The Runaway Horse: February 2016

Friday, February 26, 2016

2016 Fountain of Youth Stakes Handicapping Video Featuring Mohaymen

My top ranked 2016 Kentucky Derby contender contender Mohaymen tries to run his record to 5-for-5 in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Feb 27.

Jarrod Horak's updated Kentucky Derby 2016 contenders list

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Last Week at Santa Anita Park (Feb 19-21)

Following a special 5-day week of live racing, Santa Anita's live action was limited to three days last week.

Flavien Prat was the jockey star with a pair of riding doubles. Main track speed was strong on Sunday.

Friday Santa Anita Park Recap: February 19

Fast main track and off the turf. Three wire-to-wire winners (6.5f, 6.5f, 8f).

Joe Talamo booted home the late double.

Saturday Santa Anita Park Recap: February 20

Fast main track and good turf course. Stalking types dominated on dirt. A 9f closer and a flat mile stalker made up the two turf winners.

Flavien Prat guided home two winners. Doug O’Neill saddled two winners.

Sunday Santa Anita Park Recap: February 21

Fast main track and good turf course. Five wire-to-wire winners on dirt (6f, 8.5f, 6.5f, 5.5f, 5.5f). A stalker and a closer (both a one mile) made up the two turf winners.

Hat trick for Santiago Gonzalez. Riding double for Flavien Prat. Two winners for trainer John Sadler.

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.

Santa Anita Park photos by Stacy Edwards.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Last Week at Santa Anita Park (Feb 11-15)

Santa Anita Park hosted a special 5-day holiday racing week ending with juvenile champ and Kentucky Derby 2016 contender Nyquist cruising in his much anticipated return on Monday, Feb 15.

Thursday Santa Anita Park Recap: February 11

Fast main track and firm turf course. Early/pressing types dominated on dirt (2 wire jobs – 7f, 6.5f). Both downhill sprints were won in wire-to-wire fashion (turf rail at 10 feet).

No riding/training doubles on Thursday.

Friday Santa Anita Park Recap: February 12

Fast main track and firm turf course. Early/pressing types dominated on dirt (5 wire jobs – 8f, 6f, 7f, 6f, 8f). The lone turf race (downhill sprint) was won in wire-to-wire fashion (turf rail at 30 feet).

Four-bagger for Santiago Gonzalez. Steve Miyadi saddled two winners.

Saturday Santa Anita Park Recap: February 13

Fast main track and firm turf course (turf rail at 10 feet). Two wire-to-wire winners at six furlongs on dirt. Stalking types captures all three turf races (8f, 6.5f, 9f).

Hat trick for Flavien Prat. Edwin Maldonado booted home a pair. Phil D’Amato saddled two winners and Maldonado rode two.

Sunday Santa Anita Park Recap: February 14

Fast main track and firm turf course. Main track was much less speed favoring (1 wire job – 8.5f). Two patient runners (6.5f, 12f) and a downhill presser made up the three turf winners.

Kent Desormeaux booted home the early double.

Monday Santa Anita Park Recap: February 15

Fast main track and firm turf course (turf rail at 20 feet). Four wire job winners on dirt (5.5f, 8.5f, 7f, 6f). Stalking types captured all three turf races (8f, 8f, 6.5f).

Tyler Baze and Rafael Bejarano both booted home a pair.

It was a very productive week at Pick6Blog.com with winning tickets on Thursday (Late Pick 4), and Saturday thru Monday (Daily Double/Early Pick 3).

Kentucky Derby 2016 prep race: G2 Risen Star Stakes featuring Airoforce (VIDEO)

The road to Kentucky Derby 2016 continues with the Grade II Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course on Saturday, February 20.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Kentucky Derby 2016 Prep Races: Southwest Stakes Video

The 2016 Southwest Stakes drew a large, competitive field, including G3 Sham winner Collected and the top three finishers from the Smarty Jones Stakes (Discreetness, Gordy Florida, Synchrony).

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Last Week at Santa Anita Park (Feb 4-7)

The main track was not as wire-to-wire friendly (7 wire jobs) and it was a good week for Rafael Bejarano and Bob Baffert.

Thursday Santa Anita Park Recap: February 4

Fast main track and good turf course (rail at 30 feet). Edge to early/pressing types on dirt (2 wire jobs – 6f, 8f). Stalkers won both turf races (9f, 6.5f).

Rafael Bejarano guided home a pair. Phil D’Amato saddled two turf winners.

Friday Santa Anita Park Recap: February 5

Fast main track and good turf course (rail at 20 feet). Edge to early/pressing types on dirt (1 wire job – 8.5f). Patient runners (9f, 8f) won the two turf routes on the card.

Riding double for Rafael Bejarano.

Saturday Santa Anita Park Recap: February 6

Fast main track and good turf course. Edge to early/pressing types on dirt (3 wire jobs – 6f, 6f, 8f). A downhill stalker, a flat mile stalker, and a patient runner at 10f won the three turf races on the card.

Edwin Maldonado booted home a pair. Bob Baffert saddled three winners including Mor Spirit in the G2 Robert Lewis Stakes.

Sunday Santa Anita Park Recap: February 7

Fast main track and good turf course. Edge to early/pressing types on dirt (1 wire job – 7f).Kobe’s Back was the only late runner to win on dirt. A flat mile stalker and two patient runners at 9f won the three turf races on the card (turf rail at 10 feet).

No riding/training doubles on Sunday.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Last Week at Santa Anita Park (Jan 28-31)

The race week began with fast, dry conditions and ended with a wet, speed favoring track (off the turf) on Sunday.

Thursday Santa Anita Park Recap: January 28

Fast main track and good turf course (turf rail at 20 feet). Early/pressing types dominated on dirt (5 wire jobs – 6.5f, 8f, 5.5f, 6f, 6f). A downhill stalker and a 9f wire job made up the two turf winners.

Riding double for Joe Talamo. Vladimir Cerin saddled two winners.

Friday Santa Anita Park Recap: January 29

Fast main track and good turf course (turf rail at 30 feet). Early/pressing types dominated again on dirt (4 wire jobs – 9f, 8f, 7f, 5.5f). A flat mile wire job and a downhill stalker made up the two turf winners.

Riding double for Flavien Prat.

Saturday Santa Anita Park Recap: January 30

Fast main track and good turf course. Early/pressing types strong again on dirt (4 wire jobs – 6f, 8.5f, 6f, 6f). A downhill stalker, a flat mile presser, another downhill stalker, and a 9f presser made up the four turf winners.

Riding doubles for Kent Desormeaux (turf stakes) and apprentice David Lopez (6f dirt sprints). Phil D’Amato saddled two dirt sprint winners including Sunday Rules in the Cal Cup Sprint.

Sunday Santa Anita Park Recap: January 31

Wet fast (sealed) main track and off the turf. Early/pressing types dominated on dirt (6 wire jobs – 8f, 8f, 8f, 6.5f, 6f, 6.5f).

Rafael Bejarano guided home three winners. Flavien Prat booted home a pair. Trainer David Jacobson saddled his first winner of the meet (Can Can Babe in the opener) and finished a close 2nd with Eighty Three in the 7th race.

Final Thoughts: Speed ruled at Santa Anita Park with 19 wire-to-wire winners on the main track. A couple of riding doubles for Flavien Prat made him the riding star of the week.