Santa Anita Park 2017 Spring Meet Recap (April 14-16)

Friday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: April 14

Fast main track and firm turf course. Four wire-to-wire winners on a speed favorite dirt oval (7f, 5.5f, 8f, 5.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a front runner down the hill, a stalker at one mile, and a downhill closer (rail at 30 feet).

Martin Pedroza booted home a pair.

Cupid’s Beau did not have much of a shot from off the pace (bumped, squeezed start) as the favorite in the maiden claiming sprint finale. She did well to rally for the show under Bejarano and might graduate next time.

Saturday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: April 15

Fast main track and firm turf course. Five wire-to-wire winners on another speed favoring dirt oval (6.5f, 6f, 6f, 6f, 5.5f). The winning turf course running styles were two front runners at one mile and a dueling front runner down the hill (rail at 30 feet).  

Tiago Pereira and Martin Pedroza both booted home a pair.

Allaboutmike was fractious at the gate, made a nice outside middle move to get into the top three, and flattened out to finish 4th in the eighth race. That was his first SoCal start for Miller and he can go better next time. Whiskey Ginger was up for the show in the same race after blowing the break in his debut for Gallagher.  

Sunday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: April 16

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (7f, 6f). The winning turf course running styles were two stalkers at one mile, a patient runner at nine furlongs, and a patient runner at one mile (rail at 20 feet).

Flavien Prat booted home the early double.

Zenyatta’s son Ziconic seems to have found a home on turf and is going to get there one of these days. He broke inward and slow and made a nice sustained run to to finish 3rd (beaten 1/2 length for everything). He can run all day for Shirreffs.  

Aristocratic looked good dusting Bobby Abu Dhabi in the San Pedro for sophomore sprinters. They are both decent runners.

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club week 2 recap (July 20-24)

Two weeks down and eight live racing days are in the books at Del Mar. There is a good rider race brewing at this early stage with Santiago Gonzalez and Flavien Prat tied at the top of the heap (10 wins each). 

Wednesday DEL MAR Recap: July 20

Fast main track and firm turf course. Three wire-to-wire sprint winners on the speed favoring dirt oval (6.5f, 7f, 5.5f). The winning turf course running styles were an outside stalker at five furlongs and a patient stalker behind dueling speedsters at nine furlongs (rail at 30 feet).

No riding/training doubles on Wednesday.

Thursday DEL MAR Recap: July 21

Fast main track and firm turf course. Three wire-to-wire winners on the speed favoring dirt oval (5f, 8f, 5.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at nine furlongs, a patient type at one mile, and a closer at 8.5f (rail at 30 feet).

Santiago Gonzalez booted home a pair. Richard Baltas saddled two winners.

Friday DEL MAR Recap: July 22 

Fast main track and firm turf course. One wire-to-wire winner on the dirt oval (7f). Stalking types won the other four main track races. The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at five furlongs, a front runner at eleven furlongs, and  and a closer at one mile (rail at 6 feet).

Tyler Baze and Flavien Prat both booted home a pair.

Saturday DEL MAR Recap: July 23 

Fast main track and firm turf course. Four more wire-to-wire winners on the speed favoring dirt oval (6f, 6.5f, 6f, 7f). Stalking types won the other two main track races. The winning turf course running styles were a dueling early runner at 8.5f, two closers at one mile, and a closer at 8.5f (rail at 6 feet).

Victor Espinoza and Martin Pedroza both booted home a pair. Mark Glatt saddled two winners.

Sunday DEL MAR Recap: July 24

Fast main track and firm turf course. Three more wire-to-wire winners on the dirt oval (5.5f, 12f, 5.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a front runner at one mile, a patient type at one mile, a closer at 8.5f, and a front runner at one mile (rail at 6 feet).

Santiago Gonzalez rode three winners. Flavien Prat and Joe Talamo both booted home a pair.

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If you are interested in full card analysis, I am selling DEL MAR 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 DEL MAR at Pick 6 Blog. You can also read my recaps at Pick 6 Blog.  

Photo by Stacy Edwards. 

Last Week at Santa Anita Park (May 19-22)

It was a very good week for Tyler Baze with a trio of riding doubles. 

Thursday Santa Anita Park Recap: May 19

Fast main track and firm turf course. Four wire-to-wire winners on dirt (4.5f, 6f, 7f, 6f). The winning turf running styles were a downhill closer and a downhill dueler (rail at 20 feet).

Tyler Baze booted home a pair. Joe Talamo and Mike Puype teamed up for two wins.

Friday Santa Anita Park Recap: May 20 

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (4.5f, 5.5f). The winning turf running styles were a flat mile front runner, a downhill front runner, and a 9f stalker (rail at 30 feet).

Tyler Baze, Santiago Gonzalez, and Martin Pedroza each booted home a pair.

Saturday Santa Anita Park Recap: May 21

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (6.5f, 6.5f). The winning turf running styles were two downhill closers, a patient runner at 12f, and a downhill front runner.

Tyler Baze booted home a pair. Vladimir Cerin, Phil D’Amato, and Jerry Hollendorfer each saddled two winners.

Sunday Santa Anita Park Recap: May 22

Fast main track and firm turf course. Four wire-to-wire winners on dirt (6.5f, 6f, 6.5f, 6f). The winning turf running styles were a nine furlong dueler and a patient runner down the hill (rail at 10 feet).

Gary Stute 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. 

Last Week at Santa Anita Park (April 7-10)

It was a wet closing weekend at Santa Anita Park and Exaggerator threw his hat into the Kentucky Derby ring with a dominating victory in the Santa Anita Derby.

Thursday Santa Anita Park Recap: April 7

Fast main track and firm turf course. The fourth race was originally scheduled for the downhill turf course and moved to the main track. Three wire-to-wire winners on dirt (8f, 6f, 5.5f).  The two turf races were taken by a flat mile front runner and a flat mile stalker (turf rail at 30 feet).

Riding doubles for Martin Pedroza and Flavien Prat. Leading trainer Phil D’Amato saddled two more winners.

Friday Santa Anita Park Recap: April 8

Main track started out fast by was sloppy by the sixth race. The third race was taken off the downhill turf course but the seventh race stayed on the grass at one mile. The turf course was listed as good and the rail was at 20 feet. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (8.5f, 8f).  The flat mile turf feature was nabbed by a prominent throughout runner.

Riding double for Flavien Prat.

Saturday Santa Anita Park Recap: April 9

Sloppy (sealed) main track and yielding turf course. The opening race was originally scheduled for nine furlongs on turf and moved to wet dirt. Three wire-to-wire winners on dirt (5.5f, 8.5f, 6.5f). The G3 Providencia at nine furlongs on turf was nabbed by a late runner (rail at 20 feet) and the G3 Thunder Road at one mile on turf was captured by a midpack stalker (turf rail down).

Kent Desormeaux was the riding star of the day with a graded stakes hat trick. Riding doubles for Rafael Bejarano and Flavien Prat. Keith Desormeaux saddled two graded winners and his brother Kent rode both. Peter Miller saddled two maiden sprint winners. Leading trainer Phil D’Amato saddled two winners.

Sunday Santa Anita Park Closing Day Recap: April 10

Drying out (wet fast) main track was upgraded to fast by the fourth race. All turf races were moved to dirt except the San Juan Capistrano, which was changed in distance to fifteen furlongs. Eight of the ten main track winners went wire-to-wire or were all over the pace. The grassy featured was nabbed by a patient type (course yielding).

Hat trick for Tyler Baze. Leading trainer Phil D’Amato saddled two winners and Baze rode both.

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. 

Last Week at Santa Anita Park (Feb 25-28)

Only six wire-to-wire winners on the main track at Santa Anita Park last week. Rafael Bejarano had a couple of riding doubles and Doug O'Neill had a couple of training doubles. Also, watch for Audacious Angel next time. 

Thurs­­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: February 25

Fast main track and firm turf course (turf rail at 20 feet). Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (6f, 6.5f). A stalker at 10f and a patient runner at one mile made up the two turf winners.

Hat trick for Rafael Bejarano. Riding double for Martin Pedroza. Two winners for trainer Doug O’Neill.

Fri­­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: February 26

Fast main track and firm turf course (turf rail at 30 feet). Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (8f, 7f). A flat mile wire job and an inside stalker down the dip made up the two turf winners.

Riding double for Edwin Maldonado. Two winners for trainer Peter Eurton.

Satur­­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: February 27

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (5.5f, 6f). A flat mile presser, a downhill stalker, and a downhill closer made up the three turf winners.

No riding/training doubles on Saturday.

Trip Notes: Audacious Angel had an uncomfortable trip in the hillside finale. She ended up 5th of 12 (beaten less than 2.5 lengths) under Gary Stevens and can go better next time.

Sun­­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: February 28

Fast main track and firm turf course. No wire-to-wire winners on dirt. A downhill stalker, a flat mile presser, and a flat mile stalker made up the three turf winners (rail at 10 feet).

Rafael Bejarano and Santiago Gonzalez both booted home a pair. Jerry Hollendorfer and Doug O’Neill both 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.