Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 6 days ago
June 13, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (June 13, 2013)—Ramon Dominguez, a three-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey who announced earlier today that has been forced to retire at age 36 due to the severity of head injuries sustained in a spill at Aqueduct on Jan. 18, will forever be regarded by fans, horsemen and management at Santa Anita as not only one of the greatest jockeys of all-time, but as one of the classiest as well.
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Santa Anita Park
SANTA ANITA ANNOUNCES RENOVATIONS TO GRANDSTAND & STABLE AREA, FACILITY TO CLOSE FOR TRAINING DURING DEL MAR RACE MEET THIS SUMMER
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 6 days ago
June 13, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (June 13, 2013)—Santa Anita Park has announced that it will be closed for training throughout the upcoming Del Mar race meeting, from July 17 to Sept. 4, in order to accommodate renovation projects in both the stable area and Grandstand.
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HRTV RECEIVES FIVE 2013 OHIO VALLEY REGIONAL EMMY AWARD NOMINATIONS
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 7 days ago
June 12, 2013
Arcadia, CA, June 12 -- HRTV (R), The Network for Horse Sports, has received five 2013 Ohio Valley Regional Emmy Award no...
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POPULAR ‘SUMMER FESTIVAL ON THE GREEN’ CONCERT SERIES SET TO START JUNE 29 AT SANTA ANITA, CAL PHIL, GREAT RACE PLACE TO AGAIN STAGE FIVE EVENING SHOWS IN TRACK’S STATE OF THE ART INFIELD ENTERTAINMENT AREA
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 9 days ago
June 10, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (June 10, 2013)—The California Philharmonic Orchestra and Santa Anita Park will again combine forces as Cal Phil’s widely popular nighttime “Summer Festival on the Green” concert series will begin in the Santa Anita Infield on Saturday, June 29.
The “Festival on the Green” will consist of five night-time concerts, with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. and each performance slated to begin at 7:30 p.m.
“Anyone who joined us for this series here last year knows what an incredible night-time venue our Infield area has become,” said Santa Anita President George Haines.
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2014 BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE HELD AT SANTA ANITA PARK
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 10 days ago
June 10, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 10, 2013) - The Breeders’ Cup announced today that Santa Anita Park, in Arcadia, Calif., has been selected as the site for the 2014 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The 31st Breeders’ Cup, Thoroughbred racing’s most prestigious international year-end event, consisting of 14 races with purses and awards totaling $27 million, will be held on October 31 and November 1, 2014, and brings the event to Los Angeles for the third consecutive year.
Santa Anita Park, which is the site of this year’s Breeders’ Cup on November 1-2, has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships six times, most recently last year’s edition. The 2014 Breeders’ Cup will be televised by the NBC Sports Group. The 2013 Breeders’ Cup will also be televised by the NBC Sports Group with the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic shown live in primetime on NBC from 8-9 p.m. ET.
“Santa Anita has proven to be an outstanding host for our Championships, providing horsemen and fans around the world with a first class facility and one of the greatest experiences in sports. We are delighted to extend our partnership with Santa Anita for a third consecutive year,” said Craig Fravel, Breeders’ Cup President and CEO. “We also value our relationship with the Southern California business and entertainment community, who have demonstrated long time dedication and support of the Breeders’ Cup since our inception in 1984.”
The 2014 running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships marks the 11th time that the event will be held in Southern California and the eighth time that Santa Anita will host the Breeders’ Cup, after hosting the event in 1986, 1993, 2003, 2008 and 2009, 2012, and this year.
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TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AT SANTA ANITA PARK
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 16 days ago
June 3, 2013
30th running of horse racing’s premier event to take place Nov. 1-2
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ARCADIA, Calif. (June 3, 2013) - The Breeders' Cup and Santa Anita Park today announced that tickets are on sale to the general public for the 30th running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2. This year marks the seventh time that Santa Anita will host the Breeders’ Cup, and the third time under the two-day Championship format.
The Breeders’ Cup, Thoroughbred racing’s most prestigious global event, consists of 14 races with purses and awards totaling more than $27 million. There will be a total of 10 races held on the Friday program and 12 on Saturday, culminating with the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at approximately 5:30 p.m. PT.
Fans can purchase Breeders’ Cup tickets online at http://www.breederscup.com/tickets or by calling toll-free at 877-721-7671. Due to strong demand during the VIP pre-sale window, many premium area tickets have been sold; however, excellent seats are available in Grandstand Reserved, Turf Club Box and select dining areas.
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SANTA ANITA PARK WILL AGAIN HOST POPULAR 626 NIGHT MARKET JUNE 8 & 9 ASIAN COMMUNITY EVENT TO FEATURE ENTREPRENEURS, CULTURAL FARE, MUSIC & MORE
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 17 days ago
June 2, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (June 2, 2013)—The popular 626 Night Market, which serves as a platform for a wide array of Asian businesses and young entrepreneurs, returns to Santa Anita Park’s Paddock Gardens area next Saturday and Sunday, June 8 & 9, and it’s expected as many as 20,000 people per night will attend.
On Saturday, the event gets underway at 4 p.m. and will go until 12 a.m. On Sunday, start time is the same, at 4 p.m. and closing will be at 10 p.m. Parking is free both days and admission is just $2.00 per person from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. From 6 p.m. on, admission is $3.00. Kids 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.
“We staged this two-day event last year in October and it far exceeded everyone’s expectations,” said Santa Anita Director of Community Services and Special Projects, Pete Siberell. “We had large numbers of families from the local and surrounding communities and we expect perhaps an even bigger turnout this weekend.”
In addition to a wide array of Asian Cuisine and music provided by live DJ’s and performance artists, the Paddock Gardens will be replete with a number of new automobiles and family-themed games.
“As we did last year, the 626 Night Market team is working closely with the City of Arcadia and Santa Anita Park to make the two-night cultural experience smooth and enjoyable for all of our patrons,” said Jony Hwang, 626 Night Market organizer. “We have many dynamic young entrepreneurs committed to be with us both days and they bring a tremendous amount of energy and intellectual capital to our event. It should be fantastic.”
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MULTIPLE SANTA ANITA STAKES WINNER SAHARA SKY WINS PRESTIGIOUS GRADE I METROPOLITAN HANDICAP AT BELMONT, HOLLENDORFER TRAINEE TO POINT FOR $2 MILLION BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT AT GREAT RACE PLACE
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 19 days ago
May 31, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (May 31, 2013)—Sahara Sky, a winner of both the six furlong Palos Verdes Stakes and seven furlong San Carlos Stakes this past winter at Santa Anita, was an ultra-game winner of this past Monday’s Grade I, $750,000 Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont Park and will now be pointed to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint at The Great Race Place on Nov. 2.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and owned by Hollendorfer and Kim Lloyd, Sahara Sky has won four of his five lifetime starts at Santa Anita and has proven exceptionally tough when he runs fresh.
“I’m just along for the ride,” said Lloyd following Sahara Sky’s career-best performance at 9-2 on Monday. “He’s a very dangerous horse when he’s fresh and we know he loves Santa Anita. It’s up to Jerry where we run from here, but the Sprint is the ultimate goal.”
A 5-year-old Florida-bred horse by Pleasant Tap, Sahara Sky has seven wins overall from 16 starts, and earnings of $886,680.
In the Palos Verdes and the San Carlos, both Grade II stakes, run on Jan. 19 and Feb. 23 respectively, Sahara Sky, under Joe Talamo, rallied from off the pace to win going away. Following the San Carlos, Sahara Sky was an unlucky second with Joel Rosario in Aqueduct’s Grade I Carter Handicap on April 6.
In the one-turn Met Mile, Sahara Sky and Rosario were last leaving the half mile pole, split horses turning for home and were just up in a desperate finish over pacesetting Cross Traffic and John Velasquez.
“I was thinking I won, but it was so close and I was so far to the outside, sometimes it’s hard to tell,” said Rosario. “I thought we had a head in front, but the angle was different and I didn’t know.”
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SANTA ANITA TO AGAIN HOST AUTOCON L.A. FESTIVAL JUNE 1, AS 100 AUTO COMPANIES TO SHARE SOUTHWEST LOT WITH LUXURY & MODIFIED AUTOS, ENTERTAINMENT OFFERED
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 26 days ago
May 24, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (May 24, 2013)—One hundred auto companies will display their wares and hundreds of modified and luxury automobiles will take their places alongside L.A.’s highest rated food trucks in Santa Anita’s Southwest parking lot on Saturday June 1, as part of AutoCon Event’s 2013 AutoCon Festival from 1 p.m.
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OXBOW MAKES HISTORY FOR CONNECTIONS IN PREAKNESS VICTORY
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 31 days ago
May 18, 2013
KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER ORB DISAPPOINTS AS ODDS-ON FAVORITE
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BALTIMORE, 05-18-13– Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas made history at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday when he saddled Oxbow for a front-running upset victory in the 138th Preakness Stakes (G1). The 15-1 long shot gave his 77-year-old trainer his sixth Preakness victory, as well as his 14th triumph in a Triple Crown event.
Lukas, who had been tied with legendary “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons since saddling Commendable for a Belmont Stakes victory in 2000, became the winningest trainer in Triple Crown history.
Overlooked by the bettors, who made Kentucky Derby winner Orb their 3-5 favorite in the field of nine 3-year-olds, Oxbow was in control throughout the 1 3/16-mile Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown on his way to victory by 1 ¾ lengths under Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens.
Shug McGaughey-trained Orb, who finished 9 ¾ lengths ahead of Oxbow while winning the Derby by 3 ½ lengths, was never a factor in the Preakness, finishing nine lengths behind the winner, who was one of three 3-year-olds representing Lukas.
A crowd of 117,203 flocked into Pimlico, the fourth highest mark in the history of the event. The day included the fifth annual InfieldFest which featured concerts by six bands, including headliners Pitbull and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.
The 13-race card generated an all-sources handle of $81,940,233. The handle ranked as the sixth best for Pimlico’s signature day.
“It was a fantastic day to cap what was a wonderful weekend of racing and entertainment,” Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas said. “I challenged my team to match last year’s record-setting afternoon and they answered the call. The initial feedback on the concerts is positive and the racing office put together a quality card from bottom to top.”
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Fiftyshadesofhay Gets Up To Win Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 33 days ago
May 17, 2013
BALTIMORE, 05-17-13– Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman’s Fiftyshadesofhay closed with a rush to claim a narrow victory in the 89th running of the $500,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at Pimlico Race Course.
Trained by Bob Baffert, the daughter of Pulpit rated off the pace under jockey Joel Rosario before launching an outside stretch run and reeling in Marathon Lady by a neck at the finish. Fiftyshadesofhay ran the 1 1/8-mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies in 1:52.73.
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CHRISTINE A. MOORE NAMED OFFICIAL MILLINER OF THE BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 35 days ago
May 15, 2013
Owners and fans can order Custom-made Headwear Designed In the Silks of Breeders’ Cup Horses
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NEW YORK (May 15, 2013) – The Breeders’ Cup announced today that Christine A. Moore, of Christine A. Moore Millinery, New York, one of the world’s leading headwear designers, has been named the official milliner of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
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SANTA ANITA DERBY WINNER GOLDENCENTS BREEZES SIX FURLONGS IN 1:16.20, O’NEILL TRAINEE TO SHIP TO KENTUCKY EARLY SATURDAY
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 55 days ago
April 25, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 25, 2013)—In his final work in preparation for the Kentucky Derby on May 4, Grade I Santa Anita Derby winner Goldencents breezed six furlongs in 1:16.20 Thursday morning at Santa Anita under regular exercise rider Jonny Garcia, as trainer Doug O’Neill, jockey Kevin Krigger, and several owners watched from the grandstand.
Working from the half mile pole around the Club House turn to the three quarter pole, Goldencents was timed through splits of 27.20, 40.20, 51.20 and 1:03, according to Santa Anita clocker, Dane Nelson.
“We had him galloping out seven furlongs in 1:29 and two (fifths) and the mile in 1:43 and two,” said Nelson.
“We try to make his workouts similar to a gallop,” said O’Neill, who won last year’s Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbies with I’ll Have Another. “We try not to zap him. This is very similar to what he does every day, just a little quicker.
“I thought he went great. My biggest focus was to have him finish up stronger than he started off, and he did just that. I got him in forty (seconds) for the first three furlongs, and thirty six for the second three furlongs, so he definitely picked it up when Jonny (Garcia) asked him to, and I liked the gallop out. I’m very happy.
“This is all the ‘tune up’ he needed. He’ll leave here Saturday at about 4 a.m.”
For his part, Krigger was ecstatic about the move and how it was executed.
“Jonny gets along with this horse so well and he gets him to relax early,” said Krigger, who will be riding in his first-ever Kentucky Derby. “Ever since the San Felipe (a disappointing fourth place finish on March 9), Doug has been trying to gear him down and get him to relax. Jonny did a great job this morning and he finished up real strong, which is what Doug wanted.”
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GAME ON DUDE ‘HORSE OF MEET’ IN MEDIA POLL
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 59 days ago
April 21, 2013
Baffert, Bejarano Earn Honors as Top Trainer and Jockey
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ARCADIA, Calif.
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SANTA ANITA CONCLUDES 76TH WINTER/SPRING MEET UP IN ALL-SOURCES HANDLE, INCLUDING STRONG INCREASE IN ADW
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 59 days ago
April 21, 2013
THE GREAT RACE PLACE WELCOMES RETURN OF BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON NOV. 1 & 2
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ARCADIA, Calif. (April 21, 2013)—Santa Anita Park, which will again host the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 1 & 2, concluded its 76th winter/spring meeting on Sunday with overall handle up four percent. The increase was fueled, in part, by strong gains in Account Deposit Wagering (ADW) handle through its 71-day meet which began on Dec. 26.
Santa Anita Derby Day, April 6, proved to be the high-point of the meet, as an on-track crowd of 33,005 wagered $4,047,710, which contributed to a total pari-mutuel handle of $19,897,306—a $2- million increase over last year.
Trainer Doug O’Neill won his second consecutive Santa Anita Derby, as Goldencents, romped home by 1 ¼ lengths. Owned by NCAA Champion basketball coach Rick Pitino, Glenn Sorgenstein, Josh Kaplan and Dave Kenney, and ridden by Kevin Krigger, Goldencents will attempt to follow in the steps of the O’Neill-trained I’ll Have Another and become the 10th horse to win both the Santa Anita Derby and the Kentucky Derby.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert finished the meet with 38 wins to take his third consecutive Santa Anita training title and record 11th overall. Baffert began the meet with two wins on opening day and continued to build on the momentum as he prevailed in a close contest that saw three trainers; John Sadler, Jerry Hollendorfer and O'Neill, finish tied for second with 35 wins.
Baffert’s biggest win came in the 76th running of the Santa Anita Handicap when favored Game On Dude, who was also named horse of the meeting, romped by a record 7 ¾ lengths to become just the fourth horse to ever win the Big ’Cap twice-- this time under jockey Mike Smith for Joe Torre’s Diamond Pride LLC, the Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable LLC and Bernard Schiappa.
Jockey Rafael Bejarano returned to the top of the riding standings to win his fourth title as Santa Anita’s leading rider with 93, 31 more than second-place finisher Edwin Maldonado. Bejarano had finished second in the riding standings the previous two seasons.
For the second consecutive year, Kosta Hronis’ Hronis Racing led all owners with by races won, with 11 victories.
This Santa Anita season was also marked by several very successful on-track activities designed to broaden the track’s reputation and brand as not only the crown jewel of Thoroughbred racing, but as an important member of the Southern California entertainment community.
More than 50 young women competed to be among the finalists to represent California in the first-ever Ms. Racing Queen pageant held at Gulfstream Park in Fort Lauderdale. Tatiana Schoeppler, who resides in Los Angeles, was named Ms. Racing Queen and she won the top prize of $100,000. She will spend the next 12 months as an ambassador for Thoroughbred racing around the country.
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FRANK GARCIA UNANIMOUS CHOICE AS SANTA ANITA EMPLOYEE OF MEET; ARCADIA HIGH GRAD, AIR FORCE VET GREETS FANS, EMPLOYEES & HORSEMEN DAILY
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 59 days ago
April 21, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 21, 2013)—Frank Garcia, Santa Anita’s Head Stable Gateman, who greets fans, horsemen and employees with an acknowledging smile at the track’s Association Gate from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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CONSISTENT CHIPS ALL IN SPRINGS UPSET IN GRADE III SAN SIMEON STAKES DOWN HILLSIDE TURF COURSE, BAZE & MULLINS TEAM FOR WIN
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 60 days ago
April 20, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 20, 2013)—Hard hitting Chips All In, second beaten a nose down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course on Feb. 23, came back firing in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 San Simeon Stakes, as he ran down even money favorite Obviously in deep stretch to win going away by a half length under Tyler Baze, getting 6 ½ furlongs in a rapid 1:11.28.
Trained by Jeff Mullins, Chips All In, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by North Light, sat a comfortable third early as Irish-bred Obviously set sizzling fractions of 21.52, 43.16 and 1:05.28.
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HEAVILY FAVORED LADY OF SHAMROCK FOULED IN DEEP STRETCH AND IS MADE WINNER OF GRADE II SANTA BARBARA VIA STEWARDS’ INQUIRY
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 60 days ago
April 20, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 20, 2013)—Lady of Shamrock, the prohibitive 1-5 favorite with leading rider Rafael Bejarano aboard in Saturday’s Grade II, $150,000 Santa Barbara Handicap, took up sharply in deep stretch, finishing second, beaten 1 ½ lengths by longshot Viva Carina and Victor Espinoza, but was subsequently placed first via a stewards’ inquiry.
Last early in the five-horse Santa Barbara, for older fillies and mares at 1 ¼ miles on turf, Lady of Shamrock, trained by John Sadler, was full of run at the rail turning for home and had dead aim on pacesetting Viva Carina, but had to take up sharply a sixteenth of a mile out, costing her a chance at victory.
“I don’t think he (Espinoza) knew I was there,” said Bejarano. “I tried to come running but I also wasn’t screaming and (I) didn’t let him know. He was surprised, it wasn’t his fault. His filly just kept coming in. I tried to sneak through there…When I saw the opportunity on the rail in the stretch and I saw a lot of room, I just kept running but unfortunately when Victor used the right-hand stick, his horse kept coming in and completely crossed my lane.
“I was completely on her heels so I didn’t have any choice but to hold my horse and stop riding a little, and then let her go again.”
Although heavily favored, Lady of Shamrock was faced with a tall order around the far turn, as Viva Carina had cut out a slow pace of 25.17, 49.98, 1:14.41 and 1:37.92. Off at 8-1, Viva Carina hit the wire as the unofficial winner in 2:00.91.
The race high weight with 123 pounds, Lady of Shamrock spotted eight pounds to Viva Carina and paid $2.60, $2.20 and $2.10.
“She’s gotten very relaxed this year, so it’s pretty scary,” said Sadler of Lady of Shamrock. “She wants to sit back and close and she had to give away a lot of weight on top of it, so I’m going to go out and find her a rabbit (next time).
“He (Bejarano) had her rolling and it looked like she had room and he was going to get there, so I thought it was the right call…so we’re going to take it.”
Owned by Kosta Hronis’ Hronis Racing LLC, Lady of Shamrock picked up $90,000 for the win, boosting her earnings to $825,400. Second as the even money favorite in the Grade II Santa Ana Stakes March 24, Lady of Shamrock improved her overall record to 13-7-2-1.
The Santa Barbara marked the 11th win of the meet for Hronis Racing, and for the second year in a row, Hronis Racing LLC is Santa Anita’s leading winter/spring owner by races-won.
“We’re very honored to be part of the industry and proud to be leading owner again,” said Hronis. “We’re very happy.”
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PEPPY BOLLY, WITH TALAMO UP, TAKES FEATURED SONOMA PURSE
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 61 days ago
April 19, 2013
TWO-DAY CARRYOVER CREATES MASSIVE POOL OF $1.7 MILLION, ONE WINNING TICKET, WORTH A WHOPPING $1,093,518 IS PURCHASED THROUGH XPRESSBET
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ARCADIA, Calif.
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LONGSHOT BECKY LOU TAKES SANTA ANITA ALLOWANCE FEATURE, BAZE GUIDES JOHANNESBURG FILLY TO NOSE VICTORY IN HER U.S. DEBUT
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 62 days ago
April 18, 2013
TW0-DAY PICK SIX CARRYOVER OF $370,763, TOTAL POOL FRIDAY SHOULD EXCEED $1.5 MILLION
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ARCADIA, Calif. (April 18, 2013)—Dismissed at odds of 32-1, Becky Lou, with Tyler Baze aboard, was up to win Santa Anita’s allowance feature for 3-year-old fillies by a nose in her U.S. debut, getting a mile on turf in 1:34.41.
Purchased at auction for $103,000 by owner Danny O’Neill, Becky Lou, had been idle since Nov.
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SKY KINGDOM LOOMS LARGE IN GRADE II SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO SUNDAY, TRADITIONAL CLOSING DAY FEATURE AT 1 ¾ MILES ON TURF ATTRACTS SEVEN
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 62 days ago
April 18, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 18, 2013)—Trainer Bob Baffert is hoping his Sky Kingdom thinks the grass is greener on the other side of the rail. A handy winner of the Grade III Tokyo City Cup going 1 ½ miles on dirt March 23, Sky Kingdom will try turf for the first time on Sunday as he joins six other horses in Santa Anita’s traditional closing day feature, the Grade II, $150,000 San Juan Capistrano Handicap at 1 ¾ miles on turf—a distance that none of the seven runners have ever attempted.
A 4-year-old colt by Empire Maker, Sky Kingdom pressed the pace in the Tokyo City, assumed command going to the quarter pole and went on to an authoritative 3 ¾ length victory under Martin Garcia—while earning a San Juan Capistrano best last-out Beyer Speed figure of 104.
“He looked great today,” said Baffert following the Tokyo City. “The only spot to run him was a mile and a half. I didn’t know if he could do it…it’s pretty exciting.”
Owned by Westrock Stables LLC, Sky Kingdom had never been beyond 1 1/16 miles prior to the Tokyo City. As he was on dirt, he figures to lay close to the pace in the San Juan Capistrano. Sky Kingdom has earnings of $233,730 from a career mark of 9-4-0-1.
Trainer Ron McAnally, who won his first of two San Juan Capistrano’s in 1980 with the legendary John Henry, will send out Argentine-bred Interaction, who comes off a disappointing fourth as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade II, 1 ½ miles San Luis Rey Stakes on March 16. Prior to that, the 7-year-old horse made a big run from off the pace but was second, beaten a length, as the 7-2 favorite in the Grade II, 1 ¼ miles San Marcos Stakes.
A multiple Group I winner in Argentina, Interaction was second in the Grade I Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar Aug. 25. He’ll be reunited on Sunday with Joe Talamo, who rode him to second place finishes in both the San Marcos and the Grade II Hollywood Turf Cup on Dec. 15.
Owned by Pozo de Luna Inc., Interaction is in search of his first win since June 16, 2012, a classified allowance score at Betfair Hollywood Park going 1 1/8 miles on turf. His overall mark stands at 22-6-5-2, and he has earnings of $624,463.
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IRISH-BRED OBVIOUSLY MAKES 2013 DEBUT IN SATURDAY’S GRADE III SAN SIMEON AT 6 ½ FURLONGS DOWN HILL, MITCHELL TRAINEE HAS BEEN IDLE SINCE RUNNING THIRD BEHIND WISE DAN IN BREEDERS’ CUP MILE NOV. 3
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 63 days ago
April 17, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 17, 2013)—Idle since running third behind eventual Horse of the Year Wise Dan in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Mile (turf) Nov.
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JOE MORRIS TO STEP DOWN AS GENERAL MANAGER OF GOLDEN GATE FIELDS TO ASSUME POSITION OF PRESIDENT OF THOROUGHBRED OWNERS OF CALIFORNIA
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 63 days ago
April 17, 2013
April 17, 2013 -- The Stronach Group announced today that Joe Morris will step down as General Manager of Golden Gate Fields effective June 16, 2013, the conclusion of Golden Gate Fields’ current racing meet. Joe has accepted the position of president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC).
Keith Brackpool, Chairman of Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields said, “While we are sorry to lose someone of Joe’s stature, we understand and respect his interest in participating more directly in the ongoing restructuring of our industry in California. Joe has been a valuable member of the Stronach Group and we wish him the very best in his future endeavors with the TOC.”
The Chairman of TOC Board, Mike Pegram stated, “The TOC is very excited that Joe Morris has accepted the position of president of the TOC. Joe has been a major contributor to California racing since his arrival at Golden Gate Fields. We want to thank the Stronach Group for working with us to make Joe's transition a seamless one.”
“I have enjoyed my time working with The Stronach Group and am very proud of my team’s accomplishments,” said Morris. “Golden Gate Fields’ meet is up this racing season and I look forward to seeing the track’s continued success. It is an exciting time to be joining the TOC and I look forward to working with the TOC Board, tackling the important issues facing California racing.”
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HRTV & SANTA ANITA’S FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS TWO $10K TOP PRIZES
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 65 days ago
April 15, 2013
Lance Kramer Tops in Judges' Voting; Miguel Mouchess Tabbed in Fan Favorite Category
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Arcadia, CA, April 15 — A pair of $10,000 first prize winners were announced Sunday at Santa Anita in HRTV and Santa Anita’s second annual “A Day at the Races” Film Festival, a competition that required film makers to produce short subject films of under five minutes that were created solely at Santa Anita.
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SISTER KATE UPSETS IN $70,000 SANTA LUCIA, FULL SISTER TO BROTHER DEREK OFF AT 8-1 IN SHORT FIELD, NAKATANI RIDES FOR HOLLENDORFER
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 66 days ago
April 14, 2013
THERE IS A PICK SIX CARRYOVER OF $85,262 INTO THURSDAY, IT’S EXPECTED THURSDAY’S TOTAL POOL WILL EXCEED $600,000—FIRST POST TIME ON THURSDAY IS 1 P.M.
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ARCADIA, Calif.
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MIZDIRECTION IS PERFECTION DOWN HILL, BREEDERS’ CUP TURF SPRINT CHAMP UP TO WIN GRADE III LAS CIENEGAS BY HALF LENGTH WITH FLORES ABOARD
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 67 days ago
April 13, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 13, 2013)—Although she poses a challenge for the faint of heart, Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Champion Mizdirection knows where the money is, and in the words of Trevor Denman, “She’s done it again!” as she remained undefeated down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course, rallying to overtake stablemate Schiaparelli to win Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes by a half length under David Flores, getting 6 ½ furlongs in 1:12.61.
Breaking from the outside post position in a field of five, Mizdirection, the 2-5 favorite, broke alertly to take the early lead, but Flores was able to quickly defer to Schiaparelli and Joe Talamo, who held sway well inside the sixteenth pole through splits of 22.41, 44.64 and 1:06.53.
Trained by Mike Puype, Mizdirection is now a perfect five for five going 6 ½ furlongs down the Camino Real Turf Course.
“She broke well, I was concerned about the break but she broke clean,” said Flores, who was pinch-hitting for regular rider Mike Smith, who was away to ride War Academy in today’s Arkansas Derby. “I looked over and Talamo had a lot of horse so I let him cruise.
“There was no other pressure from anyone else so I just kind of waited to see how far (Schiaparelli) was going to go. She’s unbelievable. She knew exactly when she was going to do the job…She is very smart, she knows what she’s doing.”
Owned by Jim Rome’s Jungle Racing LLC, William Strauss, Daniel Grohs, Kevin Nish, Michael Kramek and Boris Beljak, Mizdirection, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred mare by Mizzen Mast, picked up $60,000 for the win and increased her earnings to $1,154,621.
She paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10.
Following her Grade I Breeders’ Cup win down the hill on Nov. 3, Mizdirection won the Grade II Monrovia Stakes in similar fashion down the hillside and came back to easily win her most recent start, the Grade II Buena Vista Stakes on Feb. 18, at one mile on turf.
“Right when you think she’s beat, she finds another gear, she digs deep and finds a way to get it done,” said Rome. “She’s so tough. She does not want to lose. That’s a real good filly she ran down. That horse looked like she freaked and ‘Miz’ just knew it was go-time. She’s great.”
Puype indicated that Mizdirection would make her next start at Belmont Park, in the Grade I Just a Game, at one mile on turf June 8.
“She never ceases to surprise me,” said Puype. “She’s so hard-trying, very honest…We had two strong fillies coming off two strong efforts and they both ran good. It was very hard to separate them at the wire and I couldn’t be happier.”
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UNDEFEATED BLACK CAVIAR GAINS AUTOMATIC BERTH INTO BREEDERS’ CUP TURF SPRINT AFTER WINNING
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 67 days ago
April 13, 2013
SYDNEY, (April 13, 2013) – The undefeated super mare Black Caviar (AUS) captured Saturday’s Darley TJ Smith Stakes at Royal Randwick and earned an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge is a global series of 67 stakes races whose winners earn automatic starting positions into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., Nov.
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MAGICAL BAND & ESPINOZA UPSET $60,000 SALEM PURSE; SPEEDSTER HOLDS ON TO WIN BY A NOSE AND PAYS $18.80 TO WIN
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 68 days ago
April 12, 2013
PICK SIX CARRYOVER OF $52,727 INTO SATURDAY, FIRST POST TIME AT 12:30 P.M.
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ARCADIA, Calif. (April 12, 2013)—Victor Espinoza channeled Magical Band’s considerable speed in a profitable direction Friday, as the Hector Palma owned and trained filly roared to the front passing the half mile pole and hung on to win Santa Anita’s $60,000 Salem Purse by a nose while covering 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.53.
Off at odds of 8-1 in the six-horse Salem, a second condition allowance for older fillies and mares, Magical Band made the early lead in her most recent start on Feb.
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TOP KISSER IS TOP SHELF IN $58,000 HESPERIA PURSE, WINS BY ONE LENGTH WITH BEJARANO UP FOR HOLLENDORFER—AGAIN
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 69 days ago
April 11, 2013
ONE WINNING TICKET IN PICK SIX PAYS $44,270.60, ‘SINGLETON’ PURCHASED IN LAS VEGAS, NV.
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ARCADIA, Calif.
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TOM LUDT JOINS THE STRONACH RACING AND GAMING GROUP
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 69 days ago
April 11, 2013
April 11, 2013 -- The Stronach Group is pleased to announce that Tom Ludt has agreed to join the Company as a Senior Vice ...
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TOM LUDT JOINS THE STRONACH RACING AND GAMING GROUP
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 69 days ago
April 11, 2013
April 11, 2013 -- The Stronach Group is pleased to announce that Tom Ludt has agreed to join the Company as a Senior Vice ...
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BREEDERS’ CUP TURF SPRINT CHAMP MIZDIRECTION HEADS GRADE III LAS CIENEGAS ON SATURDAY; ‘QUEEN OF THE HILL’ IS PERFECT FOUR FOR FOUR OVER COURSE AND SHORTENS UP FROM MILE WIN IN GRADE II BUENA VISTA
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 70 days ago
April 10, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 10, 2013)—Mizdirection, winner of the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course Nov. 3, towers over five rivals in Saturday’s Grade III Las Cienegas Stakes down the hill as she shortens up from a solid one mile turf win in the Grade II Buena Vista Stakes on Feb.
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BREEDERS’ CUP TURF SPRINT CHAMP MIZDIRECTION HEADS GRADE III LAS CIENEGAS ON SATURDAY; ‘QUEEN OF THE HILL’ IS PERFECT FOUR FOR FOUR OVER COURSE AND SHORTENS UP FROM MILE WIN IN GRADE II BUENA VISTA
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 70 days ago
April 11, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 10, 2013)—Mizdirection, winner of the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course Nov. 3, towers over five rivals in Saturday’s Grade III Las Cienegas Stakes down the hill as she shortens up from a solid one mile turf win in the Grade II Buena Vista Stakes on Feb. 18 and seeks her fourth consecutive win dating back to her Breeders’ Cup triumph versus males.
Undefeated in four tries down the hillside, Mizdirection went over the $1 million mark in earnings with her gate to wire score in the Buena Vista and will seek her 10th win from 15 career starts in the Las Cienegas, which is for older fillies and mares.
“She likes to play, that’s a great way to put it,” said part owner and sports talk superstar Jim Rome following Mizdirection’s 2 ¼ length score in the Buena Vista. “She’s so competitive. The way she dug in through the stretch was awesome. She’s amazing.”
Trained by Mike Puype, Mizdirection, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred mare by Mizzen Mast, is again being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.
With regular rider Mike Smith committed to ride War Academy in Saturday’s Arkansas Derby, Mizdirection will be handled by veteran David Flores, who guided Mizdirection to victory in last year’s Las Cienegas.
In addition to Rome’s Jungle Racing LLC, Mizdirection is owned by Strauss or Grohs and partners. Her overall record stands at 14-9-4-1, with earnings of $1,094,621.
In addition to Mizdirection, Puype will send out the up and coming Schiaparelli, a lightly raced 5-year-old Kentucky-bred mare by Ghostzapper, who comes of a big 3 ½ length second condition allowance win down the hillside on March 14.
Bred to love the hillside turf course, Schiaparelli is out of the multiple graded stakes winning Cambiocorsa, who won the 2006 Las Cienegas and who was an amazing eight for nine over the course. Owned and bred by Ranjan Racing Inc., Schiaparelli has $120,864 in earnings from an overall mark of 6-3-0-2.
She’ll be ridden by Joe Talamo, who has been aboard for all six of her career starts—including two wins from three starts down the hill.
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MARIO PINO TO RECEIVE SANTA ANITA WOOLF AWARD ON APRIL 14; HIGH HONOR TO BE PRESENTED BETWEEN RACES
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 70 days ago
April 10, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 10, 2013)—Mario Pino, winner of the 2013 Santa Anita George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, will accept the award in a winner’s circle ceremony between races this Sunday at Santa Anita.
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SANTA ANITA PARK TO HOST SIX BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE RACES AS PART OF 2013 SCHEDULE
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 72 days ago
April 9, 2013
WINNERS OF 67 RACES EARN AUTOMATIC BERTHS, TRAVEL AND ENTRY FEES PAID INTO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
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LEXINGTON, KY. (APRIL 8, 2013) -- THE BREEDERS' CUP ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE 2013 BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE SERIES WILL CONSIST OF 67 AUTOMATIC QUALIFYING RACES INTO THE BREEDERS' CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. THIS YEAR’S SERIES WILL BE CONDUCTED IN 10 COUNTRIES AND WILL FEATURE 48 GRADE OR GROUP 1 EVENTS, AND NINE NEW RACES. BREEDERS’ CUP WILL PAY ENTRY FEES AND PROVIDE TRAVEL ALLOWANCES FOR THE CONNECTIONS OF THE CHALLENGE WINNERS INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIPS.
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GOLDENCENTS RATES EARLY AND WINS GRADE I SANTA ANITA DERBY BY 1 ¼ LENGTHS UNDER KRIGGER; O’NEILL WINS SECOND STRAIGHT DERBY AS COLT OWNED IN-PART BY PITINO ELECTRIFIES ON-TRACK CROWD OF 33,005
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 74 days ago
April 6, 2013
By BETH HARRIS
AP Racing Writer
/>ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) _ Trainer Doug O'Neill is headed back to the Kentucky Derby a year after winning it, and this time, Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino is along for the ride.
Goldencents won the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby over even-money favorite Flashback by 1¼ lengths on Saturday not long before Pitino's team rallied to beat Wichita State 72-68 at the Final Four in Atlanta to complete the horse-loving coach's sporting daily double.
"These are the races you want to be a part of," said O'Neill, whose I'll Have Another won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness last year. "This horse has been such a cool horse. I don't think those big crowds and all the people at the Derby will be a factor for him, so I'm pumped."
In New York, Verrazano won the $1 million Wood Memorial by three-quarters of a length for trainer Todd Pletcher, keeping the colt undefeated going into the first Saturday in May.
Goldencents had it easier.
Ridden by Kevin Krigger, the brown colt ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.76. He paid $15, $5.40 and $3.40 at 6-1 odds. He could become the first black jockey to win the Kentucky Derby since Jimmy Winkfield won his second in 1902.
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CLASSY SCARLET STRIKE & BEJARANO TAKE GRADE III PROVIDENCIA STAKES; OFF AS THE 2-1 FAVORITE, THEY WEAR DOWN FRONT RUNNING BIRDLOVER
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 74 days ago
April 6, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 6, 2013)—With a resolute run through the stretch drive, 2-1 favorite Scarlet Strike and Rafael Bejarano gradually wore down front running Birdlover and Edwin Maldonado, winning Saturday’s Grade III, $150,000 Providencia Stakes by a half length while covering 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:47.52.
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JIMMY CREED, IDLE SINCE MALIBU, IMPRESSIVE IN GRADE II POTRERO GRANDE; GOMEZ, MANDELLA & HUGHES TEAM FOR SECOND GRADED STAKES WIN
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 74 days ago
April 6, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 6, 2013)—Spendthrift Farm’s Jimmy Creed, idle since winning the opening day Grade I Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26, came back firing as the 6-5 favorite in Saturday’s Grade II 6 ½ furlong Potrero Grande Stakes, winning by three quarters of a length in 1:15.03 and providing the jockey, trainer and owner triumvirate of Garrett Gomez, Richard Mandella and B. Wayne Hughes their second graded stakes win of the afternoon.
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THE ONLY KEY UPSETS SANTA ANITA ALLOWANCE FIELD AT 1 ¼ MILES ON TURF, KRIGGER GETS NATURAL HAT TRICK AND TRAINER GREENMAN SAYS MARE HEADED FOR CLOSING DAY GRADE II SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO VERSUS BOYS
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 75 days ago
April 5, 2013
JOCKEY KRIGGER ROLLS A NATURAL FOUR, WINNING THREE FOR TRAINER DOUG O’NEILL, WHO WINS FOUR OVERALL; ‘BATTING PRACTICE’ COMPLETE AS DUO WILL AGAIN TEAM IN SANTA ANITA DERBY
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ARCADIA, Calif.
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THE WHOLE DEAL LEADS THE WHOLE WAY IN $58,000 SANTA MARIA PURSE, PROVIDING MALDONADO & KNAPP WITH DOUBLES ON THE DAY
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 76 days ago
April 4, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 4, 2013)—Breaking from the outside post in Thursday’s $58,000 Santa Maria Purse, The Whole Deal was sent to the front by jockey Edwin Maldonado and he stayed there, winning by a nose while covering 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:12.78.
“I’ve ridden him before and tried to rate him, but he doesn’t like it,” said Maldonado, who along with trainer Steve Knapp, picked up his second win on the day. “He just wants to go to the lead. Today we had the six-hole and we decided to take advantage of it.
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OUTSTANDING PANEL OF JUDGES NAMED FOR SANTA ANITA/HRTV FILM FESTIVAL
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 76 days ago
April 4, 2013
Arcadia, CA, April 4, 2013 — An outstanding panel of 10 judges has once again been assembled to review and select winners from Santa Anita and HRTV’s second annual non-fiction documentary “A Day at the Races” Film Festival.
All submissions are a maximum of five minutes in length and a complete review is currently underway, with winners to be announced on Sunday, April 14.
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MULTIPLE GRADE I STAKES-PLACED SCARLET STRIKE APPEARS TO BE CLASS OF SATURDAY’S GRADE III, $150,000 PROVIDENCIA STAKES AT 1 1/8 MILES ON TURF, TEN 3-YEAR-OLD FILLIES SET TO GO
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 77 days ago
April 3, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 3, 2013)—Saturday’s Grade III, $150,000 Providencia Stakes attracted a wide-open field of ten 3-year-old fillies set to go 1 1/8 miles on grass, headed by multiple Grade I stakes-placed Scarlet Strike, who comes off a third place finish on the main track in the Grade I, one mile Las Virgenes Stakes, on March 2.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Scarlet Strike was second in the Grade I Chandelier Stakes going 1 1/16 miles on dirt Sept. 29, and was third on Cushion Track in the Grade I Hollywood Starlet Dec.
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GRADE I MALIBU CHAMP JIMMY CREED HEADS EIGHT-HORSE FIELD IN SATURDAY’S GRADE II POTRERO GRANDE, COMMA TO THE TOP, UNBRIDLED’S NOTE AMONG VETERANS SET TO COMPETE AT 6 ½ FURLONGS
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 77 days ago
April 3, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 3, 2013)—Idle since winning the Grade I, seven furlong Malibu Stakes on opening day, Dec. 26, Jimmy Creed will break from the outside in Saturday’s Grade II, $150,000 Potrero Grande Stakes for older horses at 6 ½ furlongs—a race which has attracted a field of eight hard-hitting sprinters.
Trained by Richard Mandella, Jimmy Creed won the Malibu at odds of 8-1 by three quarters of a length and earned a Beyer Speed figure of 105, his third lifetime Beyer of 100 or better.
Owned by B.
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BEHOLDER LOOMS STANDOUT IN SATURDAY’S GRADE I SANTA ANITA OAKS, ECLIPSE CHAMPION COMES OFF BIG SCORE FOR TRAINER MANDELLA
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 77 days ago
April 3, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 3, 2013)—Reigning Eclipse Champion filly Beholder, fresh off a facile win in the Grade I Las Virgenes Stakes March 2, looms a complete standout in Saturday’s Grade I, $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.
Trained by Richard Mandella, the 2012 Eclipse Juvenile Filly Champ overcame a throat ulcer and answered her doubters in winning the one mile Las Virgenes by 3 ¾ lengths at odds of 4-5-thereby stamping herself as an early favorite for the Grade I Kentucky Oaks on May 3.
Owned by B.
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STAGE SET FOR 76TH RUNNING OF GRADE I, $750,000 SANTA ANITA DERBY, FLASHBACK LIKELY FAVORITE AS BAFFERT TO SADDLE THREE OF THE NINE RUNNERS—FOUR OF WHOM EXIT GRADE II SAN FELIPE MARCH 9
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 77 days ago
April 3, 2013
GRADE I SANTA ANITA OAKS, GRADE II POTRERO GRANDE & GRADE III PROVIDENCIA STAKES ALL OFFERED ON STAR-STUDDED PROGRAM THAT BEGINS AT 12 NOON
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ARCADIA, Calif. (April 3, 2013)—Flashback, second as the even money favorite in the Grade II San Felipe Stakes March 9, heads a field of nine sophomores lined up to contest the 76th running of the Grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on Saturday—with the winner to be awarded 100 all-important qualifying points to ensure a berth in the Kentucky Derby on May 4.
Owned by Gary and Mary West, Flashback is trained by Bob Baffert, who will saddle a total of three horses as he seeks a record seventh victory in the Santa Anita’s signature race for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles.
An impressive 6 ½ length winner of the Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes on Feb. 2, Flashback got caught up in a heated head and head pace duel in the San Felipe and finished an impressive second, beaten a half length, by Hear the Ghost, who will also run in the Derby.
Following the San Felipe, Baffert announced that Garrett Gomez would replace Julien Leparoux, who had ridden the Kentucky-bred son of Tapit in all three of his career starts.
In addition to Hear the Ghost and Flashback, the third and fourth place finishers in the San Felipe, Tiz a Minister and Goldencents, will also run on Saturday.
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LIAISON IMPRESSIVE OFF BENCH, WINS $70,000 SANTANA MILE BY HALF LENGTH UNDER GARCIA, FAVORED MIDNIGHT TRANSFER SECOND
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 80 days ago
March 31, 2013
PICK SIX CARRYOVER INTO THURSDAY OF $88,542
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ARCADIA, Calif. (March 31, 2013)—Idle since well beaten in the Grade I Travers Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 25, Liaison came back running in Sunday’s $70,000 Santana Mile, defeating favored Midnight Transfer by a half length while getting the distance in 1:36.36.
Ridden by Martin Garcia, Liaison broke sharply from post position three and sat a comfortable third behind Hoorayforhollywood and Tres Borrachos through fractions of 23.74, 47.52, 1:11.80, 1:24.03, and overtook Tres Borrachos passing the eighth pole—only to be immediately engaged by Midnight Transfer and Rafael Bejarano.
“He’s a good horse,” said Garcia. “Sometimes he breaks a little slow, but today he broke sharp. I let those other two horses go and he was very comfortable in third. When it was time, I asked him and he really ran hard. When that horse (Midnight Transfer) came to us on the outside, he really dug in.”
Off as the third choice in a field of five older horses at 7-2, Liaison paid $9.00, $4.20 and $2.80. Trained by Bob Baffert and owned by Arnold Zetcher LLC, Liaison picked up $42,900 for the win, increasing his earnings to $631,794. A winner of the Grade I CashCall Futurity at two, the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Indian Charlie now has an overall mark of 13-4-1-3.
“He’s been working well for this,” said Baffert. “…We had him pretty cranked for today. He ran a great race, he showed some fight, and coming off a long layoff like that makes me think he’s gonna be a good handicap horse later on.”
Midnight Transfer, off at 6-5, trailed early and appeared full of run three wide off the turn for home.
“My horse came running at the end, and I thought he was going to get it but Liaison took off to win,” said Bejarano. “It was a good race, no excuses.”
Midnight Transfer finished 1 ¾ lengths in front of Tres Borrachos and paid $2.80 and $2.40.
The second choice at 3-1, Tres Borrachos overtook Hoorayforhollywood at the 3/16 pole and was third best under Garrett Gomez, finishing 3 ¼ lengths in front of “Hooray.”
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FAVORED OMEGA STAR TAKES $200,000 ECHO EDDIE WITH TALAMO UP
Race Tracks | Santa Anita Park | 81 days ago
March 30, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. (March 30, 2013)—In a thrilling finish, 9-5 favorite Omega Star and Joe Talamo bested 23-1 longshot Fighting Hussar and Victor Espinoza by a scant nose in Saturday’s $200,000 Echo Eddie Stakes, covering 6 ½ furlongs in 1:17.19.
With a field of 10 California-bred 3-year-olds engaged, the early lead was hotly contested, with Omega Star, who broke from post eight, an unencumbered three lengths off the lead going to the far turn.
“That was a perfect trip,” said Talamo.
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