        |
|
 |
HK Cup Entries Hong Kong Cup works Hollywood Derby Day P. Elizabeth & Coronation Leparoux wins #3000 |
|
|
 Frankie Dettori celebrates aboard Newgate after winning the Big Cap. |
The highlight race of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting is the $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) presented by Yaamava' Resort and Casino, featuring the best older handicap horses on the west coast going 1 1/4 miles over the main track in Arcadia. Due to heavy rains on Saturday, the originally drawn Big 'Cap card was moved to Sunday. Conditions were typical for early March for the 16,581 fans in attendance with cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 60's, with both main and turf tracks downgraded to "good". Newgrange was sent off as the lukewarm 3-1 favorite in the field of 7 off wins in the San Antonio (G2) and San Pasqual (G2). In to challenge him included 13-4 second choice Newgate, second in the San Pasqual, and 7-2 third choice Highland Falls making his stakes debut off allowance wins at Churchill Downs and Fair Grounds.
 Down the stretch in the Santa Anita Handicap |
Jockey Hector Berrios sent 22-1 longest shot Subsanador to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.23, 47.09, 1:12.15, and 1:37.05 while pressed by 10-1 Mixto and stalked by Newgrange and 4-1 fourth choice Reincarnate. Turning for home Subsanador continued to lead but Newgate, fifth early under Frankie Dettori, came out 4 wide and rallied to win by a head in 2:03.49. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back to Reincarnate third, while favorite Newgrange tired late to finish 6th beaten 11 3/4 lengths.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 5 Newgate Dettori 8.40 4.20 3.20 6 Subsanador Berrios 15.00 6.00 1 Reincarnate Hernandez 3.80 Winning Time: 2:03.49 $1 Exacta 5-6 45.30 $0.50 Trifecta 5-6-1 193.70 $0.10 Superfecta 5-6-1-2 70.11 |
Left: Newgate in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Bob Baffert said, "We always thought that he was going to be a better horse as he gets older and we've been patient, just getting races into him and today was supposed to be his coming out party kind of race. I was getting a little worried there turning for home it looked like that other horse got away but he just dug in. It is such a historical race and just to win it, for our team and with Frankie Dettori, it really makes it that much more special. He was telling me when Alysheba and Ferdinand ran together Santa Anita was just packed. So, he knows how historical this race is. What a day, I am just blessed and happy that I have a hard working crew that just works hard to get these horses ready. Today they got rewarded with their wins. Those grooms, I've never seen them happier."
Right: Newgate in the paddock before the race. Winning jockey Frankie Dettori said, "When I was a kid here in the late 80s, there were 60,000 people here to see Ferdinand and Alysheba and you just couldn't move. I was in awe. I rode in the Big 'Cap the first time last year and it was a dream. And to win it, I couldn't ask for anything more. It is a big feather in my cap, they don't get bigger than The Santa Anita Big 'Cap. I followed Victor (Espinoza on Newgrange) and I sat pretty low until the quarter pole. I took my horse to the outside, I had a bit of weight pull with some of the horses. I thought I would get to the line okay and in fairness Subsanador gave me a good fight. The last twenty yards we got out in front, and I couldn't believe it. I could not believe that I had done it."
Left: Second place finisher Subsanador in the post parade. The John Sadler trainee improved his record to 7 wins, 2 seconds, and 1 third in 14 starts, earning $241,124 for owner Stud Facundito.
Right: Third place finisher Reincarnate in the walking ring. The Bob Baffert trainee improved his record to 3 wins, 3 seconds, and 3 thirds in 12 starts, earning $484,150 for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.
Sixth place finisher and beaten favorite Newgrange returns after the race. The Phil D'Amato trainee has a record of 7 wins, 0 seconds, and 4 thirds in 14 starts, earning $1,008,134 for owners David Bernsen, Little Red Feather Racing, and Rockingham Ranch.
 Imagination wins the San Felipe |
Wine Me Up and Imagination dueled for the lead all the way around through fractions of 23.51, 47.04, 1:11.51, and 1:37.86. In the final strides Imagination under Frankie Dettori gained the lead for good, finishing a head in front of stablemate Wine Me Up in 1:44.55. It was a long 6 3/4 lengths back to Mc Vay third, and 31 more to Scatify last. There was a stewards' inquiry into the first turn where Scatify bumped into Imagination but the result stood.
Left: Imagination in the winner's circle. Winning co-owner Tom Ryan said, "That was a great race. I didn't know which way it went at the wire. It was a little bit of a messy race early on, he had to recollect himself. He kind of got scared, these are young three-year-old colts, they are learning their craft. It is amazing you could have a 12-horse field and nothing, and in a four-horse field anything can happen. It's good to see him have the confidence to put it back together and not back down from a fight and get there at the wire. I think there is a lot of potential in this horse. He is just learning as he goes, and I think the further the better. He is a classy colt, he's always shown it, he looks it and thankfully his ability matches his looks."
Right: Imagination heads back to the barn after the race. Winning trainer Bob Baffert said, "(Scatify) came in on Imagination, it scared him, and he took off with him. After the horse bumped him, it took him way off the rail and slowed him down. I thought Imagination won. Last time he was in front, he got beat. At least today he showed some fight. I think he is a slow developer because of the way he's bred. He's not a sprinter, so I wasn't going to bring him back that quick. He could've used an extra week, but you have to run these horses when you can. We're trying to develop these horses, so it was good for both of them. Wine Me Up ran tough. It's like watching the 49ers Super Bowl game. Unfortunately, someone has to lose, but I'm proud of them both. They both showed up. That's all you can ask for."
Left: Second place finisher Wine Me Up in the paddock before the race. The Bob Baffert trainee improved his record to 1 win, 3 seconds, and 0 thirds in 6 starts, earning $241,200 for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman.
Right: Third place finisher Mc Vay returns after the race. The John Shirreffs trainee improved his record to 0 wins, 1 second, and 1 third in 4 starts, earning $61,500 for owner C R K Stable.
Down the stretch in the San Felipe Stakes.
 Du Jour wins the Frank E. Kilroe Mile |
Jockey Kazushi Kimura sent 6-1 fourth choice Goliad to the lead first time by through fractions of 22.82, 45.75, and 1:09.75 while pressed by First Peace and stalked by 18-1 Prince Abama. Turning for home, Goliad tired as Du Jour, 6th early under Flavien Prat, found room to gain the lead through 7f in 1:22.09. Du Jour surged clear late to win by 2 lengths over late-running favorite Easter in 1:33.95. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to 61-1 longest shot Ah Jeez third.
Left: Du Jour in the winner's circle. Winning co-owner Debbie Lanni said, "It was so exciting, so I won't say unexpected but very exciting. In the Breeders' Cup he just wasn't himself I don't think He only finished three and a half lengths behind, but three and a half short."
Right: Du Jour returns after the race. Winning jockey Flavien Prat said, "We had a great ride. The horse showed some speed then settled down nicely down the backside. You always run well fresh, and on paper it seemed like this race was going to have a good amount of pace. My job was just to make sure we were in a comfortable zone, so he was able to show his talent through the final stretch."
Left: Second place finisher and beaten favorite Easter in the paddock. The Phil D'Amato trainee improved his record to 7 wins, 4 seconds, and 3 thirds in 20 starts, earning $627,910 for owner Madaket Stables.
Right: Third place finisher Ah Jeez in the post parade. The Doug O'Neill trainee improved his record to 3 wins, 1 second, and 4 thirds in 18 starts, earning $240,248 for owner Mark Davis.
The last race of the card was the $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes (G2) featuring a field of 9 older fillies and mares going 1 mile on the turf. Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G2) third place finisher Ruby Nell was sent off as the 4-5 favorite over 4-1 second choice Bellabel, winner of the Megahertz Stakes (G3), and 11-2 third choice Mouffy, second in the Megahertz.
Jockey Edwin Maldonado sent Ruby Nell to a clear lead first time by, saving ground through fractions of 23.55, 46.88, and 1:10.81 while pressed by Bellabel and stalked by 11-1 Be Your Best. Turning for home Ruby Nell held a 2 length lead through 7f in 1:22.57. Mouffy, 4th early under Frankie Dettori, put in a strong late rally but Ruby Nell held her off to win by 3/4 length in 1:35.01. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to late-running 25-1 Nadette third.
Left: Ruby Nell in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Richard Mandella said, "That ride looked like what Edwin does. I interfered with instruction last time, so I stayed out today. 'Ruby' is such a good filly. She still has plenty in her, and there might be more to come. I never had a doubt that Ruby would win, but the training schedule on all these horses the last couple weeks has been difficult. Keeping their minds right is pretty tough. I'm very proud that she handled it as well as she did."
Right: Ruby Nell in the paddock before the race. Winning jockey Edwin Maldonado said, "I just let her do her thing. She wants it her way and even if you fight her, she's going to do it her way, so I just let her do her thing. It was tough to watch her and not be on her in the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf, but I was still rooting for her. I'm just glad Richard gave me the opportunity to be back on her, it's a blessing. I knew my job was to make it wire to wire, just get her to relax and not fight her. When she hit the backside, she wanted it her way, so I said, 'Okay, go ahead.' And she got the job done today. She is getting stronger."
Left: Second place finisher Mouffy in the paddock. The Jonathan Thomas trainee improved her record to 4 wins, 4 seconds, and 0 thirds in 10 starts, earning $197,451 for owner-breeder Augustin Stables.
Right: Third place finisher Nadette in the walking ring. The Neil Drysdale trainee improved her record to 3 wins, 3 seconds, and 2 thirds in 18 starts, earning $176,634 for owner Team Valor.
Back to Horse-Races.Net main page
| Search Horse-Races.Net: |
