Fast
main track and firm turf course. No wire-to-wire winners on dirt. The
winning turf course running styles were a patient downhill runner, a
dueling front runner down the hill, and a pace presser at 9f (rail at 30
feet).
Tyler Baze and apprentice Evin Roman both booted home a pair. Michael Machowsky saddled two winners.
Sharp Samurai looked good winning the optional claiming turf route feature.
Friday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: April 7
Fast
main track and firm turf course. One dueling front runner scored at 6f
on dirt. The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at one
mile, a closer at one mile, and a midpack stalker at one mile (rail at
20 feet).
Norberto Arroyo Jr. and Rafael Bejarano both booted home a pair. Mark Glatt saddled two winners.
Smitten Kitten smartly earned her diploma in the fourth race and was claimed for $50,000 by sharp trainer Bill Spawr.
Fast
main track and firm turf course. Only one wire-to-wire winner on dirt
(6f). The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at one mile
and two downhill stalkers (rail at 20 feet).
Norberto Arroyo Jr. and Peter Miller teamed up to win the late daily double including Calculator in the downhill feature. Steve Miyadi saddled two winners including $53 first timer General Mach Four in the opener.
As mentioned earlier, Miyadi saddled a pair of winners and almost made it three with first timer Catfish Hunter, who finished a troubled 3rd (beaten 2 lengths) under Tyler Baze in the six race for $50k maiden claimers at six furlongs.
Friday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: March 3
Fast
main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (8f,
6.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at one
mile, a patient runner at ten furlongs, and a downhill stalker (rail at
30 feet).
The Santa Anita Park winter meet started off in typical fast and firm
fashion but the weather went downhill quickly after opening day.
Monday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: Dec 26
Fast
main track and firm turf course. Dueling front runners captured the
first two dirt sprints of the meet (6.5f, 6f). The winning turf course
running styles were a closer at 9f, an outside stalker down the hill,
and a front runner at one mile.
Flavien Prat and Joel Rosario both booted home a pair.
Thursday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: Dec 29
Fast
main track and firm turf course. Two of the three flat mile dirt races
produced a wire job and a dueling front running winner. The winning turf
course running styles were a stalker at one mile, a downhill closer,
and another stalker at one mile (rail at 10 feet).
Flavien Prat booted home a pair.
Friday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: Dec 30
Wet
fast main track and the lone downhill race was moved to the dirt oval.
Turf course good. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (8f, 6.5f). The lone
turf race was captured by stalker Vending Machine in the one mile Eddie
Logan Stakes (rail at 20 feet).
Hat trick for Norberto Arroyo Jr. Peter Miller saddled both stakes winners (Bad Ju Ju, Vending Machine) and Arroyo rode both.
With one week to go in the Del Mar 2016 fall meet, Peter Miller won't
stop saddling winners and jockey Drayden Van Dyke surged with a riding
triple on Friday and a stakes double on Saturday.
Thursday DEL MAR Recap: Nov 24 Fast
main track and firm turf course at Del Mar on Thursday. Four
wire-to-wire winners on dirt (7f, 8f, 6f, 5.5f). The winning turf course
running styles were a stalker at one mile, a closer at five furlongs,
and a stalker at eleven furlongs (rail at 18 feet).
Norberto Arroyo Jr. booted home three winners. Peter Miller saddled three more winners and Arroyo rode two.
Friday DEL MAR Recap: Nov 25
Fast
main track and firm turf course at Del Mar on Friday. Two wire-to-wire
winners on dirt (6f, 8f). The winning turf course running styles were a
closer at one mile, a dueling front runner at five furlongs, a stalker
at twelve furlongs, and a patient runner at one mile.
It is time to catch up with leading jockey, trainer, and track bias
information for the current 2016 fall race meeting at Santa Anita Park.
Norberto Arroyo Jr. and Peter Miller are off and running!
Friday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: September 30
Fast
main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (6f,
7f). The winning turf course running styles were a downhill closer, a
flat mile stalker, a downhill stalker, and another downhill stalker
(rail at 10 feet).
Hat trick forKent Desormeaux.
Saturday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: October 1
Fast
main track and firm turf course. Early-pressing types strong on dirt
with three wire-to-wire winners (5.5f, 8.5f, 9f). The winning turf
course running styles were a flat mile stalker, a flat mile closer, a
ten furlong wire job, and a downhill wire job.
Four wins for jockey Victor Espinoza(3 Grade 1 wins). Rafael Bejarano booted home a pair. Bob Baffertsaddled two winners.
In case you missed it at The Runaway Horse, here is my Del Mar week 5 recap + Pacific Classic video preview.
Wednesday, August 10
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three wire-to-wire winners on dirt (6f, 6f, 6.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at five furlongs, a front runner at one mile, a patient runner at one mile, and and a stalker at 8.5f (rail at 30 feet).
Kent Desormeaux, Santiago Gonzalez, and Flavien Prat each booted home a pair.
Thursday, August 11
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (8f, 5.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a front runner at one mile, a patient runner at one mile, and and a stalker at five furlongs (rail at 30 feet).
Rafael Bejarano booted home a pair on turf. Mike Puype saddled two winners at one mile on dirt.
Friday, August 12
Fast main track and firm turf course. Only one wire-to-wire winner on dirt (5.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a patient runner at one mile, a stalker at one mile, and a patient runner at five furlongs (rail at 12 feet).
Norberto Arroyo Jr. booted home a pair.
Why Two stalked, pounced, and kicked away to win the Green Flash Handcap by a length and a half for Arroya/Machowsky. My top choice Richard's Boy was 2nd and 55-1 outsider Horse Laugh was up for the show.
Saturday, August 13
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (5.5f, 6.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at 8.5f, a closer at 8.5f, and patient runner at eleven furlongs, and a front runner at nine furlongs (rail at 12 feet).
Santiago Gonzalez guided home four winners. Rafael Bejarano rode three winners and Tyler Baze booted home a pair.
Baffert first timer Big Gray Rocket took a ton of money in the 7th race but blew the break and ended up 2nd behind 14-1 LA-bred debut winner Superior Status (Baze/Mullins). One race later, Baffert the prize he really wanted when Klimt easily captured the G2 Best Pal Stakes over Big League and Thirstforlife.
Sunday, August 14
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners at 5.5 furlongs on dirt. The winning turf course running styles were a front runner at five furlongs, a stalker at one mile, a front runner at one mile, and a stalker at one mile (rail at 12 feet).
Rafael Bejarano and Flavien Prat both booted home a pair.
Bob Baffert was at in again on Sunday with smart debut 2-year-old filly winner American Gal. Fellow first timer Partyinthepaddock was clearly second best and another Baffert firster Facts of Life was along for the show.
My Sunday Best Bet Majestic Heat did not have an easy go of it but she did hold on by a nose from the outside post in the Solana Beach Handicap. 14-1 longshot Tiz a Kiss just missed and second betting choice Singing Kitty checked in 3rd.
Pacific Classic Video Analysis
This is the race we have been waiting for! Defending champion Beholder will take on California Chrome and Dortmund in what figures to be an outstanding renewal of the Pacific Classic. The supporting stakes on Saturday are the G2 Del Mar Handicap and G1 Del Mar Oaks.
The G2 Del Mar Mile on Sunday, Aug 21 wraps up the biggest graded stakes weekend of the meet.
