California-breds shine in closing-day stakes at Santa Anita
Father’s Day was closing day at Santa Anita, with a quartet of $100,000 stakes bringing the 2020-2021 winter/spring meet to an exciting conclusion. […]
Juan Hernandez
Maxim Rate hits new high in Gamely
The ninth furlong of Monday’s $301,000 Gamely S. (G1) turned out to be a bridge too far for 9-10 favorite Charmaine’s Mia, but it was right in the target zone for Maxim Rate. […]
Award Winner takes top honors in Whittingham; United last
Jockey Juan Hernandez won two of Santa Anita’s three graded races on Saturday, beating the favorite both times. The biggest surprise came in the $196,000 Charles Whittingham S. (G2). […]
Swiss Skydiver returns like a champ in Beholder Mile
Saturday’s $301,000 Beholder Mile (G1) honors a multiple champion mare who defeated males. Hence it was fitting that Swiss Skydiver, last year’s Preakness (G1)-winning champion three-year-old filly, returned triumphant in the Santa Anita feature. “Maybe […]
Express Train arrives in San Pasqual
Runner-up to Saudi Cup-bound Charlatan in the Dec. 26 Malibu (G1), C R K Stables’ Express Train put it all together in a resounding stakes breakthrough in Saturday’s $200,000 San Pasqual S. (G2) at Santa […]
Viadera nips Brown stablemate Blowout, gives Juddmonte a seventh Matriarch
Such is the depth of the Chad Brown barn that not only did his Viadera and Blowout fight out the finish in Sunday’s $301,500 Matriarch Stakes (G1), but neither was regarded as his best chance. […]
Domestic Spending up in time in Hollywood Derby
The theme of Del Mar’s Turf Festival has been the dominance of shippers from the East. On Saturday, the trainer/jockey tandem of Chad Brown and Irad Ortiz took two of three graded stakes, capped by […]
Extra Hope turns tables on Midcourt in Native Diver
Twelve months after futilely chasing a loose-on-the-lead Midcourt, Extra Hope turned the tables on that rival when taking the early initiative and never looking back in Saturday’s $98,000 Native Diver Stakes (G3) at Del Mar. […]
United, Mucho Unusual capitalize as controlling speed in BC preps on Santa Anita turf
LNJ Foxwoods’ United was already the class of the field in Saturday’s $201,000 John Henry Turf Championship (G2), and the 7-10 favorite magnified that advantage by dictating the pace at Santa Anita. Last time out, […]
Big Runnuer too fast for Eddie D. rivals
Big Runnuer coasted on an unchallenged lead and had plenty left to stave off a belated bid from Wildman Jack to take the $201,000 Eddie D. Stakes (G2) on opening day of Santa Anita’s fall […]