Del Mar opening week recap (July 15-17)

The Del Mar summer meet is off and running and I will have daily coverage at The Runaway Horse.

Friday DEL MAR Opening Day Recap: July 15 

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (5f, 6.5f). All four turf races were nabbed by patient runners (8.5f, 8.5f, 8f, 8f).

Santiago Gonzalez pulled off a hat trick on opening day. Kent Desormeaux booted home a pair of turf route winners. Tyler Baze guided home two winners.

Saturday DEL MAR Recap: July 16

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (6f, 7f). The winning turf course running styles were a front runner at 5f, a stalker at a flat mile, a closer at 8.5f, and a stalker at 8.5f.

Victor Espinoza and John Sadler teamed up for two wins. Doug O’Neill saddled two winners.

Sunday DEL MAR Recap: July 17

Fast main track and firm turf course. Five wire-to-wire winners on dirt (6f, 5f, 5f, 6,5f, 5f). The winning turf course running styles were a pace presser at 8.5f, a patient type from midpack at 9f, and a front runner in the 9f Eddie Read.

Rafael Bejarano and Flavien Prat 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. 

Handicapping video of the week - 2016 Yellow Ribbon Handicap from Del Mar

We venture to Southern California and beautiful Del Mar for this week's stakes video preview. The 2016 Yellow Ribbon is a competitive 9-horse handicapping puzzle featuring Nancy From Nairobi.


 

Closing week at Santa Anita Park (July 8-10)

The Santa Anita Park spring/summer meet came to a close on Sunday, July 10 and despite stiff competition from Flavien Prat, Rafael Bejarano captured another riding title. Phil D'Amato ran away with the top trainer trophy. 

Friday Santa Anita Park Recap: July 8

Five wire job winners on the fast main track (5f, 8.5f, 7f, 6.5f, 6f).

Tiago Pereira and Phil D’Amato teamed up for two wins.

Saturday Santa Anita Park Recap: July 9

Two wire-to-wire winners on the fast main track (5f, 7f).

Apprentice Chad Lindsay and Flavien Prat both booted home a pair.

Horse to Watch: SILVER ASSAULT - The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee had a bad start in the SA Juvenile and ended up rallying wide for the show. He would have been much closer with a clear start. 

Sunday Santa Anita Park Recap: July 10

Two wire-to-wire winners on the fast main track (5f, 7f).  

Tyler Baze and Rafael Bejarano both booted home a pair. Training doubles for Richard Baltas, Bob Baffert, and Bill Spawr.    

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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.  

Santa Anita Park photos by Stacy Edwards. 

Handicapping video of the week: Grade 3 Belmont Sprint with Private Zone

Private Zone makes his first start since last November in Saturday's Grade 3 Belmont Sprint. The seven furlong race is not an easy comeback spot and the likely favorite might be vulnerable in the final furlong.

Last week at Santa Anita Park (June 30-July 4)

Only one live racing week to go at Santa Anita Park before we venture to Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on July 15. 

Thursday Santa Anita Park Recap: June 30

Four horses went virtually wire-to-wire on the fast main track (6.5f, 8.5f, 7f, 7f).

No riding or training doubles on Thursday.

Friday Santa Anita Park Recap: July 1

Two horses went virtually wire-to-wire on the fast main track (6f, 5.5f).

Edwin Maldonado and Flavien Prat both booted home a pair.

Saturday Santa Anita Park Recap: July 2 

Four wire-to-wire winners on the fast main track (7f, 5f, 7f, 8f).

Santiago Gonzalez booted home a pair.

Sunday Santa Anita Park Recap: July 3 

Five wire-to-wire winners on the fast main track (6f, 5f, 8.5f, 5f, 6.5f).

No riding or training doubles on Sunday.

Monday Santa Anita Park Recap: July 4

Two wire-to-wire winners on the fast main track (6.5f, 5.5f).

Mario Gutierrez/Doug O’Neill and Fernando Perez/Mark Glatt teamed up for two wins.

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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. 

Handicapping video of the week: $1 Million Queen's Plate with Amis Gizmo and Gamble's Ghost

The Canadian Triple Crown gets underway with the $1 Million Queen's Plate at Woodbine on Sunday, July 3.

A baker's dozen will line up including two solid contenders for trainer Josie Carroll, Plate Trial hero Amis Gizmo and late running stakes winning filly Gamble's Ghost.

Last week at Santa Anita Park (June 23-26)

Rafael Bejarano forged to the lead in the rider standings but don't count out Flavien Prat with two weeks to go.

Thursday Santa Anita Park Recap: June 23

Two wire-to-wire winners (both at five furlongs) on the fast main track.

Rafael Bejarano and Alonso Quinonez both booted home a pair.

Friday Santa Anita Park Recap: June 24

Early/pressing types dominated on the fast main track with six of the races won by front runners or duelers.


No riding or training doubles on Friday.

Saturday Santa Anita Park Recap: June 25

Three wire-to-wire winners on the fast main track (6f, 5f, 6f).

Rafael Bejarano rode three winners and Mike Smith booted home a pair. Jerry Hollendorfer saddled three winners and Mike Smith rode two. Bob Baffert saddled two winners.

Sunday Santa Anita Park Recap: June 26

Six wire-to-wire winners on the speed favoring fast main track (5.5f, 8f, 4.5f, 6f, 5.5f. 8.5f).

Kent Desormeaux rode three winners. Joe Talamo booted home a pair.

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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.