Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (12-28-25)
Fast main track and good turf course on opening day.
No front running winners on dirt. 8-1 stalker Secured Freedom graduated by 4 1/2 lengths from post 3 at 6.5f, 7-2 midpack stalker Wishtheyallcouldbe raced wide and won from post 13 at 6.5f, strong favorite Nysos stalked from post 1 and captured the Laffit Pincay, Jr. (G3) by a head over his stablemate Nevada Beach at 8.5f, 5-1 midpack stalker Usha was the strong winner of the La Brea (G1) from post 5 at 7f, and Goal Oriented finished strong from the outside post and took the Malibu (G1) by a length at 7f.
On the turf course, 2-1 closing favorite Ramayana graduated from post 12 in the flat mile opener, 7-1 closer My Perfect Wave got up by a neck from post 10 at one mile, 9-1 stalker Hiding in Honduras stalked from the inside post and won by a head in the Mathis Mile (G2), 10-1 stalker Proof He Rides won from post 4 at 6.5f on the downhill course, 6-1 front runner Cabo Spirit went all the way from post 9 in the San Gabriel (G3) at 9f, and 12-1 midpack stalker Ambaya upset the American Oaks (G1) from post 4.
Antonio Fresu guided home two flat mile turf winners including Hiding in Honduras ($21.40) in the Mathis Mile (G2). Kazushi Kimura booted home a pair including Ambaya ($27.40) in the American Oaks (G1) at 10T.
Bob Baffert saddled three graded stakes winners (G3 Pincay – Nysos; G1 La Brea – Usha; G1 Malibu – Goal Oriented). Jonathan Thomas saddled two graded turf route stakes winners (G2 Mathis Mile – Hiding in Honduras; G1 American Turf – Ambaya). Tim Yakteen saddled two winners.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $260,049 and tickets with six winners paid $13,891.60. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $184.20.
Dec. 28 Claims: Race 3 – Runamileinmyshoes ($50k, Peter Miller). Race 4 – Wishtheyallcouldbe ($20k, Ryan Hanson).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (12-28-25)
SA 1 Ramayana/Improbable U/Chair’s Coin Trifecta ($85.60)
SA 6 NYSOS ($2.40), Exacta ($4.20)
SA 8 Usha/Formula Rossa/Simply Joking Trifecta (SA Price Play, $487.60)
SA 9 Cabo Spirit/Astronomer/Mondego Trifecta (SA Best Bet, $543.80)
SA 10 Goal Oriented/Midland Money/Speedy Wilson Trifecta ($51.00), Superfecta ($102.80)
Bonus Stakes
AQU 8 BERNIETAKESCHARGE ($6.94), Trifecta ($44.64)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
Santa Anita Recap for Monday (12-29-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. Three pressers (6f, 6.5f, 6f) and one stalker (8f) captured the four main track races. On the turf course, a closing favorite won the 9f opener, stalking favorite La Ville Lumiere captured the Blue Norther at one mile, a 7-1 front runner scored at one mile, last-to-first closer Gas Me Up won the Joe Hernandez (G2) at 6.5f on the downhill course, and a 7-2 stalker graduated in the flat mile finale (rail at 20 feet).
Riding doubles for Hector Berrios (dirt), Mirco Demuro (turf), and Flavien Prat (turf routes). Michael McCarthy saddled two turf route winners and Prat rode both. George Papaprodromou saddled two winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 12-29-25
Blue Norther (8T): Latte Luv carved out the pace from the outside post but could not keep it going. Race favorite La Ville Lumiere ($5.60) saved ground tracking the pace and got up late to nip Wild Like the West by a neck. Peanutbutterbombe was rank early and rallied to finish another neck back in third. Hypergamy (4th), Total Val (5th), and Latte Luv (6th) also ran. Flavien Prat rode the winner for Michael McCarthy. Fractions: 23.66, 49.52, 1:14.17, 1:25.69, 1:37.52.
Grade 2 Joe Hernandez (6.5T hillside): Longshot pace players Schwarzmeier and Flyover ensured honest splits. El Potente had the run of the race from third but failed to quicken in a race dominated by patient runners. Gas Me Up ($28.20) went last-to-first and finished full of run to win by 1 1/4 lengths for Mirco Demuro and Peter Eurton. Sumter rallied to finish a clear second and Zio Joe was along for the show. El Potente (4th), Sorrento Sky (5th), Yellow Card (6th), Motorious (7th), Flyover (8th), Schwarzmeier (9th), and Awesome Rhythm (10th) also ran. Fractions: 20.91, 42.82, 1:04.94, 1:10.88.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $88,516 and tickets with six winners paid $47,288.60. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $277.60.
Dec. 29 Claims: Race 1 – Aleramo ($25k, Steve Sherman). Race 6 – Tessuto ($50k, Jeff Mullins), Uncle Chilly ($50k, Jeff Mullins).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Monday (12-29-25)
SA 1 ALERAMO ($3.80), Exacta ($14.80)
SA 2 BILLIE HOLIDAY ($5.40), Trifecta ($33.20)
Double (races 1-2, $9.80)
Double (races 2-3, $21.80)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $31.20)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $42.80)
SA 6 TESSUTO ($6.20)
Double (races 6-7, $99.00)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $300.60)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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