Santa Anita Recap for Friday (4-4-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at 5.5f on dirt. On the turf course, a closing favorite won the flat mile opener, a 7-2 presser scored at 6f, a stalking favorite tallied at one mile, a front running favorite held on by a nose down the hill, and a stalking favorite won the flat mile finale (rail at 30 feet).
Hat trick for Armando Ayuso (2 turf wins). Antonio Fresu booted home a pair. Andy Mathis saddled two winners and Auyso rode both.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $1,012,352 and tickets with six winners paid $656.80. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $17.40.
April 4 Claims: Race 4 – Chasin Munny ($8k, Librado Barroco).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (4-4-25)
SA 1 Star of the Night/Step It Out/Kahuraru Trifecta ($20.40)
SA 2 MANIAE ($6.60), Trifecta ($82.40)
Double (races 1-2, $18.20)
SA 3 SEPTEMBER MAGIC ($9.20)
Double (races 2-3, $30.40)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $109.80)
SA 4 Chasin Munny/Wegonahavagoodtime/Honeymoon Suite Trifecta ($33.80)
Double (races 3-4, $25.40)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $33.80)
SA 8 LOVELY IDAHO ($4.20)
Double (races 7-8, $11.00)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $24.20)
Double (races 8-9, $6.20)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $13.80)
Late Pick 4 (races 7-10, $43.00)
Late Pick 5 (races 6-10, $115.00)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (4-5-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. On the turf course, a 5-1 stalker graduated in the 6f opener, a stalking favorite won at one mile, front running favorite Queen Maxima won the Monrovia (G3) on the downhill course, a 5-1 closer broke her maiden at 6f, an outside stalking favorite won down the hill, a closing favorite scored down the hill, and a 6-1 stalker captured the flat mile finale.
Riding triples for Juan Hernandez (3 stakes wins) and Umberto Rispoli (2 turf wins + G1 dirt route win). Hector Berrios booted home two turf sprint winners. Michael McCarthy saddled two route winners and Rispoli rode both including Journalism in the SA Derby (G1). Jeff Mullins saddled two turf sprint favorites on the downhill course including Queen Maxima in the Monrovia (G3).
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 4-5-25
Echo Eddie (CA-bred, 6.5f): I’m a Bad Boy was the favorite. He broke through the gate prior to the start, and he battled on the pace but could not match strides in the lane. Style Cat ($9.80) pressed outside and pulled clear in the lane to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Drop Um attended the pace and was 9 1/2 lengths in front of show finisher R Heisman, and I’m a Bad Boy was another 1/2 length back in fourth. My top choice Bro Bro was another 7 lengths back in 5th, and Triple Diamonds and first timer Titanic Thompson also ran. Juan Hernandez rode the winner for Peter Miller. Fractions: 21.85, 44.48, 1:10.44, 1:15.88.
Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks (8.5f): Tenma was the strong favorite and she had to work for this one. No Bad Beats briefly dueled with Silent Law but was done early, and the latter shook loose after a half-mile. Vodka With a Twist chased inside and Tenma worked her way outside to stalk the pace on the backstretch. Silent Law was the boss turning for home and Tenma came after her stablemate, gained a short lead, and gradually pulled away to win by 2 1/4 lengths at 30 cents on the dollar. Silent Law was 6 lengths clear of Vodka With a Twist, and that one was well clear of Madame Secretary. No Bad Beats eased in the lane and walked off. Juan Hernandez rode the winner for Bob Baffert and she punched her ticket to Louisville for the Kentucky Oaks. Fractions: 22.85, 46.38, 1:11.03, 1:38.96, 1:46.15.
Grade 3 Monrovia (6.5T hillside): Queen Maxima was the strong favorite and she dominated this race from start to finish. She made the lead from the outside post, put away Omaha Girl, and zipped away to score by 4 1/4 lengths at 20 cents on the dollar. Queen of the Mud (IRE) stalked the pace and was a neck better than show finisher Venganza. Ang N Ash, Omaha Girl, and Safa also ran. Juan Hernandez rode the popular winner for Jeff Mullins. Fractions: 22.58, 44.89, 1:07.15, 1:12.93.
Evening Jewel (CA-bred, 6.5f): Kent Desormeaux has been riding in fine form with limited opportunities, and he made all the right moves from the inside post aboard 2-1 favorite Om N Joy. She sat inside in 6th place, and moved up, split rivals, and kicked clear by 2 1/2 lengths. Sunset Grazen stalked the pace and was second best, and Hot Girl Walk stalked, led, and settled for the show. Going Deep was up close before weakening to fourth, and my top choice In the Air Tonight was in the hunt but failed to make an impact in the lane. Knightwithlouis and Big Soiree also ran. Aggie Ordonez saddled the winner. Fractions: 22.43, 45.52, 1:11.47, 1;17.85.
Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby (9f): This race lived up to top billing. Westwood, a 44-1 maiden for John Shirreffs, was aggressively handled from post 2 and was in front after a quarter. Citizen Bull wanted the lead but could not get it under Martin Garcia, and he eased out to chase Westwood. Journalism was patiently handled inside, Barnes was keen to go, and Baeza was racing in the clear from the outside post. Westwood and Citizen Bull continued to mix it up with five furlongs to go, and Baeza made a wide move and joined the chase. Citizen Bull was clear after six furlongs and Baeza worked his way up to second. Westwood was third, Barnes was next, and Journalism saved ground in last place while waiting for racing room. Baeza caught Citizen Bull in the stretch and was the new target, and Journalism worked his way off the rail and was on the move, and he lengthened stride, got to the front late, and scored by 3/4ths of a length. Baeza ran his heart out and was 8 1/2 lengths in front of Westwood. Citizen Bull was out of gas and finished a half-length behind the maiden, and it was another 10 lengths back to Barnes. Umberto Rispoli rode Journalism for Michael McCarthy, and he is 4-for-4 around two turns and heads to Louisville as the clear Kentucky Derby favorite. Fractions: 22.25, 47.14, 1:11.42, 1:37.07, 1:49.56.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $214,887 and tickets with six winners paid $7,175.00. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $135.80.
April 5 Claims: None.
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (4-5-25)
SA 3 JEWELED SHILLELAGH ($5.80), Trifecta ($112.00)
Double (races 2-3, $30.40)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $172.80)
SA 4 TENMA ($2.60)
Double (races 3-4, $8.60)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $36.80)
SA 5 Queen Maxima/Queen of the Mud/Venganza Trifecta ($11.60)
Double (races 4-5, $2.80)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $11.00)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $55.20)
SA 8 WESTERN FREEDOM ($8.00), Exacta ($27.00)
SA 9 PRIVATE GEM ($4.40)
Double (races 8-9, $20.80)
SA 10 JOURNALISM ($4.00), Exacta ($24.40)
Double (races 9-10, $10.00)
Pick 3 (races 8-10, $36.40)
Double (races 10-11, $13.20)
Pick 3 (races 9-11, $42.80)
AQU 7 IRISH MAXIMA ($3.60), Trifecta ($22.80)
AQU 9 BALLERINA D’ORO ($3.40)
AQU 10 CRAZY MASON ($12.60), Exacta ($45.00)
AQU 12 RODRIGUEZ ($9.30)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (4-6-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at 6f on dirt. On the turf course, a stalking favorite won the flat mile opener, a 7-1 stalker tallied at one mile, a stalking favorite scored on the downhill course, 8-1 front runner Supersonic Blue captured the John Shear on the downhill course, a stalking favorite won at one mile, and an 11-1 stalker took the flat mile finale (rail at 20 feet).
Riding triples for apprentice Serafin Carmona (2 dirt sprints) and Juan Hernandez (2 dirt).
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 4-6-25
John Shear (6.5T hillside): Triple Diamonds scratched and that left a field of six. Supersonic Blue ($19.80) had a shoe repair in the paddock, and he got clear early and never looked back in a half-length victory for Edwin Maldonado and Neil Drysdale. Cali Cat stalked the pace and was a nose better than beaten favorite Artislas for the runner-up spot. My top choice Muscled was fourth and Incanto (IRE) and Toughness also ran. Fractions: 22.13, 43.75, 1:06.36, 1:12.45.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $324,096 and tickets with six winners paid $13,318.80. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $142.60.
April 6 Claims: Race 3 – Dark Marcus ($6250k, Simon Hobson). Race 4 – Catholic Cat ($50k, Robert Hess, Jr.). Race 5 – I’m a Risque Girl ($5k, Francisco Rodriguez), Woodbine Way ($5k, Jose Hernandez, Jr.). Race 12 – Hurricane Way ($25k, Mark Rheinford).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (4-6-25)
SA 7 GOAL ORIENTED ($4.20)
Double (races 6-7, $13.00)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $24.80)
SA 9 LETMEIN ($4.00)
Double (races 9-10, $7.80)
SA 11 EXTENSIVE ($7.00)
Double (races 10-11, $19.40)
Pick 3 (races 9-11, $35.20)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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