second best in a solid effort, and it was 9 1/2 lengths back to clear show finisher Rodriguez. Mellencamp was fourth and Smooth Cruisein trailed. Berlin Wall scratched. Michael McCarthy saddled the winner. Fractions: 23.71, 47.31, 1:11.10, 1:36.13, 1:42.24.
Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (8T): My top choice El Potente scratched and he was the second choice on the line. Cabo Spirit, the longest shot on the board at 31-1, made the running and Air Force Red and Zio Jo chased. Formidable Man ($12.20) was patiently handled inside under Umberto Rispoli and he pounced in the lane, caught Zio Jo, and won by a half-length. Zio Jo was neck in front of Cabo Spirit and it was another nose back to Almendares. Beaten favorite Mi Hermano Ramon closed mildly for 5th. Neat was 6th and Air Force Red weakened to last. Michael McCarthy saddled the winner and he had a big day to say the least. Fractions; 23.20, 47.26, 1:11.70, 1:23.08, 1:34.57.
Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap (10f dirt): Tarantino scratched and he figured to impact the pace. Mirahmadi made the lead under Juan Hernandez and that was not unexpected. 62-1 bomber Midnight Mammoth chased from second and Express Train stalked from the rail and J B Strikes Back stalked wide. Locked ($3.40) was the strong favorite and he was patiently handled while in the clear and on the outside, and he moved up, struck the front, and powered away to win impressively by 8 1/2 lengths. Express Train was clearly second best from the inside post at 12-1, and my top choice Hit Show ran on for the show under Flavien Prat. Midnight Mammoth was best of the rest in fourth. J B Strikes Back, Katonah, New King, and Mirahmadi also ran. Jose Ortiz rode the winner for Todd Pletcher. Fractions: 23.46, 47.24, 1:11.91, 1:36.44, 2:01.71.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $162,361 and nobody had all six winners. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $3,717.20. There will be a Pick 6 carryover of $86,735 when live racing resumes Sunday.
March 1 Claims: Race 7 – Ang N Ash ($50k, Ryan Hanson).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (3-1-25)
SA 1 NAVAJO WARRIOR ($4.80)
SA 2 No Bad Beats/ A Z Wildcat/In the Air Tonight Trifecta ($13.60)
Double (races 1-2, $12.60)
SA 3 LIGURIA ($11.40)
Double (races 2-3, $33.80)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $94.20)
Double (races 3-4, $24.40)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $57.20)
SA 5 QUICK BROWN FOX ($4.00)
Double (races 4-5, $9.40)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $76.80)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $242.60)
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5, $622.40)
SA 10 Locked/Express Train/Hit Show Trifecta (SA Best Bet, $62.20)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Gulfstream Park Full Card Highlights for Saturday (3-1-25)
GP 2 Clever Mischief/Rothschild/Mount Horeb Trifecta (Best Bet, $116.00)
GP 7 Mi Bago/Enterdadragon Exacta ($59.80)
GP 11 MINDFRAME ($2.20), Exacta ($6.20)
Double (races 10-11, $13.80)
Pick 3 (races 9-11, $94.20)
GP 13 SOVEREIGNTY ($8.40)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (3-2-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at 1 1/16 miles on dirt. On the turf course, a front running favorite won at 1 1/8 miles, a stalking first timer graduated as the favorite at 6f, a 2-1 stalker tallied at 6f, and a 16-1 stalker scored in the flat mile finale (rail at 20 feet).
Tiago Pereira (routes) and Flavien Prat (turf) both booted home a pair. Richard Baltas saddled two turf winners and Prat rode both.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 3-2-25
Grade 3 Santa Ysabel at Santa Anita (3-2-25): This race was down to four runners after Cipriani and Hey Jessie scratched. My top choice Maysam threw a fit in the gate in the Sunland Oaks, and she was on her best behavior on Sunday. Bob Baffert’s filly made the lead from the outside post under Juan Hernandez and even money favorite Supa Speed chased from second under Flavien Prat. Those two separated themselves from the other two runners and the match race was on. Neither would give inch in the stretch and it could have gone either way, and Maysam ($5.00) prevailed by a nose in a narrow decision. Supa Speed ran too good to lose in her first dirt attempt and was 6 1/2 lengths in front of Howin. 13-1 outsider Just as Fancy trailed throughout. Fractions: 23.45, 47.74, 1:12.31, 1:38.88, 1:45.62.
The $2 Pick 6 carryover pool was $678,351 and tickets with six winners paid $18,958.60. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $124.00.
There is a Super High 5 carryover of $55,690 into the final race on Friday.
March 2 Claims: Race 1 – Be Punctual ($14k, Robert Hess, Jr.). Race 8 – Contrary Chieftain ($5k, Jaiver Jose Sierra). Race 10 – Billy Joe Shaver ($16k, Cesar DeAlba), Cody Boy ($16k, Javier Jose Sierra).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (3-2-25)
SA 5 STRATE CASH ($2.80), Exacta ($5.40)
Double (races 4-5, $9.00)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $31.80)
SA 6 MAYSAM ($5.00), Exacta ($10.60), Trifecta ($15.60)
Double (races 5-6, $9.20)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $37.40)
SA 7 RESEMBLANCE ($5.80), Exacta ($24.00)
Double (races 6-7, $18.40)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $33.80)
SA 8 CONTRARY CHIEFTAIN ($8.40), Trifecta ($119.00)
Double (races 7-8, $22.60)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $76.40)
Middle Pick 4 (races 5-8, $93.80)
SA 9 BILLY JOE SHAVER ($3.40)
Double (races 8-9, $19.60)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $85.40)
Pick 6 (races 7-11) – 5 out to 6 – $124.00)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
Please visit The Runaway Horse Shop to purchase my Santa Anita Park full cards.
