Santa Anita Park Winter Meet Recap (March 23-26)

Thursday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: March 23

Fast main track and firm turf course. Three wire-to-wire winners on a speed friendly dirt oval (6.5f, 6f, 5.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a patient runner at one mile, a dueling front runner down the hill, and a stalker at 9f (rail at 20 feet).

Rafael Bejarano booted home a pair and is getting his groove back.

The Bejarano/Cerin combo struck again with Will Tell. They don’t team up often but look out when they do because they are know to cluster together wins.

Friday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: March 24

Fast main track and firm turf course. Four wire-to-wire winners on the speed favoring main track (8f, 6.5f, 6f, 6f). The winning turf course running styles were a downhill stalker, a downhill front runner, and a downhill presser (rail at 30 feet).

Vladimir Cerin saddled two winners.

You can read the rest of my Santa Anita Park Report at The Runaway Horse...

Santa Anita Park 2017 Winter Meet Rewind: Feb 16-20

It was supposed to be a special 5-day holiday week of racing but rain reared its ugly head Feb 17 and once again a live race card was scrapped.

Thursday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: Feb 16

Fast main track and firm turf course. No wire-to-wire winners on dirt. The winning turf course running styles were a front runner at nine furlongs and two midpack pouncers down the hill (rail at 30 feet).

Tyler Baze booted home a pair.

A couple of Vladimir Cerin horses to watch and both ran on turf. Conquest Sabre Cat (first start in 6+ months) chased wire job winner and heavy favorite Klondike Creek in the 9f opener and ended up clearly second best under 10-pound bug Roman.

Recent maiden winner Geologist broke from an outer post down the hill and rallied wide from 9th to miss 3rd by a nose.

Saturday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: Feb 18

The Feb 17 live racing card was scrapped because of heavy rain. There was no turf racing on Feb 18 and the good main track was upgraded to fast by the third race. Three wire-to-wire winners on dirt (5.5f, 8f, 6f).

Flavien Prat booted home a pair.

Denman’s Call blew the break in the third race and made a sustained run for the show as the favorite vs. optional claiming company (six furlongs dirt).

The fifth race was taken off the turf and run at one mile on dirt. Marckie’s Water ended up an even 4th in his first start since Nov 18 for Baltas. I think he was out for the exercise and might move up on turf next time.   

You can read the rest of my Santa Anita Park Report at The Runaway Horse...

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 (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. 

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.  

Photos by Stacy Edwards.