Santa Anita Recap for Thursday (1-8-26)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. On the turf course, a 13-1 front runner graduated in the 8f opener, pressing favorite Stark Contrast won the Eddie Logan at 8f, an even money favorite stalked and scored at 6f, 7-2 stalker Paradise Lake captured the Robert Frankel (G3) at 9f, and a closing favorite earned his diploma in the flat mile finale (rail at 30 feet).
Juan Hernandez and Kazushi Kimura both booted home a pair.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 1-8-26
Eddie Logan (8T): Caro Buono and Plutarch scratched and five horses broke from the gate. Brigante set the pace from the inside post and strong favorite Stark Contrast ($2.60) pressed from second and won by 2 1/4 lengths. Brigante was second best and Unrivaled Time ran on to finish a clear third. Iriseach (IRE) and Third Beer also ran. Kazushi Kimura rode the popular winner for Michael McCarthy. Fractions: 24.42, 49.03, 1:12.28, 1:23.60, 1:35.38.
Grade 3 Robert Frankel (9T): Starry Night, a 28-1 longshot, made the lead and was up a length over Paradise Lake. Those two battled from start to finish and Paradise Lake ($9) prevailed by a nose. Starry Night ran too good to lose for Ricky Gonzalez and Jonathan Thomas, and Watchtower stalked the pace and finished a solid third at 7-1 odds. Hannah Buckle (4th), Public Assembly (5th), Willa T (6th), Sun of Hill (7th), and Ima Joker (8th) rounded out the order of finish. Juan Hernandez guided home the winner for Peter Eurton. Fractions: 25.46, 50.93, 1:15.72, 1:38.83, 1:50.72.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $44,321 and tickets with six winners paid $11,839.00. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $151.40.
Jan. 8 Claims: Race 2 – Maniatic ($16k, Manuel Badilla), Resemblance ($16k, Doug O’Neill). Race 8 – Katonah ($50k, Librado Barroco).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Thursday (1-8-26)
SA 2 RESEMBLANCE ($19.20)
SA 3 STARK CONTRAST ($2.60)
Double (races 2-3, $40.60)
SA 4 FRENCH BLUE ($3.20)
Double (races 3-4, $5.20)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $66.80)
SA 5 GRATEFULLY ($4.00)
Double (races 4-5, $6.80)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $11.80)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $169.40)
SA 7 PARADISE LAKE ($9.00)
Double (races 7-8, $185.40)
SA 9 SWEET ODYSSEY ($5.60), Exacta ($20), Trifecta ($72.00)
$5 Late Double (races 8-9, $354.00)
$3 Late Pick 3 (races 7-9, $840.90)
$3 Turf Pick 3 (races 5, 7, 9) – $118.20
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
—————
Santa Anita Recap for Friday (1-9-26)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Four front running winners on a speed favoring dirt oval (8f, 8f, 5.5f, 8f). On the turf course, a 5-1 last-to-first closer won at 6f, a 2-1 stalker won at 6f, a stalking favorite scored at one mile, a 7-2 closer tallied at one mile, and a stalking favorite captured the 6f finale (rail at 20 feet).
Hat trick for Emisael Jaramillo (2 turf wins). Route riding double for Kazushi Kimura. Trainer Doug O’Neill saddled four winners and Jaramillo rode three.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $50,387 and tickets with six winners paid $26,918.80. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $268.20.
Jan. 9 Claims: Race 1 – Gemadini ($20k, Brian Koriner). Race 8 – Tribal ($25k, Doug O’Neill). Race 10 – Gypsy Women ($25k, Mark Glatt), Lovin’ On the Run ($25k, Isidro Tamayo), Oveta’s Hobby ($25k, O. J. Jauregui).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (1-9-26)
SA 1 GEMADINI ($3.80), Exacta ($22.80)
Double (races 1-2, $37.40)
SA 5 MARCOS PERFORMANCE ($12.40), Exacta ($19.20)
Double (races 4-5, $42.80)
SA 6 KOKOSAN (SA Best Bet #1, $3.60), Trifecta ($47.00)
Double (races 5-6, $30.00)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $73.20)
Double (races 6-7, $29.40)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $190.00)
Middle Pick 4 (races 4-7, $517.00)
SA 8 Empire’s Classic/Tribal Exacta ($23.80)
SA 9 NAFISA (SA Best Bet #2, $6.80), Trifecta ($221.00)
Double (races 8-9, $55.60)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $270.20)
$5 Late Double (races 9-10, $69.50)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
—————
Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (1-10-26)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (8f, 6f). On the turf course, a 5-2 stalker graduated at 6f, a front running first timer won as the favorite at 6f, a 7-2 stalker tallied at 6f, a stalking favorite scored at one mile, and a stalking favorite won the flat mile finale.
Riding doubles for Hector Berrios (routes), Kyle Frey (turf), Juan Hernandez (sprints), and Abel Lezcano (dirt sprints). Mark Glatt saddled two dirt sprint winners. George Papaprodromou saddled two turf winners and Frey rode both.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 1-10-26
Grade 3 Santa Ynez (7f): Bottle of Rouge scratched and that development left a 4-horse field. La Wally and Himika battled early and Revera and strong favorite Explora followed those two. Explora ($2.10) took some time to find her best stride and when she did she kicked away from this crew and won by 5 1/4 lengths at a distance shorter than her best. La Wally was second best and Revera and Himika completed the compact field. Juan Hernandez rode the winner for Bob Baffert. Fractions: 22.30, 44.21, 1:09.27, 1:22.05.
Grade 2 San Vicente (7f): Acknowledgemeplz was pressed early and he got clear around the turn and heading form home. It briefly looked like he would go all the way but So Happy ($7.80) stalked and pounced under Mike Smith and he moved away late to win by 2 lengths over race favorite Buetane. The latter was clearly second best in his first start since finishing second in the G1 Hopeful on Sept. 1. Acknowledgemeplz got weary late and was best of the rest in third. Thirsty Rebel and Greenwich Village also ran. Mark Glatt saddled the winner and he figures to stretch out and jump on the Derby trail. Fractions: 22.03, 43.56, 1:08.41, 1:21.12.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $99,061 and tickets with six winners paid $4,410.00. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $92.80.
Jan. 10 Claims: Race 7 – Handsome Ticket ($10k, Francisco Rodriguez), No More Ding Dongs ($10k, Charles Treece). Race 8 – Russells Hustle ($25k, Mark Glatt). Race 9 – Rousing Jewel ($10k, Steve Knapp).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (1-10-26)
SA 1 EXPRESSIVE LOVE ($6.60), Trifecta ($74.40)
SA 3 EXPLORA ($2.10)
SA 4 DARK OMEN ($5.80), Exacta ($17.00)
Double (races 3-4, $9.20)
Double (races 4-5, $36.60)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $55.20)
SA 6 LADY RIDER (SA Price Play, $9.40)
Double (races 5-6, $29.00)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $183.00)
SA 7 Handsome Ticket/No More Ding Dongs Exacta ($6.20), Trifecta ($30.60)
Double (races 6-7, $13.20)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $97.60)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $97.60)
Bonus Stakes:
GP 10 Lightning Tones/Lure Him In Exacta ($14.00)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
—————
Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (1-11-26)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. On the turf course, a 6-1 closer graduated in the 6f opener, a stalking favorite won at 6f, a 9-2 closer scored at one mile, stalking favorite Queen Maxima captured the Las Cienegas (G3) at 6.5f on the downhill course, and a 5-2 closer earned her diploma in the 6f finale (rail at 20 feet).
Four wins for Umberto Rispoli (3 turf wins). Phil D’Amato saddled three winners (2 turf winners) and Rispoli guided home the two turf winners. Mark Glatt saddled two winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 1-11-26
Grade 3 Las Flores (6f dirt): Thermal grabbed a short lead in the early going and No Bad Beats chased from second. Margarita Girl ($10.40) worked out a nice inner stalking trip and she eased out and edged clear to win by 1 3/4 lengths over No Bad Beats. Ooty (ARG) broke slow from the inside post and rallied from last of 6 to finish a clear third. Thermal weakened to fourth and was followed by beaten favorite Magnificat and 43-1 outsider Donttelloutwives. Ricky Gonzalez rode the winner for Mark Glatt. Fractions: 21.74, 44.11, 56.49, 1:09.19.
Grade 3 Las Cienegas (6.5f downhill turf): Princess Moche (PER) set the pace as expected and Queen Maxima ($2.80) chased from the inside post and edged past the pacesetter to win by a measured half-length. Princess Moche found hard from the outset and was second best, and Spicybug stalked from third and stayed there throughout. Egyptian Mau (SAF) rallied mildly for fourth and Nay V Belle (5th), Rosie Jeeks (6th), Omnipontet (7th), Miss Lizzy (8th), and Antifona (9th) also ran. Juan Hernandez rode the winner for Jeff Mullins. Fractions: 22.10, 44.15, 1:05.88, 1:11.69.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $108,733 and tickets with six winners paid $29,042.60. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $408.00.
Jan. 15 Claims: Race 2 – Mighty Kai ($10k, Doug O’Neill), Mischiefs Causeway ($10k, Daniel Azcarate).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (1-11-26)
SA 1 Apple Pie/Tiger of the Sea Exacta ($53.60)
SA 3 BALLYHOOLIGAN ($6.20)
Double (races 3-4, $13.80)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $107.20)
SA 6 WATSONVILLE ($11.40)
Double (races 5-6, $48.40)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $217.60)
SA 8 QUEEN MAXIMA ($2.80), Exacta ($15.80), Superfecta ($190.00)
SA 10 STRUCK BY HER ($7.20), Exacta ($22.40)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
Please visit The Runaway Horse Shop to purchase my Santa Anita Park full cards.
