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Santa Anita Recap for Friday (4-18-25)

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (6f, 8f). On the turf course, a 2-1 front runner graduated in the 9f opener, a 10-1 stalker won at one mile, a last-to-first closer scored at 5-2 odds at 6f, a 6-1 closer tallied at 6f, and a 1.70-1 front runner earned his diploma in the 6f finale (rail at 30 feet). 

Four wins for Juan Hernandez (3 main track wins). Bob Baffert saddled two winners on the main track and Hernandez rode both. 

The $2 Pick 6 pool was $113,928 and tickets with six winners paid $3,574.80. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $67.20.

April 18 Claims: Race 1 – Rowan August ($50k, Anthony Saavedra).

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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (4-19-25)

Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at 1 1/16 miles on dirt. On the turf course, a 5-2 front runner won at 6f, a pressing favorite graduated at 6f, a front runner earned his diploma at 6.5f, a stalking favorite won down the hill, and a 9-2 closer broke her maiden at 6f.  

Riding doubles for Antonio Fresu and Umberto Rispoli (turf sprints). Bob Baffert (dirt routes) and Phil D’Amato (turf sprints) both saddled two winners. 

Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 4-19-25 

Grade 2 Santa Maria (8.5f): Richi (CHI) was 60 cents on the dollar vs. four foes in this dirt route, and she got to the front from the inside post. Her stablemate Splendora stalked and came after her, but Richi ($3.20) had plenty left and kicked away to score by 4 1/2 lengths. Splendora held the place by a half-length over clear show finisher Ultimate Authority. Fayette Fox and Lisa’s Nonno completed the order of finish. Antonio Fresu guided home the winner for Bob Baffert. Fractions: 22.78, 46.61, 1:10.62, 1:36.11, 1:42.60.  

The $2 Pick 6 pool was $129,708 and tickets with six winners paid $17,323.60. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $233.40. 

April 19 Claims: Race 5 – Cheeky Gal ($20k, Antonio Flores). Race 9 – Lil Richards Bello ($20k, Francisco Rodriguez).  

Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (4-19-25)
SA 1 BETTY PACK ($2.40), Exacta ($5.60)
SA 3 Nevada Beach/Rank Exacta ($13.00)
SA 4 MISS JO’S CURLIN ($4.00), Exacta ($8.40)
Double (races 3-4, $11.40)
SA 6 THE OLD NINE ($3.40), Exacta ($6.40)
SA 8 TOM SEAVER (SA Best Bet, $7.20)
Double (races 7-8, $15.20)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $26.60)
$3 Turf Pick 3 (races 6, 8, 10) – $135.00
LRL 9 COMPLEXITY JANE ($18.20), Exacta ($93.80)
LRL 11 PAY BILLY ($6.60)
OP 11 FIRST MISSION ($4.80), Trifecta ($81.60)

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

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Keeneland Full Card Highlights for Saturday (4-19-25)
KEE 2 CRUDO ($2.88)
Double (races 2-3, $17.50)
Double (races 2-3, $14.98)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $51.44)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $108.64)
KEE 6 Cat On Time/Two Eagles River (KEE Price Play, $25.34)
KEE 7 PIPSY ($7.18)
Double (races 6-7, $31.04)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $62.52)
KEE 8 JUST A TOUCH ($2.96)
Double (races 6-7, $9.24)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $48.36)
KEE 10 Tennessee Lamb/San Siro Exacta (KEE Best Bet, $37.84)

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

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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (4-20-25)

Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at 5 1/2 panels on dirt. On the turf course, a 3-1 stalker won the flat mile opener, a 7-2 stalker scored at 6f, a stalking favorite tallied at 6f, 6-1 front runner Cabo Spirit wired the field in the American (G3) at one mile, and a a 5-2 stalker graduated by a nose from post 10 in the flat mile finale (rail at 20 feet). 

Hat trick for Hector Berrios (2 turf route wins). Geovanni Franco booted home a pair of sprint winners. John Sadler saddled two turf route winners and Berrios rode both.  

Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 4-20-25 

Grade 3 American Stakes (8T): Cabo Spirit made the lead and race favorite King of Gosford (GB) chased from second, and they made it a parade. King of Gosford turned up the pressure with two furlongs to go but Cabo Spirit ($16.20) kept him at bay and won by 3/4ths of a length. King of Gosford was clearly second best in his first start since December, and Endlessly was along for the show in his first outing since July 2024. Zio Jo, Il Bellator, Phosphorescence (FR), and St Anthony also ran. Mike Smith rode the winner for George Papaprodromou. Fractions: 23.10, 47.31, 1:11.05, 1:22.85, 1:34.42. 

The $2 Pick 6 pool was $128,477 and there were no tickets with six winners. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $891.20. There were be a Pick 6 carryover of $68,636 when live racing resumes on Friday. 

April 20 Claims: Race 4 – Mici’s Express ($20k, Doug O’Neill). Race 5 – Doncic ($32k, Vladimir Cerin). Race 6 – My Bucket List ($5k, Antonio Garcia), Trinidad ($5k, Robert Hess, Jr.). 

Please visit The Runaway Horse Shop to purchase my full cards.

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.