Santa Anita Recap for Friday (3-28-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (5.5f, 8f). On the turf course, a 9-1 front runner won the 8f opener, a 3-1 front runner graduated at one mile, a dueling favorite graduated at 6f, a 3-1 stalker scored at a mile and a quarter, and an 8-1 stalker broke her maiden in the flat mile finale (rail at 30 feet).
Turf route riding double for Juan Hernandez.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $546,946 and tickets with six winners paid $5,199.80. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $71.40.
March 28 Claims: Race 2 – Discrepancy ($10k, Peter Miller). Race 4 – Gracie’s Big Day ($32k, Anthony Saavedra). Race 6 – Empress Lorrayne ($8k, Edwin Alvarez), Union Heiress ($8k, D. Wayne Baker). Race 7 – Maltese Falcon ($50k, George Papaprodromou).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (3-28-25)
SA 2 TIGER QUEEN ($7.00)
SA 3 BEYOND LUCKY ($8.20)
Double (races 2-3, $39.40)
SA 4 Gracie’s Big Day/Thirsty Trickster Exacta ($14.40)
Double (races 3-4, $15.20)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $88.20)
SA 5 Cyprus Moon/Girvin Gal Exacta ($9.60)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $34.40)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $253.60)
SA 6 EMPRESS LORRAYNE (SA Best Bet, $3.20)
Double (races 5-6, $9.40)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $15.20)
SA 7 MALTESE FLACON ($8.00)
Double (races 6-7, $16.80)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $57.40)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (3-29-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. On the turf course, a stalking favorite graduated in the 9f opener, a 5-1 stalker earned his diploma at one mile, a midpack stalking favorite won at 6.5f, even money favorite Tirupati wired the field from the inside post in the Wilshire (G3) at one mile, and an 8-1 midpack stalker graduated in the 6.5f finale (rail at 10 feet).
No riding or training doubles on Saturday.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 3-29-25
Grade 3 San Carlos (7f): Pilot Commander was the strong favorite and he was always moving like a winner. All he needed was running room from the inside post, and once he got it, he struck the front and won by 3/4ths of a length. For All Mankind stalked outside and got past returnee Spirit of Makena for the runner-up spot. The latter was making his first start since September 2023 and was well clear of Fort Bragg and Vlahos. Juan Hernandez rode the winner for Bob Baffert. Fractions: 22.30, 45.34, 1:10.59, 1:23.98.
Grade 3 Wilshire (8T): Tirupati, the even money favorite breaking from the inside post, made the lead, put away Tahini, and turned away my top choice Alpha Bella to win by a length. Alpha Bella stalked the pace and was second best, and 47-1 longshot Big Hug rallied for the show. Sophisticate, Uncorked (AUS), a fading Tahini, and Desert Rhapsody also ran. Umberto Rispoli rode the winner for Jonathan Thomas. Fractions: 23.24, 46.99, 1:10.85, 1:22.12, 1:34.61.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $84,869 and tickets with six winners paid $45,340.40. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $335.00.
March 29 Claims: Race 5 – Brother o’ Brien ($5k, Jeff Mullins), Union Wave ($5k, Librado Barocio). Race 6 – Unwritten Code ($32k, Jeff Mullins). Race 9 – Mbagnick ($50k, Jeff Mullins).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (3-29-25)
SA 1 Mythical Reel/Unrivaled Hero/Broski Trifecta ($64.60)
SA 3 PILOT COMMANDER ($2.80)
Double (races 3-4, $18.00)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $88.80)
SA 6 Lady Gregory/Over Attracted Exacta ($17.20)
SA 9 POSITIVITY ($7.80)
Double (races 8-9, $17.20)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Gulfstream Full Card Highlights for Saturday (3-29-25)
GP 3 Classic of Course/Forged Steel/I’m Due Trifecta ($159.80)
GP 6 FAR BRIDGE ($3.80)
GP 7 WHITE ABARRIO ($2.10), Superfecta ($47.40)
Double (races 6-7, $4.40)
GP 9 FIVE G ($4.60)
GP 14 Tappan Street/Sovereignty Exacta (Best Bet, $14.40)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Oaklawn Full Card Highlights for Saturday (3-29-25)
OP 6 Haulin Ice/Almostgone Rocket Exacta ($16.60)
OP 8 BANISHING (Best Bet, $5.20), Trifecta ($26.00)
Double (races 7-8, $29.20)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $115.20)
OP 9 ZERO SUGAR ($6.80)
Double (races 8-9, $17.00)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $98.60)
Pick 4 (races 6-9, $465.20)
OP 10 Wendelssohn/Ninja Warrior Exacta ($7.20)
Double (races 9-10, $9.20)
Pick 3 (races 8-10, $31.00)
OP 11 Bishops Bay/Bendoog Exacta (OP Best Bet, $14.80)
Pick 3 (races 9-11, $29.40)
OP 12 QUIETSIDE ($3.20), Exacta ($8.80)
Double (races 11-12, $7.60)
Pick 3 (races 10-12, $92.20)
OP 13 SANDMAN (OP Best Bet, $9.40), Trifecta ($160.00)
Double (races 12-13, $15.80)
Pick 3 (races 11-13, $36.20)
Pick 4 (races 10-13, $76.80)
Pick 5 (races 9-13, $313.00)
Double (races 13-14, $35.80)
Pick 3 (races 12-14, $53.00)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (3-30-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (5.5f, 8f). On the turf course, a closing favorite graduated at 6.5f, Lonesome Stew went last-to-first at 9-2 odds in the Sensational Star on the downhill course, and a midpack stalker graduated as the favorite in the 10f finale (rail at 20 feet).
Hat trick for Hector Berrios (2 dirt wins). Antonio Fresu guided home two turf winners. Genaro Vallejo saddled two winners on the main track.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 3-30-25
Sensational Star (CA-bred, 6.5T hillside): The pace was contested with Fast Buck, Tom Horn, Kings River Knight, and Lovesick Blues battling early. Tom Horn backed off and the other three were still mixing it up. Lovesick Blues gained a short lead and Tom Horn was on the move under Prat, but they all took a back seat to last-to-first winner Lonesome Stew ($11.80). The latter broke slow from the outside post, and he was patiently handled and rallied wide to win by 3/4ths of a length under Tiago Pereira. Tom Horn was a solid second as the beaten favorite, and Lovesick Blues settled for the show. On the Whim rallied mildly and was a neck back in fourth, and Fast Buck, Kings River Knight, and Clovisconnection rounded out the order of finish. Mark Glatt saddled the winner. Fractions: 21.36, 43.38, 1:05.55, 1:11.55.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $188,715 and there were no tickets with six winners. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $7,201.20. There will be a Pick 6 carryover of $100,819 when live racing resumes on Friday.
March 30 Claims: Race 4 – Acero ($5k, Lorenzo Campuzano). Race 7 – P Twentytwo ($16k, Marcia Stortz).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (3-30-25)
SA 2 READY TO POUNCE ($9.40), Exacta ($29.40), Trifecta ($60.60)
Double (races 2-3, $64.00)
SA 6 KING STEPHEN ($5.20)
SA 10 Public Assembly/Kentucky Gal Exacta (SA Price Play, $46.60)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
Please visit The Runaway Horse Shop to purchase my Santa Anita Park full cards.
