Santa Anita
Laura's Light got the bob to take home the GIII Honeymoon S. Saturday in Arcadia. Seizing the early advantage, the gray was overtaken by Parkour (Carpe Diem), who shot out to a clear lead, clocking a half-mile in :46.98. Laura's Light remained patient, slowly closing in on the leader approaching the bend. Taking control in the lane, she was chased home by Stela Star and Croughavouke, but held them off to the line. "She's a gutty little filly and I can't say enough about the ride Abel gave her," said...
A highly anticipated rematch of the GI Beholder Mile S. is on tap in Sunday's GII Santa Maria S. at Santa Anita. Ce Ce (Elusive Quality), an impressive 3 1/4-length breakthrough winner over 'TDN Rising Star' Hard Not to Love (Hard Spun) in that affair Mar. 14, just got up in time by a head after a very wide trip in a loaded renewal of Oaklawn's GI Apple Blossom H. last time Apr. 18. Also previously under consideration for Belmont's GI Ogden Phipps S. June 13, Ce Ce looks for...
Laura's Light (Constitution) tries nine furlongs for the first time Saturday in the GII Honeymoon S. at Santa Anita. Capturing the Blue Norther S. Dec. 29 in front-running fashion going a mile on the Arcadia lawn, the bay followed suit with a win in the 5 1/2-furlong GIII Sweet Life S. Feb. 16 and faded to fourth last time on the synthetic as the odds-on favorite in the Bourbonette Oaks Mar. 14. Privately purchased by Hronis Racing following a 33-1 upset of in the G3 Killavullan S. at Leopardstown in...
Santa Anita Park will restore the name of the GI Hollywood Gold Cup to the prestigious race for older horses beginning with the 2020 running June 6. The race had been called the Gold Cup at Santa Anita since moving to the Arcadia track in 2014. "The Hollywood Gold Cup is one of the most storied races in all of American racing and we are right to remember it," said Aidan Butler, Executive Director of California Racing Operations for The Stronach Group. "Beginning when Seabiscuit won the inaugural in 1938,...
Unbeaten superstar sophomore and 'TDN Rising Star' Nadal (Blame) exited a breeze Thursday morning with a condylar fracture and has been retired. The Bob Baffert trainee was credited with a four-furlong drill in :48.80 (7/45) (XBTV Video) at his Santa Anita home base before X-rays revealed the injury and he underwent surgery, requiring two screws. "I always say to get my trophies--and I have three Eclipse Awards and one Cartier--you have to get massive scars along the way," co-owner George Bolton told the TDN. "You have to understand days like...
According to a release from the Thoroughbred Owners of California, Santa Anita will allow a limited number of CHRB-licensed owners to attend morning workouts at the track. Because attendance will be capped in line with county COVID-19 protocols, owners must work with their trainers to reserve space on a first-come, first-served basis. The area has been established in the clubhouse section of the grandstand overlooking the far turn and will contain tables and chairs spaced appropriately to conform with social distancing constructs. There will also be coffee service available. The...
Keeper Ofthe Stars, a shocking 36-1 winner of the GII Buena Vista S. last out, proved that effort was no fluke and overcame a wide draw to score convincingly in Monday's GI Gamely S. at Santa Anita. Fourth in both the GII San Clemente S. and GI Del Mar Oaks last summer, the gray annexed the local GIII Autumn Miss S. two starts later and sandwiched a runner-up try in the local Lady Shamrock S. between sixth-place runs in the GIII Red Carpet H. and GIII Megahertz S. Off as...
Taking advantage of a scorching pace in front of him, Peter Brant's Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) produced a slingshot, wide move on the far turn and kept on going to dominate the GI Shoemaker Mile S. Monday at Santa Anita, the first Grade I event at the Arcadia oval since it reopened for racing. The victory in the Win & You're In event punched Raging Bull's ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. Winning four of six to start his career as a 3-year-old, including victories in the...
8th-Santa Anita, $51,500, Msw, 5-25, 3yo/up, f/m, 5 1/2f, 1:03.61, ft. SECRET KEEPER (f, 3, Into Mischief--Candy Drawer, by Candy Ride {Arg}) propped and dropped jockey Abel Cedillo as they were beginning to parade for Monday's eighth race at Santa Anita, but she was all business during the running of the 5 1/2-furlong maiden, driving past heavily favored Fierce for Sul (Speightstown) in the final sixteenth of a mile to score by 2 1/4 lengths. Let go at 10-1, the homebred was relegated to a chasing and hard-ridden second as...
8th-SA, $50K, Msw, 3yo/up, 5 1/2f, 7:00 p.m. ET HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud's FIERCE FOR SUL (Speightstown) has strung together a series of solid Santa Anita works--including a four-furlong move in :47 flat May 10 followed by a five-furlong breeze in 1:00 3/5 (XBTV) May 18--leading up to this first go for Bob. Baffert. At the OBS March Two-year-olds in Training sale last season, the :10 flat breezer was secured for $650,000, the highest price paid for a Speightstown juvenile from 12 sold in 2019. Dam CJ's...
River Boyne (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) seeks his third straight victory Monday in the GI Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita, but he won't have it easy with 10 other talented runners signed on. Winner of the GIII La Jolla H. in 2018 and runner-up in this even last year, the dark bay had been knocking at the door of another stakes victory for some time, hitting the board in seven black-type events. He finally broke through Feb. 8 in the GIII Thunder Road S. going a mile over the local...
The GI Gamely S. looks like a face off between Chad Brown and Richard Baltas as they each saddle a strong pair of runners in this Memorial Day event at Santa Anita. Baltas has the home court advantage and he sends out GI American Oaks victress Lady Prancealot (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) with East Coast-based rider John Velazquez in the irons. Also victorious in Keeneland's GIII Valley View S. last October, she was most recently fourth to the reopposing Keeper Ofthe Stars (Midnight Lute) in the GII Buena Vista S....