Last Week at Santa Anita Park (March 17-20)

A rough way to end the racing week for jockey Santiago Gonzalez. After booting home two winners on Friday, he suffered a fractured jaw when his mount Follini (uninjured) clipped heels and fell in the fifth race on Sunday. He is expected to be out for six weeks. Edwin Maldonado had a riding hat trick on Sunday and leading rider Rafael Bejarano and Joe Talamo both had two riding doubles last week. 

Thurs­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: March 17

Fast main track and good turf course (turf rail at 30 feet). Three wire-to-wire winners on dirt (8f, 8f, 6.5f). The three turf races were captured by a patient runner at a flat mile and two downhill stalkers.

Joe Talamo booted home a pair.

Fri­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: March 18

Fast main track and firm turf course (turf rail at 20 feet). Three wire-to-wire winners on dirt (5.5f, 7f, 5.5f). The three turf races were captured by a stalker (8f) and two closers (8f, 6.5f).

Santiago Gonzalez and Joe Talamo both booted home a pair.

Satur­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: March 19

Fast main track and firm turf course. Only one wire-to-wire winner on dirt (6.5f). The four turf races were captured by a downhill stalker, a flat mile closer, a downhill closer, and a 9f wire-to-wire winner.

Rafael Bejarano (2 dirt routes), Flavien Prat (2 downhill turf wins), and Fernando Perez each booted home a pair. Doug O’Neill saddled two turf winners including Smoove It in the Irish O’Brien.

Sun­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: March 20

Fast main track and firm turf course. Three wire-to-wire winners on dirt (5f, 6f, 6f). The three turf races were captured by a downhill frontrunner, a flat mile stalker, a downhill closer, and a wire-to-wire winner at one mile (rail at 20 feet).

Hat trick for Edwin Maldonado. Two more wins for leading rider Rafael Bejarano. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer saddled two winners.

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.