Santa Anita Recap for Thursday (6-12-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (8f, 5.5f). On the turf course, a dueling front running favorite won by a head in the 6f opener, a front running favorite tallied at one mile, a 9-2 stalker won at one mile, and an 11-1 stalker earned his diploma in the 9f finale (rail at 30 feet).
Juan Hernandez (dirt) and Kazushi Kimura (turf routes) both booted home a pair. Mark Glatt saddled three turf winners and Kimura rode two. Bob Baffert saddled two winners on the main track and Hernandez rode both.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $60,696 and tickets with six winners paid $4,632.20. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $42.20.
June 12 Claims: Race 6 – Disposition ($20k, Peter Miller).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Thursday (6-12-25)
SA 1 Agency/Our Bucky Charm/Yogi Boy Trifecta ($17.00)
SA 2 HIMIKA ($3.00), Exacta ($9.60)
Double (races 1-2, $9.40)
Double (races 2-3, $21.00)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $46.80)
SA 4 Sareeha/She’s a Joker/Empress Ellie Trifecta ($41.20)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $36.40)
SA 5 MIRAHMADI ($3.00)
Double (races 4-5, $7.00)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $45.20)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $36.00)
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5, $232.00)
SA 6 Disposition/Perfect Smile/Arya’s Ride Trifecta ($16.00)
Double (races 5-6, $5.40)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $12.00)
SA 7 SUPER ELLIE (SA Price Play, $11.80), Exacta ($26.80)
Double (races 6-7, $20.60)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $59.80)
Double (races 7-8, $29.40)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $102.40)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Friday (6-13-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running sprint winners on dirt (5.5f, 6f). On the turf course, a 5-2 stalker won the 6f opener, a midpack stalking favorite scored at 6f, a 5-1 front runner got passed and came again to win to win at one mile, and a stalking favorite graduated in the finale at 6.5f (rail at 20 feet).
Armando Ayuso and Hector Berrios (sprints) both booted home a pair. John Sadler saddled a pair of turf sprint winners.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $73,369 and tickets with six winners paid $19,598.40. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $270.80.
June 13 Claims: Race 1 – Kitty Kitana ($30k, Bill McLean). Race 3 – Fireman Dan ($20k, Dean Pederson), Mongolian Max ($20k, Doug O’Neill). Race 6 – Putt for Dough ($8k, Ryan Hanson), Smile Baby Smile ($8k, Mark Glatt). Race 8 – Mbagnick ($80k, John Sadler). Race 9 – Video Review ($50k, John Sadler).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (6-13-25)
SA 9 TEES TOUCH (Best Bet, $4.20)
$5 Late Double (races 8-9, $60.50)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (6-14-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running winners on dirt (6f, 6.5f, 5f). On the turf course, a closing favorite won the 6f opener, a front running favorite scored at one mile, stalking favorite Mrs. Astor captured the Possibly Perfect at a mile and a quarter, a stalking favorite tallied at 6f, stalking favorite Motorious won the Daytona (G3) on the downhill course, and a 9-1 midpack closer graduated in the flat mile finale.
Riding double for Hector Berrios (turf sprints), Umberto Rispoli (turf routes), and Jose Valdivia, Jr. A pair of turf wins for Phil D’Amato.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 6-14-25
Possibly Perfect (10T): This one was a mad scramble. My top choice Kentucky Gal (IRE) set a pressured pace from the inside post and Starry Heavens (IRE) never gave her a breather. Those two fought on bravely to the end but this race was captured by strong favorite Mrs. Astor ($2.80), The latter stalked outside under Umberto Rispoli and got up late to beat 18-1 stalker Mahina by a nose. Starry Heavens was a neck back in third and it was another head to Kentucky Gal in a blanket finish. Paris Secret (IRE) and Queen Leca (URU) also ran. Jonathan Thomas saddled the winner. Fractions: 24.35, 48.29, 1:13.11, 1:37.54, 2:00.69.
Grade 3 Daytona (6.5T hillside): Goliad showed the way early but was nowhere at the end. Motorious ($3.80) was the favorite and he stalked the pace, moved up wide, and kicked clear to win by a length and a quarter in a sharp return effort for Antonio Fresu and Phil D’Amato. My value top choice Bran (FR) was patiently handled under Umberto Rispoli and ran on to complete the exacta. Air Force Red was third and Lovesick Blues, Watsonville, and Goliad also ran. Fractions: 23.18, 45.10, 1:07.12, 1:13.13.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $194,347 and tickets with six winners paid $1,571.20. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $26.20.
June 14 Claims: Race 1 – Fleet Feet ($25k, Jose Hernandez, Jr.), Hawker ($25k, George Papaprodromou). Race 3 – Nokie ($20k, Mark Rheinford). Race 8 – Sharp Aza Tack ($32k, Hector Palma), Whatmakessammyrun ($32k, Tim Yakteen). Race 11 – Brother o’Brien ($5k, Tim McCanna), Devilnthebluegras ($5k, Angela Aquino), J. B. Books ($5k, Vann Belvoir).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (6-14-25)
SA 2 Happy Sue/Dorrie Miller Exacta ($10.20)
SA 4 THOUGHT PROCESS ($2.40), Exacta ($5.00)
Double (races 3-4, $4.00)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $13.80)
Double (races 4-5, $5.00)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $10.20)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $7.00)
SA 7 My Love Caroline/Tammy Baby/Final Table Lady Trifecta ($191.80)
SA 9 SIERRA SILVER (Best Bet, $4.00), Exacta ($6.80), Trifecta ($41.60)
Double (races 8-9, $11.80)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $60.20)
SA 10 Motorious/Bran Exacta ($13.00)
Double (races 9-10, $7.40)
Pick 3 (races 8-10, $28.00)
SA 11 J B BOOKS ($4.20)
Double (races 10-11, $9.40)
Pick 3 (races 9-11, $22.20)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (6-15-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running sprint winners on dirt (5f, 8f). On the turf course, a stalking favorite graduated by a nose in the flat mile opener, a stalking favorite won at one mile, a stalking favorite tallied at one mile, a midpack closer won at one mile, 5-1 closer Nitti (IRE) went last-to-first in the San Juan Capistrano (G3) at 1 3/4 miles, a 9-1 stalker won down the hill, and an 8-1 presser graduated in the 6f finale.
A huge day for Umberto Rispoli with six wins. Antonio Fresu guided home two turf route winners and was the leading rider at the Hollywood Meet at Santa Anita. Leading trainer Phil D’Amato and Mark Glatt both saddled two turf winners, Doug O’Neill saddled a pair of juvenile maiden sprint winners and Rispoli rode both. Hero Or Zero (8th race) was O’Neill’s 3,000th winner.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 6-15-25
Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano (14T): For Arrogate, Maltese Falcon (IRE), and Mrs. Astor scratched and that left a 5-horse field. Time Song grabbed a clear early lead and Balladeer chased from second, and those two were clear for quite some time. There was only one horse making up ground from off the pace and that was my price play Nitti (IRE), The latter was last of 5 for at least a mile and a quarter and he started running with four furlongs to go. Nitti ($12) kept on coming under Armando Ayuso and had the best energy in the stretch and won by 2 1/2 lengths. Time Song finished 3/4ths of a length in front of show finisher Balladeer, and it was 19 lengths back to beaten favorite Divin Propos (FR). Santa Barbarian trailed. Leonard Powell trained the winner. Fractions: 46.73, 1:10.72, 1:37.50, 2:03.50, 2:29.32, 2:45.94.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $386,050 and tickets with six winners paid $41,248.60. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $736.40.
June 15 Claims: Race 3 – Hey Demps ($25k, Robert Hess, Jr.), Miss Meagher ($25k, Gus Headley), Step It Out ($25k, Steve Knapp). Race 4 – Double Cappuccino ($20k, Edwin Alvarez), Lady Rider ($20k, Vladimir Cerin). Race 10 – Positivity ($50k, Doug O’Neill). Race 11 – Beef Winslow ($50k, Leonard Powell), Daniel’s Magic ($50k, Craig Dollase).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (6-15-25)
SA 5 WORD PLAY ($2.10), Exacta ($5.00)
Double (races 4-5, $4.60)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $13.40)
SA 6 PAVLOVIAN ($5.40)
Double (races 5-6, $6.80)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $19.60)
Double (races 6-7, $33.20)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $37.00)
SA 8 HERO OR ZERO ($5.60), Exacta ($18.80), Trifecta ($77.80)
Double (races 7-8, $17.80)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $101.20)
SA 9 NITTI (Price Play, $12.00), Trifecta ($356.20)
Double (races 8-9, $40.20)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $136.00)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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