In addition to a highly anticipated return to a conventional Pick Six with a 70/30 split, horseplayers will be greeted by an all-new wager on opening day of Santa Anita's 19-day Autumn Meet on Friday, Sept. 29—a $3 Santa Anita Pick 3, comprised of the final three turf races on each day's card.
With turf racing gaining rapidly in popularity both nationally and locally, track management is hopeful this new wager will offer players significant value with larger and more competitive fields on a consistent basis.
“Turf racing has accounted for over 50 percent of the races conducted at Santa Anita over the past two years and it really has become the foundation of our product,” said Jason Egan, Santa Anita Director of Racing and Racing Secretary. “The addition of an all-turf Pick 3 to our menu was a logical move and one that hopefully, will prove popular with our customers.”
Santa Anita's Autumn Meet will be highlighted by the 40th running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships on Nov. 3 & 4, with The Great Race Place hosting the equivalent of horseracing's Super Bowl for a record 11th time.
“It's an honor to host the Breeders' Cup and we are anticipating a truly exceptional event, with top equine talent coming from Europe, Japan and South America to compete alongside our North American stars,” said Egan. “It promises to be an outstanding two days of racing and we're very excited to showcase the best athletes–equine and human, on racing's biggest stage.”
First post time on opening day, Sept. 29, is at 1 p.m. and Santa Anita will once again offer fans free admission and parking as well as $3 beers and $5 margaritas on all Fridays, excepting Breeders' Cup day one—Friday, Nov. 3.
With expectations running high, the Grade 3, $100,000 Chillingworth Stakes, for fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs, will highlight the opening day card Sept. 29.
On Saturday, Sept. 30, four stakes, headed by the Grade 1, $300,000 Awesome Again, for three-year-olds and up at a mile and one eighth, will be included in a tremendous overall card with special early first post time of 12:30 p.m.
In addition to the Awesome Again, the Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, presented by Estrella Jalisco at six furlongs, the Grade 2, $200,000 Eddie D, at about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course and the Grade 2, $200,000 City of Hope Mile, will also share center stage.
The Autumn Meet opening weekend will be capped on Sunday, Oct. 1 by four stakes—the Grade 2, $200,000 Zenyatta, for fillies and mares at a mile and one sixteenth, the Grade 2, $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship at a mile and one quarter on turf, the Grade 3, $100,000 Tokyo City Cup at a marathon mile and one half and by the $100,000 Unzip Me Stakes for three-year-old fillies at about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf.
For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.
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