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Santa Anita Recap for Friday (5-30-25)

Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. On the turf course, a stalking favorite graduated in the 5f opener, a stalking favorite won at 9f, a stalking favorite graduated at 5f, and a 9-1 closer earned her diploma in the flat mile finale (rail at 30 feet). 

Tyler Baze booted home a pair of dirt sprint winners. 

The $2 Pick 6 pool was $91,475 and there were no tickets with six winners. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $2,327.00. There will be a Pick 6 carryover of $48,870 when live racing resumes on Saturday, May 31. 

May 30 Claims: Race 4 – Cooling Off ($12.5k, Jose Valdez). Race 6 – James J. Braddock ($16k, Sergio Morfin). Race 7 – Gavea ($20k, Steve Miyadi), Zombo Bombo ($20k, Steven Knapp). 

Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (5-30-25)
SA 1 QUEEN BAY ($2.80), Trifecta ($14.20)
SA 2 AUDITORY ($3.80), Exacta ($9.20)
Double (races 1-2, $6.40)
SA 3 KAWAZAKI ($4.00), Exacta ($5.60), Trifecta ($7.80)
Double (races 2-3, $8.00)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $13.80)
SA 5 LA VILLE LUMIERE ($3.00), Trifecta ($30.40)
Double (races 5-6, $13.00)

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

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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (5-31-25)

Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at seven panels on dirt (6f, 7f). On the turf course, a 4-1 stalker won the flat mile opener, a 2-1 front runner tallied at one mile, a 5-1 stalker won at 1 1/8 miles, a 4-1 stalker graduated at 6f, and a 15-1 closer captured the finale at 6.5f on the downhill course. 

Tyler Baze (dirt) and Kyle Frey (turf) both booted home a pair. 

Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 5-31-25 

Grade 3 Triple Bend (7f): Vlahos figured to impact the pace but he scratched, and Nysos towered over his three rivals on paper and he dominated. All four horses went forward early and Nysos ($2.40) put away the others, opened up by 2 lengths in the stretch, and kicked away to win by 5 1/2 lengths. Returnee Dr. Venkman was the only horse on paper with a chance to go with Nysos and he was not match while clearly second best. Smooth Cruisein was a clear third and Spirit of Makena trailed. Juan Hernandez rode the winner for Bob Baffert, and route races like the San Diego and Pacific Classic at Del Mar might be in play this summer. This was a fast race and they would like to get Nysos to the BC Classic. Fractions: 22.07, 44.29, 1:08.42, 1:21.28. 

The $2 Pick 6 pool was $497,898 and tickets with six winners paid $10,495.40. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $130.40. 

May 31 Claims: Race 2 – Naftis ($5k, Genaro Vallejo). Race 3 – Tiergarten ($8k, Steve Miyadi). Race 4 – Jimmy Blue Jeans ($20k, Jose Hernandez, Jr.). Race 8 – Uptown Sweetheart ($50k, Mike Puype)

Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (5-31-25)
SA 4 Flyover/Jimmy Blue Jeans Exacta (SA Best Bet, $13.60), Trifecta ($38.80)
SA 7 NYSOS ($2.40), Exacta ($4.00)
Double (races 7-8, $12.80)
SA 9 BRONKO NAGURSKI ($7.20), Exacta ($19.20), Trifecta ($41.40)
Double (races 8-9, $58.20)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $59.20)

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

Churchill Downs Full Card Highlights for Saturday (5-31-25)
CD 3 QUICK SAND ($7.34), Trifecta ($90.56)
CD 4 KAPOOR ($4.58), Trifecta ($56.32)
Double (races 3-4, $22.60)
Double (races 4-5, $18.12)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $85.24)
CD 9 Mercante/Brilliant Berti Exacta ($23.58)

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

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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (6-1-25)

Fast main track and firm turf course. Four front running sprint winners on dirt (6f, 5.5f, 6f, 6f). On the turf course, an even money favorite stalked and scored at 6f, a 1.90-1 closer tallied at 6.5f, a front running favorite graduated at 5f, a dueling front running favorite won at 6f, and the even money favorite went all the way in the 6.5f finale on the downhill course (rail at 20 feet). 

Hat trick for Juan Hernandez (2 turf sprints). Hector Berrios (sprints) and Edwin Maldonado (sprints) both booted home a pair. Phil D’Amato saddled two dirt sprint winners. 

Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 6-1-25 

Desert Stormer (6f): Morning line favorite Sweet Azteca scratched and that left a 3-horse field. Super Shine (ARG) made the lead and that was the ballgame. She was clear throughout from the outside post and won by 2 lengths. She paid $6.40 for Hector Berrios and Phil D’Amato. Chismosa was the favorite and she was clearly second best, and Fayette Fox trailed. Fractions: 22.16, 44.82, 57.04, 1:09.46.  

The $2 Pick 6 pool was $203,700 and tickets with six winners paid $295.00. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $11.80. 

June 1 Claims: Race 4 – Invincible ($30k, Jeff Mullins), Known Idea ($30k, Mark Glatt). Race 9 – Haywood ($10k, Genaro Vallejo).

Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (6-1-25)
SA 2 Miss Mandalay/Not a Sinner Exacta ($5.80), Trifecta ($19.80)
SA 4 Caribbean King/Invincible Exacta (Best Bet, $14.60)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $87.00)
SA 6 Hey Nay Nay/Brigante Exacta ($13.20)
Middle Pick 4 (races 4-7, $154.60)
SA 8 Its a Cinch/Triple Diamonds Exacta ($17.80)
SA 10 Bit’s Tiger Magic/Breve/Blue Wildcat Trifecta (Price Play, $103.00)
$3 Turf Pick 3 (races 6, 8, 10) – $79.50

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

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.