Santa Anita Park Handicapping Report (April 17-19)

Santa Anita Recap for Friday (4-17-26)

Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running winners on dirt (8f, 6.5f, 8f). On the turf course, a closing favorite graduated in the flat mile opener, a 4-1 shot closed from last of 5 to win at 6f, a 6-1 stalker tallied from the inside post at 6f, a 9-2 stalker scored from the inside post at 6.5f, and a 6-1 stalker won the 6.5f finale (rail at 30 feet).

Armando Ayuso guided home a pair of turf sprint winners. Peter Miller saddled two winners.

The $2 Pick 6 pool was $83,734 and there were no tickets with six winners. The 5 out of 6 consolation prize was $2,738.80. There will be a Pick 6 carryover of $44,734 when live racing resumes on Saturday, April 18.

April 17 Claims: Race 3 – Cyprus Moon ($30k, Leonard Powell). Race 4 – Joey Ten ($20k, Bill McLean). Race 5 – Long Mayshe Reign ($25k, George Papaprodromou), Oveta’s Hobby ($25k, Sergio Morfin), Shangrilama ($25k, Peter Miller). Race 8 – Mighty Kai ($8k, Doug O’Neill). Race 9 – Tom Seaver ($20k, Andy Mathis).

Santa Anita Full Card Highlights for Friday (4-17-26)
SA 2 BLAME IT ON JACK ($3.80)
Double (races 1-2, $8.40)
Double (races 2-3, $38.00)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $66.60)
SA 4 SOI NGERN ($4.80), Exacta ($17.40), Trifecta ($54.60)
Double (races 3-4, $17.40)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $56.20)
Double (races 4-5, $44.40)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $165.20)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $447.20)
SA 8 MIGHTY KAI ($4.40), Exacta ($9.60)
Bonus Stakes:
AQU 7 And One More Time/Oversubscribed Exacta ($15.80)
KEE 9 ALPINE PRINCESS ($6.10)

*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.

Read more at The Runaway Horse

Road to Kentucky Oaks Report (1-12-26)

The Grade 3 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita Park was the latest Kentucky Oaks prep race and Explora cruised to a big win from off the pace as the favorite. A dozen Oaks points races have been run so far, and in this report, I will recap the Santa Ynez Stakes, update the points standings, and share my top five Oaks fillies.

I cover all of the Kentucky Oaks points race on my video channel and through the first 12 points races, my top choices have 5 wins, 3 runner-up finishes, and 3 show finishes. The next Oaks points race is the Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds on Jan. 17.

Kentucky Oaks 2026 Points Race Recaps

Grade 3 Santa Ynez at Santa Anita (1-10-26): Bottle of Rouge scratched and that development left a 4-horse field. La Wally and Himika battled early and Revera and strong favorite Explora followed those two. Explora ($2.10) took some time to find her best stride and when she did she kicked away from this crew and won by 5 1/4 lengths at a distance shorter than her best. La Wally was second best and Revera and Himika completed the compact field. Juan Hernandez rode the winner for Bob Baffert. Fractions: 22.30, 44.21, 1:09.27, 1:22.05.  

Read more at The Runaway Horse

Starlet Stakes 2025 Video Picks at Los Alamitos Race Course

In this horse racing video, I analyze the Grade 2 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course (12-6-25).  

Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.

Sorrento Stakes 2025 Video Analysis at Del Mar

In this horse racing video, I analyze the Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar (8-10-25). 

Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.   

Southwest Stakes 2025 Video Picks at Oaklawn

In this horse racing video, I analyze the Grade 3, $1 million Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn (1-25-25).  

Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.     

Golden Gate Fields Recap (April 29-May 1)

I wrapped up my coverage of Golden Gate at Pick 6 blog last week, but since the Golden 6 carryover keeps on trucking, I will be including suggested tickets at The Runaway Horse. 

Friday Golden Gate Fields Recap: April 29

Fast Tapeta surface and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire sprint winners on the all-weather main track (5.5f, 5f). The four turf races were captured by a 5f front runner, a flat mile front runner, a patient runner at one mile, and a 9f stalker (rail at 20 feet).

Hat trick for Juan Hernandez.

Sunday Golden Gate Fields Recap: April 30

Fast Tapeta surface and firm turf course. No wire-to-wire winners on the all-weather main track. The three turf races were captured by a patient runner at 9f, a 9f stalker, and a flat mile stalker.

Riding double for Juan Hernandez.

Sunday Golden Gate Fields Recap: May 1

Fast Tapeta surface and firm turf course. Only one wire-to-wire winner on the all-weather main track (4.5f). The four turf races were captured by two patient runners at 8.5f, a flat mile stalker, and a flat mile closer.

Riding doubles for Alejandro Gomez and Juan Hernandez.

If you are interested in full card analysis, I am selling Triple Crown full cards this spring 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 Golden Gate Fields at Pick 6 Blog. You can also read my recaps at Pick 6 Blog.  

Golden Gate Fields Recap (April 21-24)

Two weeks down, one to go as my coverage will switch from Golden Gate to Santa Anita on May 5. Good week for jockey Ricardo Gonzalez.  

Thursday Golden Gate Fields Recap: April 21

Fast Tapeta surface and firm turf course. One wire-to-wire winner (8f) on the all-weather main track. A wire job at a mile and a sixteenth, a five furlong wire job, a 9f wire job, and a flat mile stalker made up the three turf winners.


Riding double Alejandro Gomez.

Friday Golden Gate Fields Recap: April 22

Fast Tapeta surface and off the turf. Only one wire-to-wire winner (5.5f) on the all-weather main track.


Four wins for jockey Ricardo Gonzalez.

Saturday Golden Gate Fields Recap: April 23 

Fast Tapeta surface. Turf course started out yielding and was listed as good by the fifth race. Two wire-to-wire winners (6f, 8f) on the all-weather main track. The four turf races were captured by a 5f front runner, a flat mile stalker, a patient type at 8.5f, and a stalker at 8.5f (turf rail at 20 feet).


Riding doubles for Abel Cedillo and Ricardo Gonzalez. William Delia and Jerry Hollendorfer both saddled two winners.

Sunday Golden Gate Fields Recap: April 24

Fast Tapeta surface and firm turf course. No wire-to-wire winners on the all-weather main track. The three turf races were captured by a patient runner at 9f, a 9f stalker, and a flat mile stalker.


Riding double for Juan Hernandez.

If you are interested in full card analysis, I am selling Triple Crown full cards this spring 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 Golden Gate Fields at Pick 6 Blog. You can also read my recaps at Pick 6 Blog.