Santa Anita Recap for Friday (9-26-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at one mile on dirt. On the turf course, a stalking first timer graduated as the favorite in the 6f opener, a front running favorite graduated at 6f, a 2-1 stalker graduated at one mile, a stalking favorite won at 6f, and a 2-1 stalker earned her diploma at one mile (rail at 30 feet).
Hat trick for Hector Berrios (3 turf wins – 2 turf sprint wins).
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $52,299 and there were no tickets with six winners. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $581.00. There will be a Pick 6 carryover of $28,475 when live racing resumes on Sept. 27.
Sept. 26 Claims: Race 4 – Kitten in Charge ($10k, Charles Treece), Seager Man ($10k, Blaine Wright). Race 6 – Dramaticattraction ($50k, Brian Koriner). Race 7 – Lady Gregory ($20k, Steve Knapp). Race 8 – Mystic Flyer ($10k, Librado Barocio).
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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (9-27-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at 6f on dirt. On the turf course, a closer won at 9f, a 12-1 stalker graduated in the 6f opener, stalking favorite Johannes won the City of Hope Mile (G2), 3-2 closer Gold Phoenix (IRE) won the John Henry Turf (G2) at 10f, 5-1 closer Reef Runner got up late in the Eddie D (G2) at 6.5f on the downhill course, and 12-1 closer Innovative scored in the John C. Harris (G2) at 6.5f the hillside course.
Hat trick for Umberto Rispoli (2 graded turf route stakes wins). Riding double for Juan Hernandez (sprints). Bob Baffert (dirt) and Phil D’Amato (graded turf stakes) both saddled two winners.
Grade 2 City of Hope Mile (8T): Johannes ($2.40) looked good as the strong favorite. He tracked the pace under Umberto Rispoli, and he eased out and ran down Cabo Spirit to win by a length and a quarter. Cabo Spirit stalked outside, led, and held the place by a head over closer Almendares (GB). Zio Jo, Scooby Quando, and Final Boss also ran. Tim Yakteen saddled the winner and the BC Mile is next. Fractions: 22.70, 47.47, 1:11.60, 1:22.94, 1:34.13.
Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship (10T): This was a tale of two closing trips. Gold Phoenix (IRE) was steered inside from the outside post under Umberto Rispoli. That inner trip made all the difference because his main rival Stay Hot was closing widest of all under Mike Smith. Gold Phoenix ($5) rallied to win by a length and a quarter over Stay Hot. Spycatcher was third and Mondego (GB), Balladeer, Dicey Mo Chara, and Rastaman Vibe also ran. Phil D’Amato saddled the winner and the BC Turf is next. Fractions: 23.47, 46.60, 1:10.93, 1:35.42, 1:58.74.
Grade 2 Eddie D (6.5T hillside): This was a highly competitive race on paper and it played out that way in real time. Reef Runner ($13) settled from the inside post and rallied in the stretch and ran down Yellow Card to score by a half-length under Armando Ayuso. Yellow Card stalked, led, and was clearly second best. Sorrento Sky (IRE) rallied for the show and was followed by Mucho Del Oro, Nesso’s Lasthurrah, Beyond Brilliant, First Peace, and Kale’s Angel. David Fawkes saddled the winner and the BC Turf Sprint is next. Fractions: 21.74, 44.03, 1:05.75.
Grade 1 Goodwood (9f dirt): Full Serrano (ARG) was bet down and he made the lead from the outside post under Juan Hernandez. Privman, one of two runners for Bob Baffert, pressed the pace from second, and Nevada Beach ($19) got the run of the race under Mike Smith and outran Full Serrano in the stretch and won by a length and a half. Full Serrano was clearly second best and Privman was best of the rest in third. First Mission was a flat fourth at 2-1 odds and Ultimate Gamble and Express Train also ran. Gaming scratched. Bob Baffert saddled the winner and the BC Classic might be next. Full Serrano won the BC Dirt Mile last year and figures to target that race again. Fractions: 23.58, 47.86, 1:11.63, 1:36.12, 1:48.43.
Grade 3 John C. Harris (6.5T hillside): Just like the Eddie D, this downhill sprint was wide open. Lee’s Baby Girl set the pace and almost stole the candy at 26-1, but Innovative ($27.40) ran her down to prevail by a neck under Ricky Gonzalez. Lee’s Baby Girl held the place by a half-length over my top choice Warming. The latter broke 12th from the inside post and rallied for the show in a good effort. Favor to You, beaten favorite Casalu, Eiffel, Practical Dream, Miso Phansy, Schiliflied, Wink and a Grin, A Thousand Miles, Donttelloutwives rounded out the order of finish. Phil D’Amato saddled the winner. Fractions: 22.23, 44.37, 1:06.77, 1:12.98.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $246,261 and tickets with six winners paid $14,548.80. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $146.80.
Sept. 27 Claims: Race 2 – Ghost of Midnight ($50k, Sean Williams).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (9-27-25)
SA 2 Ghost of Midnight/Berlin Wall/Lawless World Trifecta ($214.80)
SA 3 CASHED ($2.80), Trifecta ($13.00)
Double (races 2-3, $7.60)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $138.40)
SA 4 JOHANNES ($2.40), Exacta ($12.60), Trifecta ($25.20)
Double (races 3-4, $3.80)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $11.60)
SA 5 PROVENANCE ($2.80)
Double (races 4-5, $4.20)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $6.10)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $29.20)
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5, $472.80)
Double (races 5-6, $ 8.00)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $8.00)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $31.80)
Middle Pick 4 (races 4-7, $55.20)
AQU 5 REBEL’S ROMANCE ($3.28), Trifecta ($28.88)
AQU 6 LOCKED ($4.46)
AQU 9 PATRIOT SPIRIT ($7.22), Exacta ($22.48), Trifecta ($60.00)
LRL 9 Proton/Jutland Exacta ($9.80)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (9-28-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. On the turf course, a midpack stalking favorite graduated in the flat mile opener, a 7-1 front runner tallied at 6f, a pressing favorite graduated at 6f, an 8-1 front runner won at one mile, and a 5-2 stalker captured the flat mile finale (rail at 10 feet).
Juan Hernandez guided home four winners (2 turf wins – 2 graded wins on dirt). Armando Ayuso booted home the early double. Bob Baffert saddled two graded winners on the main track and Hernandez rode both. Phil D’Amato saddled two route winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 9-28-25
Grade 2 Zenytta (8.5f dirt): Cavalieri was the strong favorite making her first start in more than half a year, and she hopped at the start and was away last of 5. Her stablemate Richi (CHI) took advantage and made the running through moderate splits. Juan Hernandez aboard Cavalieri did not panic and got his charge back into the race and sitting in third behind Richi and Howin. Cavalieri quickly moved up to second and was within a length of the lead after a half-mile. The favorite inched closer around the final turn and struck the front in the stretch and edged away to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Richi was clearly second best and Howin was a clear third. Sugar Fish and La Kika (PER) also ran. Bob Baffert saddled the top three finishers and the winner paid $3.40 and might go next in the BC Distaff. Richi might target the BC Filly & Mare Sprint. Fractions: 23.67, 48.00, 1:11.60, 1:36.34, 1:42.64.
Grade 2 SA Sprint Championship (6f dirt): It was a big day for Juan Hernandez and Bob Baffert. First they struck with Cavalieri, and in this Win & You’re In for the BC Sprint, they had Imagination and he came through with a big effort in his first start since January 2025. Imagination ($13.20) was wide throughout from the outside post and rallied while lugging in, and he finished full of run to win this race by 1 3/4 lengths. Dr. Venkman stalked from the inside post and finished a half-length in front of beaten favorite Straight No Chaser for runner-up honors. Smooth Cruise, Awesome Rhythm, Wound Up, Mbagnick (CHI), and Speed Boat Beach also ran. Fractions: 22.02, 44.71, 56.71, 1:09.00.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $112,561 and tickets with six winners paid $3,340.40. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $69.40.
Sept. 28 Claims: Race 5 – Approval Rating ($25k, Jeff Mullins), Sei Bella ($25k, Jorge Periban).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (9-28-25)
SA 3 OLE SILVER ($3.40)
Double (races 2-3, $19.80)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $93.60)
SA 9 IMAGINATION ($13.20), Exacta ($31.40)
$5 Late Double (races 9-10, $81.00)
BAQ 8 SALAMIS ($6.32), Trifecta ($138.28)
RP 9 SO THERE SHE WAS ($9.00), Exacta ($16.60), Trifecta ($42.80)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
Please visit The Runaway Horse Shop to purchase my Santa Anita Park full cards.
