Last Week at Santa Anita Park (Dec 30-Jan 3)

Opening weekend at Santa Anita consisted of two live race days and they were in full swing last week with a 5-day schedule. Time to look back at the week that was. 

Wednesday Santa Anita Park Recap: December 30

Four wire-to-wire winners (8f, 6f, 6.5f, 8.5f) on the fast main track. Forwardly placed runners nabbed both turf races (9f, 8f). Turf firm (rail at 20 feet).

Santiago Gonzalez and Joe Talamo both booted home a pair. Steve Knapp saddled two winners.

Thursday Santa Anita Park Recap: December 31

Fast main track yielded four wire-to-wire winners on Thursday but only one on Friday (8th race – 6f). Patient runners captured both flat mile turf races. Turf firm (rail at 20 feet).

Edwin Maldonado booted home a pair.

Path of David looked good as the favorite in the Eddie Logan Stakes and the 2-3 finishers are worth following as well. Imperious One did all of the pace dirty work and ended up a fine 2nd in his second U.S. start for O’Neill. Arabian Leopard blew the break (spotted the field 5+ lengths) and flew home to finish a clear 3rd (beaten 1.5 lengths).

Friday Santa Anita Park Recap: January 1

Fast main track yielded two wire-to-wire winners (8.5f, 6f). A patient type at a flat mile, a downhill wire job, and a downhill stalker made up the three firm turf winners (rail at 30 feet).

Rafael Bejarano and Santiago Gonzalez both booted home a pair.

Saturday Santa Anita Park Recap: January 2

Stalking/pressing types best on the fast main track (no wire jobs). A patient type at a 9f, a flat mile stalker, and another 9f closer made up the three firm turf winners (rail at 10 feet).

Rafael Bejarano booted home a pair. Richard Baltas and Paddy Gallagher both saddled two winners. Alex Solis and Karen Headley teamed up for two wins.

Sunday Santa Anita Park Recap: January 3

Two sprint wire jobs (6.5f, 6f) and four stalkers made up the six winners on the fast main track. Two downhill stalkers and a flat mile wire job accounted for the three firm turf winners (rail at 10 feet).

Drayden Van Dyke and Santiago Gonzalez both booted home a pair.

Conclusion: There were nine wire job winners last week on the fast main track. The turf course was firm all week and seemed to play fair. Santiago Gonzalez had three riding doubles and Rafael Bejarano had a couple.The top three from the Eddie Logan Stakes ran well and that might turn out to be a key race.  

If you are interested in full card analysis, I am selling Santa Anita full cards each weekend at The Runaway Horse. You can check out full card recaps with highlights on our What You Missed page.

I also post free daily tickets from Santa Anita Park at Pick 6 Blog. You can also read my recaps at Pick 6 Blog. 

Photos by Stacy Edwards.