santa anita | Horse Racing Free Tips

Red King Records First Stakes Victory In San Juan Capistrano

Third in the race a year ago, Red King took center stage in the 81st renewal of the Grade III, $100,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., as he forged by odds-on favorite Ward 'n Jerry at the top of the stretch en route to an impressive 4 ¼ length win under Umberto Rispoli. Trained by Phil D'Amato, Red King, a 6-year-old horse by English Channel, navigated the marathon mile and three quarters on turf in 2:46.67.

Breaking from the top of Santa Anita's legendary Camino Real Turf Course, Red King was unhurried early and was fifth, about nine lengths off of dueling leaders Kershaw and Ward 'n Jerry. Fifth, but only five lengths back as the field angled up the backside, Red King moved into third, about 2 ½ lengths off the leaders midway around the far turn and wheeled three-deep turning for home, from where he inhaled Ward 'n Jerry approaching the furlong pole.

“Growing up here in LA, this was always one of my favorite races as a kid,” said D'Amato. “I remember I used to stand on the apron way past the wire and watch them come home in this race, just so I could take it all in. It's an amazing race and it's really cool to win it.

“My horse won his last race and that picked his confidence up. It looked like maybe the favorite moved a little soon and Umberto was in the right spot.”

A first condition allowance winner going a flat mile on turf May 24, Red King was off at 7-2 and paid $9.80, $4.80 and $2.60.

Owned by Little Red Feather Racing Gordon Jacobsen and Philip Belmonte, Red King, who is out of the A.P. Indy mare Youre Speeding, picked up his first ever stakes win and his sixth win from 27 career starts. With the winner's share of $60,000, he now has earnings of $278,115.

“It was my first time going from the top of the downhill and … it is beautiful,” said Italian native Rispoli, who was also riding Red King for the first time. “The grass is amazing, it's a really good track. It's been a long time since I've gone so far in a race because in Europe, we used to go quite enough every day. But it was a good feeling, obviously you need a horse like that.”

Siberian Iris, the lone female in the lineup, rallied from far back for the place, finishing three quarters of a length in front of Ward 'n Jerry. Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke Siberian Iris was off at 7-1 and paid $6.20 and $3.20.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Ward 'n Jerry tired badly late and at 3-5, paid $2.10 to show.

Fractions on the race were 23.21, 46.66, 1:10.66, 1:37.53, 2:04.62 and 2:30.47.

The post Red King Records First Stakes Victory In San Juan Capistrano appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Hit it a Bomb’s First Winner Blows Up the Tote at Santa Anita

Dismissed at 21-1 despite a flashy local tab, Chris Drakos and Ryan Hanson’s WESTON (g, 2, Hit It a Bomb–Elke, by Dixie Union) blasted out of the gate and never looked back to become the first winner for his freshman sire (by War Front). Scrubbed along to seize a narrow advantage on the fence, the $7,000 KEESEP bargain buy headed for home with a clear advantage as only $550,000 OBSMAR buy Ambivalent (Constitution) seemed to have any shot to catch him. Weston never looked back, however, and streaked home two lengths in front, stopping the clock in :52.27. Sales history: $7,000 ylg ’19 KEEJAN; $7,000 ylg ’19 KEESEP. O-Chris Drakos & Ryan Hanson. B-Evadi Farm Team (Ky). T-Ryan Hanson.

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Through Starts And Stops Of Santa Anita Meet, Leading Rider Prat Stayed Focused And Fit

Flavien Prat won Santa Anita's riding title in a landslide. Going into Sunday's 12-race closing-day program at the Arcadia, Calif., track, the final numbers are a mere formality as Prat had an insurmountable 89-61 lead over runner-up Abel Cedillo after winning five races on Saturday.

He has no chance of breaking Laffit Pincay's record of 138 victories at a Santa Anita meet, set in 1970-71, but the 27-year-old Frenchman's achievement was a virtual fait accompli throughout the undulating “Races Without Faces” meet, especially after he won six races on the card May 17.

It's been a team effort.

Due to the pandemic, there were starts, stops and intermissions at the current campaign, so with regard to specific numbers such as wins, mounts and days raced at past meets, this was similar to the proverbial comparison of apples and oranges.

But considering the circumstances, Prat's agent, Derek Lawson, will take it.

“I don't know how Pincay won 138, even though he probably rode in more races and on more days,” said Lawson, agent six years now for reigning Kentucky Derby winner Prat. “As for us, it wasn't just what we endured, because the entire country endured a shutdown.

“Both Flavien and I stayed focused by watching races that were available to us, and physically, he trained as hard as he possibly could.

“He didn't slow down; just kept training and working out, riding the stationary bicycle in his garage 21 miles a day, swimming and using weights he purchased and had in his home.

“He also watched whatever old races that were available and kept his mind in the game. It was the same with me. We focused on one topic, and it was racing.

“I also maintained contact with trainers who were keeping their horses sharp, and one was Peter Miller at San Luis Rey. With guys like him, Richie Baltas, Richard Mandella and others, we had some good business when we came back. It was fun.

“Even so, I never thought we'd be riding at this level as far as win percentage (27), but one day led to another and it kept going on and on and on and it worked out really well.”

When it comes to deciding which horse to ride, both agent and rider put their heads together, for the most part.

“We talk about all the horses all the time,” Lawson said. “When it comes to the stakes races, there's greater discussion and a lot of communication between the two of us. It's not just me. I need help to choose in certain situations. It's not cut and dried.

“I'll tell him we have two horses here, what do we do in this situation? Sometimes he leaves it up to me, sometimes he says 'I've got no idea.' There's a lot of communication between the two of us. We have a common goal, to try and win racing titles from the beginning of the year.

“It's really a team effort.”

The team includes Santa Anita's racing department.

“They kept us informed,” Lawson said. “Chris Merz (Racing Director for Santa Anita's Vice President of Racing and Racing Secretary Steve Lym and his diligent staff) stayed in touch with me. We knew they were at the mercy of the (Los Angeles County) Health Department, but we appreciated that they kept us informed on a regular basis.

“Every week or two I would get in touch with them, knowing things were starting to loosen up a little bit. They did a great job having the condition book ready when we were able to get started again.

“It was a matter of extensive communication and making sure everyone was on the right page.

“It worked out great.”

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Santa Anita: Mandatory Payout, $1 Million Jackpot Carryover Should Fuel Big Rainbow 6 Pool On Closing Day

With a mandatory payout component that will be sure to fuel the pari-mutuel fires, Santa Anita officials project Sunday's 20 cent Single Ticket Rainbow Pick Six Jackpot pool could approach $5 million.

With a Jackpot carryover from Saturday of $1,089,836 to get the party started, Sunday's Rainbow Six will begin with race seven and conclude with the day's 12^th and final race at the Arcadia, Calif., track.

Field size over the six-race sequence stands at 9.1 runners per race and race seven is the $150,000 Melair Stakes for California-bred or sired fillies and mares at a mile and one sixteenth.

Perhaps the best betting race on the entire program, the Grade III, $100,000 American Stakes, which offers players a field of 10 three year olds and up at one mile on turf, has been carded as Sunday's 10^th race, leg four in the Rainbow Six.

First post time Sunday is at 12:30 p.m., with approximate post time for race seven at 3:33 p.m. PT.

In addition to the Melair Stakes and the American Stakes, Santa Anita will also present the track's traditional closing day feature, the Grade III, $100,000 San Juan Capistrano at a mile and three quarters on turf (R6), the $150,000 Melair Stakes (R7) and the $75,000 Siren Lure (R1).

For Sunday entries and morning line information, please visit Santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

The post Santa Anita: Mandatory Payout, $1 Million Jackpot Carryover Should Fuel Big Rainbow 6 Pool On Closing Day appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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