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Santa Anita To Permit Limited Number Of Fans Starting April 2 – Santa Anita Derby Eve

Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., will reopen to the public at limited capacity beginning Friday, April 2, in keeping with state of California's guidelines for large sporting event venues. The opening, which comes as Los Angeles County moves into the red tier for COVID-19, is the day before the 84th running of the prestigious Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, traditionally one of the highlights on the Southern California sports calendar.

Fans must purchase tickets (which includes an assigned seat) in advance of arrival at Santa Anita. In accordance with state requirements for re-opening, walk-up or General Admission tickets cannot be sold, though that could change as the COVID-19 numbers improve in LA County.

To receive information on ticket sales as soon as they become available, fans are encouraged to sign up for Santa Anita's Newsletter at santaanita.com/open.

“We are extremely excited to welcome back our racing fans to Santa Anita, just in time for the Santa Anita Derby,” said Nate Newby, Santa Anita senior vice president and general manager. “It hasn't been the same without the people who are so important to this sport. While the current restrictions are going to limit the size of the crowds, we are working hard to provide a memorable experience for our guests and to thank them for their support.”

Tickets will include a seat, program, and parking. All fans must follow stringent guidelines and protocols, including mandatory wearing of cloth face coverings and maintaining social distancing at all times. Box seats, tables and individual seats will be spaced out and sold to maximize social distancing.

The Grade 1, $750,000 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby is traditionally one of the track's biggest days. Last year, with the facility closed to all but the most essential personnel, Authentic finished second to Honor A.P. prior to becoming the 19th Kentucky Derby winner to have prepped in the Santa Anita Derby. Authentic closed out 2021 with a win in the Breeders' Cup Classic en route to earning Horse of the Year honors.

First post time for Friday, April 2 will be 1:00 p.m. PT, and first post for Santa Anita Derby Day on April 3 will be 12 Noon PT.

For up-to-date information, please visit santaanita.com

The post Santa Anita To Permit Limited Number Of Fans Starting April 2 – Santa Anita Derby Eve appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Santa Anita Going To 1 P.M. First Post; Freshening Turf After April 3 Santa Anita Derby Weekend

With Daylight Savings Time now upon us, Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., is adjusting its post time from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. beginning this Friday, March 19. This Saturday is the first day of spring and just two weeks hence, Saturday, April 3, the best 3-year-olds in the West will line up for the 84th running of the Santa Anita Derby, a race that has produced 18 Kentucky Derby winners and a pair of Triple Crown Champions.

“We've got a lot more daylight with time change and by starting 30 minutes later each day, we're also in a better position on the back end of our cards in terms of competition from eastern simulcast signals,” said Chris Merz, Santa Anita's director of racing and racing secretary. “For the most part, we've usually got beautiful weather this time of the year and this helps us to take advantage of that as well.”

In addition to a shift in post time, Merz also advises that the track will be running on Saturdays and Sundays for two weeks following the Santa Anita Derby.

“We're going to be freshening the turf course and this is part of our planned maintenance schedule,” said Merz. “For those two weekends, turf racing will be limited. On April 10 and 11, we'll be carding main track races only and on the 17th and 18th, we'll run a maximum of two turf races per day.

“This is the perfect time of the year, with all the additional sunshine, to give the course a break and let it rejuvenate. We'll come back with a comprehensive turf and main track schedule and return to our regular Friday through Sunday racing weeks beginning April 23 through closing day, June 20.”

With the turf course unavailable on April 10, the $75,000 Mizdirection Stakes, for older fillies and mares at six furlongs on turf, will now be run the following week, on Saturday, April 17.

Racing resumes with an eight-race card on Friday. For additional information on live racing, please visit santaanita.com.

The post Santa Anita Going To 1 P.M. First Post; Freshening Turf After April 3 Santa Anita Derby Weekend appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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First Mare in Foal to Honor A. P.

Grade I winner Honor A. P. (Honor Code–Hollywood Story, by A.P. Indy) has his first mare confirmed in foal, Lane's End announced Tuesday.

The first mare scanned in foal is stakes winner and graded stakes-placed Omaticaya (Ire) (Bernstein), owned by Dell Ridge Farm, LLC. She is from the female family of Grade I winner Muhtarram (Alleged), champion St. Hilarion (Sir Ivor), and graded stakes winners Ballet de France (Northern Dancer) and Profit Column (Private Account).

An $850,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase, Honor A. P. broke his maiden as a 2-year-old by over five lengths with a 91 Beyer and bested eventual Horse of the Year Authentic (Into Mischief), one of only two horses to do so, in his GI Santa Anita Derby victory as a 3-year-old by 2 3/4 lengths with a 102 Beyer.

Honor A. P. stands for $15,000. For more information, contact Jill McCully at jillmac@lanesend.com or Chris Knehr at cknehr@lanesend.com.

The post First Mare in Foal to Honor A. P. appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Options Open for Get Her Number

Gary Barber's Get Her Number (Dialed In), off since winning the GI American Pharoah S. last September, continued to work towards his comeback with a four-furlong drill in :49.80 (1/1) at San Luis Rey Training Center Monday. While his next start has yet to be confirmed, it could come as soon as next Saturday's GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn Park.

“I'm happy with the work and he's doing very well,” trainer Peter Miller said Monday afternoon. “We are just deciding whether to put him on the plane Wednesday for the Rebel or there is a possibility of training up to the [Apr. 3 GI] Santa Anita Derby. We have a lot of options. We are just going to sleep on it tonight and then pow-wow tomorrow with the ownership group. Then make a decision and live with the consequences.”

Get Her Number, a $45,000 purchase at last year's OBS Spring Sale, opened his career with a win over five furlongs on the turf at Del Mar in August and he set the pace before settling for fourth in the Sept. 7 Del Mar Juvenile Turf. He was making his first start on dirt when he scored a 3/4-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah, but was sidelined after that effort.

“He's definitely more mature,” Miller said of the colt's progression from two to three. “He's a little bigger and stronger. He was a little bit nervous as a 2-year-old and he's settled down some. So we are pleased with the horse, we're just trying to figure out the best thing to do with him.”

While Miller agreed it can be frustrating to have a Grade I winning 2-year-old in the barn as the Derby trail heats up all around him, the trainer said he was content to keep his options open.

“The Derby has never been my primary goal with any horse,” Miller said. “It's just trying to do the right thing and if it falls in place, great, and if not, we can look at the [May 15 GI] Preakness S. or we can look elsewhere.”

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