Santa Anita Recap for Friday (3-20-26)
Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at 5.5f on dirt. On the turf course, a 2-1 stalker graduated in the 6f opener, a 7-2 front runner earned his diploma at one mile, and a 4-1 front runner tallied at 6f (rail at 30 feet).
Riding doubles for Armando Ayuso (dirt) and Antonio Fresu (turf sprints).
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $49,315 and tickets with six winners paid $3,293.20. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $62.80.
March 20 Claims: Race 7 – Known idea ($20k, George Papaprodromou), One Smokin Dude ($20k, Librado Barocio).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (3-20-26)
SA 1 Rethink/Ou La La/Prestige Fungson Trifecta (SA Best Bet, $107.80)
SA 3 Call Me Cory/Let’s Be Frank Exacta ($23.80), Trifecta ($59.40)
SA 7 UNCLE CHILLY ($5.00)
Double (races 6-7, $22.60)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $83.40)
$5 Late Double (races 7-8, $93.00)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (3-21-26)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running winners on dirt (8f, 6f, 6f). On the turf course, a closing favorite graduated in the 9f opener, a 3-1 front runner scored at one mile, strong favorite Grand Slam Smile wired the field from the inside post as the favorite in the Irish O’Brien at 6.5f on the downhill course, and 3-1 closer Gold Phoenix won the San Luis Rey (G3) at a mile and a half.
Riding doubles for Antonio Fresu and Tiago Pereira (routes). Phil D’Amato saddled two turf route winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 3-21-26
Irish O’Brien (6.5T hillside): Two runners were declared non-starters (Prancingthruparis, Miss Practical). The former popped the gate and had an unfair advantage, and the latter was not awarded a fair start. Grand Slam Smile ($2.20) made short work of this group from the inside post. She wired the field by 2 1/4 lengths under William Antongeorgi. Take Another Card was second best. Prancingthruparis (non-starter) crossed the line in third and Young Love was another nose back in fourth. Sean McCarthy saddled the popular winner. Fractions: 22.10, 44.29, 1:06.95, 1:12.91.
Grade 3 San Luis Rey (12T): Gold Phoenix ($8.40) worked out a good trip behind the speed and finished up nicely in the lane to score by 3/4ths of a length. Flashiest made the running from the inside post and held the place in a good effort. Mondego made a bid before ultimately settling for the show, and beaten favorite Truly Quality ran in spots and split the 8-horse field. Balnikhov (5th), Living Life (6th), City Exile (7th), and Watsonville (8th) also ran. Hector Berrios rode the winner for Phil D’Amato. Fractions: 24.84, 49.56, 1:14.61, 1:39.95, 2:03.85, 2:26.29.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $91,446 and tickets with six winners paid $2,791.60. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $29.00.
March 21 Claims: None.
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (3-21-26)
SA 3 COACH CRONIN ($2.80)
Double (races 2-3, $8.40)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $15.00)
SA 4 Map Me Sexy/Texas Wildcat Exacta ($10.40), Trifecta ($15.40)
Double (races 3-4, $6.60)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $20.20)
SA 5 Thirsty Trickster/She’s Splendid Exacta ($21.20), Trifecta ($36.00)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $30.00)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $80.00)
SA 7 GRAND SLAM SMILE ($2.20)
Double (races 7-8, $6.40)
Bonus Races:
FG 9 Touchuponastar/Corporate Power/Life and Times Trifecta ($50.40)
FG 11 Life of Joy/Bella Ballerina Exacta ($22.80)
FG 12 EMERGING MARKET ($6.00)
TP 12 FULLEFORT ($5.82)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (3-22-26)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. On the turf course, a front running favorite graduated in the 8f opener, Flyover wired the field from the inside post at 6-1 odds in the Sensational Star at 6.5f on the downhill course, a midpack stalking favorite won at 6.5f, a 10-1 stalking first timer earned his diploma from post 10 at 6f, and a 14-1 closing first timer graduated in the flat mile finale (rail at 10 feet).
Riding doubles for Armando Ayuso, Hector Berrios (turf), and Tiago Pereira (dirt). Steve Knapp saddled two dirt sprint winners.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 3-22-26
Sensational Star (CA-bred, 6.5T hillside): Flyover ($12.40) sped to the front from the inside post and was on cruise control throughout. He won by 3 1/4 lengths under Antonio Fresu. On the Whim rallied from last to edge beaten favorite Man O Rose for the place. Drop Up and Speedy Wilson also ran. John Sadler saddled the winner. Fractions: 21.92, 43.45, 1:05.65, 1:12.12.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $110,192 and there were no tickets with six winners. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $1,201.40. There will be a Pick 6 carryover of $58,869 when lie racing resumes on Friday, March 27.
March 22 Claims: Race 2 – Union Heiress ($10k, Craig Dollase). Race 6 – Uncle Evco ($16k, Carla Gaines). Race 7 – Maximon ($50k, Peter Eurton). Race 8 – Alpine Thunder ($5k, Jose Hernandez, Jr.), Golden River ($5k, Andreas Psarras), The Big Cheeseola ($5k, Jorge Farias).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (3-22-26)
SA 1 Just a Graze/Benny’s Puzzle/Danzing Wild Cat Trifecta (SA Price Play, $61.80)
SA 5 O K ROSE ($8.20)
Double (races 4-5, $76.00)
SA 6 UNCLE EVCO (SA Best Bet, $4.60)
Double (races 5-6, $25.20)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $213.00)
Double (races 6-7, $32.20)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $292.80)
SA 8 THE BIG CHEESEOLA ($6.40), Exacta ($13.60)
Double (races 7-8, $97.40)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $137.80)
SA 9 Run With Liberty/Maggles McGee Exacta ($84.00)
$5 Late Double (races 8-9, $303.00)
Late Pick 4 (races 6-9, $1,641.80)
Bonus Races:
GP 8 LENNILU ($2.80)
GP 9 Poulin in O T/Sousa Summer Exacta ($42.60)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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