Category: Blog Posts

Santa Anita News and Notes Feb. 4

• Week six at Santa Anita was completed on Sunday and for the second consecutive week, there were no racing mishaps. Both the turf course and the main track continue to play fair and the weather continues to be good with warm days that will continue throughout the coming week. However, the horse population continues to dwindle, especially now that Oaklawn Park has opened in Arkansas with their large purse structure. Because of that the track has decided to not race the next two Thursdays and will resume racing this Friday, the 7th. The goal is to have fuller fields and better quality racing, even if it means fewer days. They will race four days the following week as the 17th is Presidents Day with the Monday holiday. Average field size so far for the meet has been 7.56 runners per race and last year at this time the field

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Kentucky Oaks 2020 Report: Silverbulletday Stakes Recap + Points Race Previews

Finite picked up ten more points to move into third place in the Kentucky Oaks 2020 points race standings. The overwhelming favorite earned her victory the hard way in the Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds on Saturday, Jan. 18. The next three Oaks points races on the docket are the Forward Gal at Gulfstream Park (Feb. 1), the Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park (Feb. 1), and the Busanda at Aqueduct on Feb. 2. Tonalist’s Shape is the overwhelming 1-2 favorite in the Forward Gal at seven panels and she drew perfectly outside. Taraz is the strong even money chalk in the Martha Washington, and she might jump on the Kentucky Derby 2020 trail if she wins impressively. Finally, the Busanda attracted seven fillies and Persisto looks like the one to catch. Kentucky Oaks 2020 Points Race Recaps Silverbulletday Stakes Recap (1-18-20) – Winner: Finite ($3.20) Finite worked hard throughout in

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Santa Anita Park Report (January 24-26)

Santa Anita Recap for Friday (1-24-20) Fast main track and firm turf course. One dueling front running winner at six furlongs on dirt. The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at one mile, a patient runner at one mile, and a front runner at one mile (rail at 30 feet). Riding double for Eswan Flores. Training double for Hector Palma. The Rainbow 6 pool was $158,860 and one winning jackpot ticket paid $721,789.40. Jan. 24 Claims: Race 6 – Toothless Wonder ($16k, Steve Miyadi). Race 7 – Murad Khan ($50k, Doug O’Neill). ———– Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (1-25-20) Fast main track and firm turf course. Four front running winners on dirt (6f, 6.5f, 8f, 6f). The winning turf course running styles were a front runner at 5.5 furlongs, a stalker at one mile, a two last-to-first closers at a mile and an eighth (rail at 10 feet).

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Santa Anita Horses To Watch Jan 27

VEGAS PALM (January 24): Five year old mare for Gary Mandella, who is still a maiden at five, was in Friday’s opener at a mile on the grass for older special weights. Off at 4/1 in a field of 7, she broke OK under Prat and settled in 4th down the back side, four lengths off the leaders. Prat kept her on the fence turning for home and she was loaded at the top of the lane, but couldn’t find a seam to get through. She checked twice trying to get out, finally dove to the rail, and then got bogged down on the poorer side of the course. She finished third beaten a length and a half and may have been best. Although still a maiden at age five, she has had just five trips to the post, and this daughter of the good sire Violence is good enough

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Santa Anita News and Notes Jan 27

• Week five at Santa Anita went along without incident for their three day stint as both the main track and the turf course played fair for the most part. However, on Friday the outside lanes were the place to be on the main track as four of the five winners rallied wide, well out in the middle of the racing surface. It also triggered a $71 winner in the finale as a first time starter from the Hector Palma barn went from last to first and provided a single ticket winner in the pick six that paid out at $784,772 for the 20 cent wager. The winning ticket was purchased in Brazil of all places, and cost $4500, which gives you a lot of action for a 20 cent wager. It was quickly pointed out by one of our customers, John Melting in Sacramento, that the $71 winner could

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Santa Anita Park Report (Jan. 17-20)

Santa Anita Recap for Friday (1-17-20) Fast main track and good turf course. Three front running winners on dirt (8f, 6f, 7f). The winning turf course running styles were a closer at 5.5 furlongs, a stalker at one mile, and a front runner at 5.5 furlongs (rail at 30 feet). Riding double for Jorge Velez. The Rainbow 6 pool was $93,398 and multiple winning tickets paid $2,771.60 each. There will be a jackpot carryover of $453,423 when live racing resumes on Saturday, Jan. 18. Jan. 17 Claims: Race 5 – Commander ($40k, Peter Miller). Race 6 – Rattle ($12.5k, Jorge Periban).   ———– Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (1-18-20) Fast main track and good turf course. Three front running sprint winners on dirt (6f, 6f, 6.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a closer at a mile and an eighth, a front runner at 5.5 furlongs, a front runner

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Santa Anita Horses To Watch Jan 21

ODYSSEUS (January 17): Four year old colt for Richard Mandella finally made her debut on Friday in a maiden special weight at five and a half on the turf for older runners. Off at 9/1 in field of 8, he broke running under the bug boy Velez, but then settled in well off the pace. He was six back at the ¼ pole, then put in a good run at the top of the lane, angled out in the middle of the course, and stormed home to win going away by a length and a half. This son of Candy Ride, bred by Hall of Famer Ron McAnally, obviously had some issues getting to the races, but he’s a runner, and will only get better as the furlongs increase. He paid $21.20 as a Turfdom Best Bet. Up the ladder. JET SET RULER (January 18): Five year old gelding for

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Santa Anita News and Notes Jan 21

• Week four at Santa Anita Park had a great day of racing on Saturday for Cal Cup Day, but unfortunately three horses died this past week to take some of the luster off the proceedings. Two were pulled up on the turf course on Friday and Saturday and had to be euthanized due to injuries, while the other was somewhat of a fluke with a head on collision during training, much like what was experienced at Del Mar this past summer. That brings the total to five for the meet but none have been on the main track during racing, where Santa Anita took such a hit last winter. The main track is as safe as any in the country but injuries are going to happen. It’s the nature of the game and it always has been. It’s just sensationalized so much more today with social media and the

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Kentucky Derby 2020 Blog: Lecomte Stakes Preview

The Kentucky Derby 2020 trail is off and running! Independence Hall started off the year with an easy score in the Jerome Stakes, and Authentic ran away with the Sham Stakes a few days later. The Fair Grounds road to the Derby begins with the Lecomte Stakes (G3) Jan. 18, and Scabbard is the tepid morning line favorite. Lecomte Stakes (G3) Preview from Fair Grounds (1-18-20) Scabbard is the favorite and he should not have any excuses. The class of the field reunites with his winning rider Corey Lanerie and earned the top TRD numbers in the G3 Iroquois Stakes. He drew a favorable post position and should get pace to chase. Look for him to strike from midpack. Steve Asmussen entered three runners (Excession, Halo Again, Silver State), and the latter might be the most dangerous of the three. The $450k son of Hard Spun ran well in both

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Santa Anita Park Report (Jan. 10-12)

Santa Anita Recap for Friday (1-10-20) Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running winners at six and one-half furlongs on dirt. The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at 5.5 furlongs, a last-to-first closer in a 5-horse field at 5.5 furlongs, and another last-to-first closer at 5.5 furlongs (rail at 30 feet). Riding doubles for Flavien Prat and Joel Rosario. The Rainbow 6 pool was $116,997 and multiple winning tickets paid $525.04 each. There will be a jackpot carryover of $319,307 when live racing resumes on Saturday, Jan. 11. Jan. 10 Claims: Race 2 – Busy Paynter ($16k, Bob Hess Jr.), Cimarron ($16k, Dean Pederson). Race 4 – Palace Prince ($50k, Bill Spawr). Race 6 – Classy Atlantic ($32k, Vladimir Cerin). Race 7 – Oiseau de Guerre ($62.5k, Doug O’Neill). ———– Santa Anita Recap for Saturday (1-11-20) Fast main track and firm turf course. No

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