Santa Anita Recap for Friday (3-6-26)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running sprint winners on dirt (7f, 6f). On the turf course, a 2-1 stalker won the opener at 6.5f, a stalking favorite scored at 6.5f, a 3-1 midpack stalker graduated at one mile, a 2-1 stalker won at 9f, and a 12-1 stalker upset the flat mile finale (rail at 30 feet).
Antonio Fresu guided home two turf winners.
The $2 Pick 6 carryover pool was $314,292 and tickets with six winners paid $35,585.00. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $351.00.
March 6 Claims: Race 1 – Tapelo ($30k, Steve Knapp). Race 7 – Twirling Point ($50k, Blaine D. Wright). Race 8 – Pass the Baton ($16k, Librado Barocio).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (3-6-26)
SA 1 THE OLD NINE ($6.20)
SA 2 Jensco/Crazy Cami Exacta ($33.80)
Double (races 1-2, $37.60)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $196.60)
SA 4 TOMMY NORRIS ($5.80)
Double (races 3-4, $20.80)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $165.00)
Double (races 4-5, $24.60)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $100.00)
SA 6 GALLOPING GHOST ($3.80)
Double (races 5-6, $15.40)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $68.40)
SA 7 Twirling Point/City Exile ($15.80)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (3-7-26)
Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at one mile on dirt. On the turf course, a 3-1 stalker graduated in the 6f opener, a 6-1 stalker tallied at 6f, a 7-1 front runner came again to win at one mile, an even money stalker graduated at 6f, 31-1 stalker Final Boss upset the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G2) at one mile, and a 22-1 front runner captured the flat mile finale.
Juan Hernandez booted home four winners (3 graded stakes winners). Bob Baffert saddled three winners on the main track including two graded route winners and Hernandez guided home both of Baffert’s stakes winners. Mark Glatt saddled two winners. Michael McCarthy saddled two winners on turf.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 3-7-26
Grade 1 Beholder Mile (8f): Splendora ($2.20) was 10 cents on the dollar and she dominated this heat. She made the lead and widened throughout to win by 5 3/4 lengths. Bless the Broken chased from second and was 7 lengths clear of late running show finisher Om N Joy. Simply Joking and Nafisa also ran. Dazzling Move scratched. Juan Hernandez rode the winner for Bob Baffert. Fractions: 23.49, 46.77, 1:10.31, 1:22.99, 1:35.16.
Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park (8.5f dirt): It seemed like most of the entrants in this race were sprinters. Brant, making his first start since finishing third in the BC Juvenile (G1), set a pressured pace and came up empty in a disappointing try as the beaten favorite. So Happy and Secured Freedom were the second and third betting choices but they did not go on when the real running began. 67-1 outside Robusta chased from the outside post, led, and almost pulled off a massive upset, but Baffert second timer Potente ($18.20) was lurking behind the early runners, came after the leaders in the stretch, and surged late to nip Robusta by a head (89 BSF). So Happy was a clear third and Secured Freedom was best of the rest in fourth. Brant weakened to 5th and was followed by Start the Ride and Flashy Fritz. Juan Hernandez rode the winner for Bob Baffert. Fractions: 22.88, 46.62, 1:10.42, 1:36.22, 1:42.92.
Grade 2 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (8T): Longshot Final Boss ($65.40) stalked lively fractions from third and outfinished race favorite El Potente to win by a half-length. Almendares (GB) saved ground behind the speed and ran on for the show. Gas Me Up rallied mildly to finish fourth and he is better around one turn. Mi Hermano Ramon had traffic trouble and missed fourth by a nose in his first start since June 2025. Cabo Spirit, Astronomer, and fading early leader Mi Bago also ran. Juan Hernandez rode the winner for John Sadler. Fractions: 22.88, 45.95, 1:08.66, 1:21.01, 1:32.94.
Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap (10f): Midnight Mammoth set the pace from the inside post before fading out of contention. British Isles ($16.40) stalked from third from the outside post, moved up, kicked clear, and won by 4 1/2 lengths. Vodka Vodka rallied from last of 5 to land the place and Getaway Car chased the pace and was best of the rest in third. Post time favorite Just a Touch saved ground stalking the pace, swung out, and came up empty in a flat effort. Midnight Mammoth trailed. Skippylongstocking and Westwood scratched. Diego Herrera rode the winner for Richard Baltas. Fractions: 22.86, 46.63, 1:11.31, 1:36.72, 2:05.17.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $126,906 and there were no tickets with six winners or five winners. The 4 out of 6 consolation prize was $558.60. There will be a Pick 6 carryover of $67,798 when live racing resumes on Sunday, March 8.
March 7 Claims: Race 11 – Minister Shane ($20k, George L. Lopez).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Saturday (3-7-26)
SA 4 SPLENDORA ($2.20), Trifecta ($31.40)
Double (races 3-4, $25.80)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $81.40)
Double (races 4-5, $15.00)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $204.00)
SA 7 MO SASHA ($4.00)
Double (races 7-8, $36.80)
SA 10 BRITISH ISLES (SA Price Play, $16.40)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Santa Anita Recap for Sunday (3-8-26)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners at six panels on dirt. On the turf course, 5-2 stalker Counterbalance captured the China Doll at one mile, a 5-1 front runner lost the lead and battled back to prevail by a nose at 6.5f, a 3-2 front runner wired the field at 6.5f on the downhill course, and a 6-1 closer graduated in the flat mile finale (rail at 20 feet).
Riding doubles for Juan Hernandez (dirt), Emisael Jaramillo, and Kazushi Kimura (routes). Doug O’Neill saddled two winners and Jaramillo rode both.
Santa Anita Stakes Recaps for 3-8-26
China Doll (8T): Hypergamy broke on top from the outside post in this compact field. Counterbalance ($7.20) chased from second, pounced on Hypergamy, and won by 2 lengths. Hypergamy held the place by 3/4ths of a length over even money favorite Himika. Yours Sincerely (IRE) track the pace from the inside post and weakened to last of 4. Peanutbutterbombe scratched. Kazushi Kimura rode the winner for Michael McCarthy. Fractions: 23.33, 46.39, 1:09.55, 1:21.57, 1:33.74.
Grade 3 Santa Ysabel (8.5f): Race favorite Super Corredora figured to impact the pace but she threw her head at the start and was never a factor. French Blue made the running and My Love Caroline chased from second. Forced Entry stalked while out in the clear and Bank Shot chased inside. French Blue continued to show the way though six panels but her stablemate Forced Entry (7.60) turned up the heat, and the latter took the lead in the stretch and turned away Bank Shot to win by 1 3/4 lengths (82 BSF). Bank Shot was a clear second and French Blue was best of the rest in third. Piney Woods was an even fourth and Cee Drew, Super Coredora, and My Love Caroline trailed. Juan Hernandez rode the winner for Bob Baffert. Fractions: 23.34, 47.57, 1:12.18, 1:38.00, 1:44.79.
The $2 Pick 6 carryover pool was $646,000 and tickets with six winners paid $103,227.80. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $806.00
March 8 Claims: Race 1 – Blame Eve ($20k, Francisco Rodriguez).
Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Sunday (3-8-26)
SA 3 Another Zero/Christa McAuliffe/La Silensocia Trifecta ($20.60)
SA 7 Track Tiger/Sammy Davis Exacta ($6.20)
SA 8 FORCED ENTRY ($7.60)
Double (races 7-8, $16.80)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $170.40)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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