December, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Business Brisk For Santa Anita Opener

In spite of six races moved from the turf to the dirt, resulting in 10 program scratches, a total of $2.3 million was wagered on track and total pari-mutuel handle was $19.4 million, making it the third-best opening day figures ever.

“We really want to thank the fans for supporting us and the horsemen for going with the changes and participating,” said Santa Anita Senior Vice President and General Manager, Nate Newby. “Although it didn't rain yesterday, we had over 4 1/2 inches of rain in the five days leading into Sunday, so the decision was made to come off the turf.

“I want to acknowledge the great job Dennis Moore and his team did yesterday in having the main track in tremendous shape. We had great racing and some great performances, just a fabulous day,” Newby added.

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Practical Joke’s Girl With a Dream Takes Letellier Memorial

Girl With a Dream broke sharply and made all to win the Letellier Memorial S. and become the fifth stakes winner for her freshman sire Practical Joke (Into Mischief) Monday at Fair Grounds. The 3-5 favorite, adding Lasix for this effort, grabbed the lead and was pressed through an opening quarter in :22.49. She was joined by stablemate Com' on Sweet Luv at the top of the lane after a half in :46.42 and determinedly held that rival at bay to the wire.

Girl With a Dream graduated by 6 3/4 lengths in her five-furlong bow at Ellis Park July 24. A well-beaten eighth after a troubled trip in the Sept. 5 GI Spinaway S., she was second in a Keeneland optional claimer Oct. 21 before winning a six-furlong Churchill allowance last time out Nov. 13.

Henley, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner and multiple Grade I placed Mr. Commons (Artie Schiller), produced a filly by Twirling Candy last year and was bred to Gift Box for 2022. Her yearling filly sold for $110,000 at this year's Keeneland September sale. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

LETELLIER MEMORIAL S., $75,000, Fair Grounds, 12-27, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.84, ft.
1–GIRL WITH A DREAM, 122, f, 2, by Practical Joke
                1st Dam: Henley, by Corinthian
                2nd Dam: Joustabout, by Apalachee
                3rd Dam: Fleetside Review, by Quadratic
($115,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Jim Bakke
& Gerald Isbister; B-Machmer Hall & D + J Racing Stable LLC
(KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $47,250. Lifetime
Record: 5-3-1-0, $170,720. *Fifth stakes winner for freshman
sire (by Into Mischief).
2–Com' On Sweet Luv, 118, f, 2, Jimmy Creed–Like a Charm, by
Quality Road. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-James Paliafito, JoAnn
Adams & Anna Marie Carrico; B-James Paliafito (KY); T-Brad H.
Cox. $15,000.
3–Mystique Saboteur, 116, f, 2, Gun Runner–Jemima's Pearl,
by Distorted Humor. ($50,000 Ylg '20 KEEJAN; $27,000 RNA Ylg
'20 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Rebel Thoroughbreds, LLC;
B-Gulf Coast Stables LLC (LA); T-Steve Margolis. $7,500.
Margins: 1, 6, 3/4. Odds: 0.70, 2.00, 17.70.
Also Ran: Implosion, Runnin Happy, Red Hot Moon, Julesforyou. Scratched: Microbiome.

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Santa Anita Cancels Thursday Card Due To Rain; Friday’s Stakes Pushed To The Weekend

With substantial rain forecast for Southern California later this week, Santa Anita Park has proactively cancelled racing for Thursday, Dec. 30.

Live racing will return Friday, Dec. 31, but the three turf stakes races slated for that day have been moved to the weekend when the weather should be much improved.

The Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel now will be run on Saturday, Jan. 1, with the two 2-year-old turf stakes (Eddie Logan & Blue Norther) to be held on Sunday, Jan. 2.

With six races shifted from turf to dirt, resulting in 10 program scratches, business prospects for Santa Anita's 85th Winter/Spring Meet opener were a bit subdued on Sunday, but business was indeed brisk. With $2.3 million wagered on-track, total pari-mutuel handle was $19.4 million, making it the third-best Opening Day handle ever.

“We really want to thank the fans for supporting us and the horsemen for going with the changes and participating,” said Santa Anita Senior Vice President and General Manager, Nate Newby. “Although it didn't rain yesterday, we had over 4 ½ inches of rain in the five days leading into Sunday, so the decision was made to come off the turf.

“I want to acknowledge the great job Dennis Moore and his team did yesterday in having the main track in tremendous shape. We had great racing and some great performances, just a fabulous day.”

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Flightline Earns Highest Beyer Of The Year For Malibu Romp

OK, so he wasn't beating Knicks Go, Essential Quality or Medina Spirit, but in racing right now, it seems there's Flightline and then there's everybody else.

The million-dollar son of Tapit exceeded all the pre-race hyperbole, displaying beyond a doubt he was more than the flavor of the month with a memorable victory in the Grade 1 Runhappy Malibu Stakes, opening day headliner at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Despite a slightly slow start and bumping with second choice Dr. Schivel in the seven-furlong race, Flightline never took a deep breath, winning by 11 ½ lengths, widening as he crossed the wire, getting seven furlongs in 1:21.37.

Coupled with his first two victories by a combined margin of 26 lengths, the three-year-old bay colt has won his three starts by a combined 37 ½ lengths, a tad over 12 lengths per race.

“He came out of the race good,” said John Sadler Monday morning. Sadler conditions Flightline for Hronis Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Summer Wind Equine LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing LLC.

“We're not looking at anything yet,” Sadler added, when asked about Flightline's next possible race. “We don't have any plans yet. It's too early for that,” although in a post-race TV interview he did mention the Saudi Cup and the Met Mile.

“The bigger picture point I was trying to make is that he could run in any race, but we haven't honed in on anything, obviously,” Sadler said.

“The horse is on a different level. All has to go right, but we might be looking at a historic-type horse before it's all over.

“We celebrated Christmas a day late.”

Indeed, and the celebration was further validated this morning when it became known that the freakishly good colt by Tapit had earned an astronomical 118 Beyer Speed Figure—best in America for 2021.

“It's the top Beyer of the year, surpassing the 114 posted by Flightline (Sept. 5) and Baby Yoda (Sept. 4) in separate races in September,” said Santa Anita Morning Line Maker Jon White. “Of course, Baby Yoda finished a distant second to Flightline yesterday.”

And so now, it is with great anticipation that horseplayers, not to mention racing secretaries everywhere, await Flightline's next assignment.

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