Santa Anita

Stark Contrast (Caravaggio) did very little wrong during his juvenile season, and kicked off 2026 in a similar vein, winning his sophomore bow in Thursday's Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita. Stark Contrast didn't appear to appreciate the main track when finishing fourth in a six-furlong dirt maiden at Del Mar in August, but immediately turned things around to win next time going a mile on that venue's turf course on Sept. 6. Making it two-straight when coming from off the pace to take the one-mile GIII Zuma Beach Stakes...

4th-SA, $70k, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 4:37 p.m. ET A Keeneland September buyback, FEISTY RED HEAD (Curlin) changed hands for $110,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton October Sale and turned in a racy gallop ahead of last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale, ultimately hammering for $650,000. The filly's dam, two-time graded-stakes winner Tin Type Gal (Tapit), is one of four winners produced by GISW Miss Shop (Deputy Minister), and the female family also includes GSW & MGISP Trappe Shot (Tapit) and GISW Power Broker (Pulpit). Three Chimneys homebred French Blue (Gun Runner)...

Santa Anita Park has canceled live racing Wednesday, Dec. 31 and Thursday, Jan. 1 because of a strengthening rainstorm coming in from the Pacific. The storm, which was forecast to hit on Thursday, has gathered strength and is now expected to impact Southern California around noon Wednesday. The two-day storm is expected to bring up to three inches of rain to the area surrounding Santa Anita Park. The canceled races will be rescheduled in the coming weeks with the first make-up day coming next Thursday, Jan. 8.

Jockey Antonio Fresu will be "out for some time" after suffering a broken toe in his left foot in Sunday's seventh race, agent Ron Anderson reported Monday morning. Fresu was aboard 2-1 favorite Anmer Hall in a downhill sprint when they were put in tight quarters turning into the stretch and hit the rail. Anderson said Fresu's left riding boot was split as a result of the incident. He was subsequently sent to a local hospital for further evaluation and later released. "We'll know more later [on Monday], but he's...

  Trainer Jonathan Thomas earned a graded stakes double at Santa Anita Sunday with Augustin Stable's Ambaya (Ghostzapper), winner of the GI American Oaks, and Bob LaPenta's Hiding in Honduras (Dialed In), victorious in the GII Mathis Mile. Thomas also saddled the third-place finisher in the American Oaks, Will Then (War of Will). According to Thomas, all three horses were doing well Monday morning. Ambaya got up to win the 10-furlong American Oaks by a half-length after a ground saving trip and then splitting horses under Kazushi Kimura, who rode...

Bob Baffert came out swinging on Santa Anita's opening day card on Sunday, with Nysos (Nyquist), Goal Oriented (Not This Time)--both TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard, and Usha (Tiz the Law), coming home winners in the GII Laffit Pincay Jr., GI Malibu and GI La Brea, respectively. According to the Hall of Famer, the trio were "doing well" on Monday morning. Baffert also indicated that Nysos and Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach), runner up in the Laffit Pincay Jr., are among potential candidates for the G1 Saudi Cup in Riyadh...

Making her Grade I debut and just her second start in stakes company, Usha (Tiz the Law) dazzled through the final two furlongs to romp home in the GI La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita Sunday, giving her sire his first Grade I winner. A highly-touted debut runner during the Del Mar summer in 2024, the $600,000 OBS April grad has the unfortunate luck of running behind several classier stablemates including the likes of GISW Tenma (Nyquist) and GSW Non Compliant (Tiz the Law). Being a New York-bred, Usha then...

  Nysos (Nyquist) followed up on his win in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile with a thrilling victory over stablemate Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach) in the GII Laffit Pincay, Jr. Stakes on Santa Anita's delayed opening-day card Sunday. Sent off the 1-5 favorite, Nysos was a little flat-footed at the break, but recovered quickly to track pacesetting Vodka Vodka (Stay Thirsty) from the rail, with Nevada Beach parked just to his outside. Vodka Vodka was pressed by Bartholdy (Mendelssohn) through a quarter in :24.00 and a half in :48.44....

The opening day card at Santa Anita's Classic Meet, traditionally held Dec. 26, has been postponed two days and will now be held next Sunday, Dec. 28. Track officials made the decision to delay the start of the meet in the face of forecasted heavy rains in the area beginning Tuesday and continuing through Friday. "With the amount of rain being forecast, it's important to make this call as early as possible to give everyone advance notice," said Santa Anita General Manager Nate Newby. "Everyone looks forward to opening day...

Tom Ryan's observation that California graded stakes have been decimated by the graded stakes committee is spot on, but does not delve into the issue deeply nor address solutions. I applaud him speaking out against a system that adheres to a doctrine of the past, which evaluates many criteria while ignoring the fact that all graded stakes (save a select few) will be the domain of slot-enhanced, subsidized racetracks in the near term. The idea that the Breeders' Cup and/or Jockey Club could ignore this trend while sitting idly by...

WatchandWager.com has renewed agreements with Monarch Content Management Group and the New York Racing Association (NYRA) to accept wagers on their racetracks in 2026, according to a press release from the betting outfit on Thursday. The renewals with Monarch allow WatchandWager players to place bets at 19 racetracks, including Gulfstream and Santa Anita, while the NYRA deal gives those horseplayers access to 17 racetracks, which includes Saratoga. WatchandWager has obtained renewals of all of its state-by-state ADW licenses for 2026. Among those individual licenses are California, Colorado, Kentucky, New York...

Edited Press Release A highly respected team of equine veterinarians is set to serve the 2025-26 racing season at Santa Anita Park starting on Friday, Dec. 26 with opening day of the Classic Meet. Under the leadership of Dr. Dionne Benson, Chief Veterinary Officer of Santa Anita's parent company 1/ST Racing, a total of seven veterinarians will be on hand to oversee every aspect of training and racing at Santa Anita. Santa Anita will host a total of 78 race days from the start of the traditional Classic Meet until...