Santa Anita Opening Day: 4 Stakes Races on Tap including American Pharoah

The American Pharoah Stakes is featured on Friday’s card from Santa Anita. Opening Day will include 4 stakes races and the return of the downhill turf course.

Santa Anita “The Great Race Place”

Santa Anita is one of the most historic race tracks in the country. Opening in its current iteration on Christmas Day in 1934, the “The Great Race Place” as it is commonly known, was the first track in California when pari-mutuel wagering became legal.

The track was often famous for the stars that came to watch the races. Taking a great interest was Bing Crosby who was a shareholder in the track and now has a meet named after him each year at Del Mar.

Given it’s proximity to Los Angeles, the track has been featured in several television shows and movies including Seabiscuit, Alias, and Grey’s Anatomy.

Safety Concerns at Santa Anita

In 2019 the track faced heavy scrutiny after an extremely high number of breakdowns. Santa Anita suspended racing and has returned with several new measures to ensure the health and safety of the human and equine athletes in the game.

One such change was the reduction of races on the downhill turf. Betting News covered the impact the changes for this course will have in great depth in September. This weekend will see the much awaited return of that course. The oval turf and dirt tracks have been open since implementing the new safety measures in 2019.

2021 at Santa Anita

Currently owned by the Stronach Group the track has hosted the Breeder’s Cup a record 11 times. Although it won’t host in 2021, the event being at Del Mar is sure to boost field sizes at Santa Anita as trainers look to get their horses to acclimatize their horses to southern California before the 2 day racing festival in November.

Leading Connections at Santa Anita

Santa Anita raced over the summer and will see many of the same connections return in the fall. All stats reported are from December 2020 to September 2021.

Jockeys

The jockey standings are listed in order of wins.

1. Flavien Prat: 450 Starts, 124 Winners, 97 Seconds, 77 Thirds, 28% Win Percentage, 66% In the Money Percentage, $7,122,349 in Purse Earnings
2. Juan J. Hernandez: 465 Starts, 92 Winners, 66 Seconds, 79 Thirds, 20% Win Percentage, 51% In the Money Percentage, $5,263,714 in Purse Earnings
3. Umberto Rispoli: 312 Starts, 71 Winners, 57 Seconds, 58 Thirds, 23% Win Percentage, 60% In the Money Percentage, $4,921,442 in Purse Earnings
4. Abel Cedillo: 474 Starts, 64 Wins, 80 Seconds, 65 Thirds, 14% Win Percentage, 44% In the Money Percentage, $3,549,928 in Purse Earnings
5. Tyler Baze: 372 Starts, 39 Wins, 43 Seconds, 49 Thirds, 10% Win Percentage, 35% In the Money Percentage, $2,146,736 in Purse Earnings

Trainers

The trainer standings are listed in order of wins.

1. Philip D'Amato: 206 Starters, 52 Wins, 39 Seconds, 31 Thirds, 25% Win Percentage, 59% In the Money Percentage, $3,327,214 in Purse Earnings
2. Peter Miller: 249 Starters, 45 Wins, 39 Seconds,36 Thirds, 18% Win Percentage, 48% In the Money Percentage, $2,306,443 in Purse Earnings
3. Bob Baffert: 144 Starters, 43 Wins, 31 Seconds,20 Thirds, 30% Win Percentage, 65% In the Money Percentage, $3,914,192 in Purse Earnings
4. Doug F. O'Neill: 268 Starters, 37 Wins ,33 Seconds,41 Thirds, 14% Win Percentage, 41% In the Money Percentage, $2,014,268 in Purse Earnings
5. John W. Sadler: 167 Starters, 32 Wins, 16 Seconds, 34 Thirds, 19% Win Percentage, 49% In the Money Percentage, $1,968,586 in Purse Earnings

Opening Day at Santa Anita

Race 1

Post: 1:00 PM PT; Purse: $63,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 1 Mile on Turf; Entries: 7

#4 CARMELITA'S MAN is at odds of 3-1 and has speed figures and class that top this field. #6 VIKING PLUNDER is the favorite and should have a good pace scenario in this spot. #1 WILDER THAN MOST is at odds of 5-1 and proven at the distance. #7 FOUND MY BALL is 6-1 and could be a player underneath.

Selections: 4-6-1-7

Race 2

Post: 1:28 PM PT; Purse: $27,000 Maiden Claiming, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 6

#5 TOWN BOY looks to have a strong edge over this group. This one feels tough to beat. #4 YOU'RE MY BOY KAT is a short price with top speed figures for a good barn. #6 BRIGHT LEAF appears the best option at a price 5-1 with a solid record at the distance . #3 BIG SWEDE is another that could be a player in the exotics rounding into the race in good form.

Selections: 5-4-6-3 (Best Bet #5)

Race 3

Post: 2:00 PM PT; Purse: $61,000 Maiden Special Weight, 5 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 12

#2 SUMTER is bred to like today’s conditions. #7 TREBBIANO has the foundation to make this one a major player. #10 FIGHT ON RON is 7-2 and goes out for top class connections. #3 RIVIERA CHAMP is at odds of 8-1 and could be the best option if you are price hunting.

Selections: 2-7-10-3

Race 4

Post: 2:30 PM PT; Purse: $31,000 Claiming, 7 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 6

#6 P R RADIO STAR has been keeping good company and comes in with the fastest figures on paper. #4 ITSTHATTIME is at odds of 8-1 and may look to spring the upset with the right pace setup. #3 SMILEFORME could have an edge in early speed which can be very dangerous in these types of races.. #1 CALIFORNIA STREET is a player, but looks a little soft for a 5-2 shot.

Selections: 6-4-3-1

Race 5

Post: 3:00 PM PT; Purse: $100,000 Speakeasy S., 5 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 7

#4 FORBIDDEN KINGDOM is coming into the race well and looks ready to throw down a monster effort. #2 ONE TIMER comes into the race with some of the top speed figures in the group. #7 TIME TO PARTY goes out for good connections. #5 MISS ALACRITY is another major player in this wide open and race and may get the best of the race flow.

Selections: 4-2-7-5

Race 6

Post: 3:30 PM PT; Purse: $200,000 Chandelier S., 1 1/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 7

#4 GRACE ADLER goes out for Bob Baffert and based on previous speed figures this one looks to be tough to beat. #6 ELM DRIVE is at odds of 8-1 and has stamina that may serve it well as these horses are still testing how far they actually want to go. #2 AIN'T EASY and #3 DANCE TO THE MUSIC are others that are likely to hit the board, though everyone may be running for second if the favorite runs her race.

Selections: 4-6-2-3

Race 7

Post: 4:00 PM PT; Purse: $200,000 Eddie D S., About 6 1/2 Furlongs on Downhill turf; Entries: 9

#7 LIEUTENANT DAN is a pace play at 7-2 on the first race down the hill in over 2 years. #8 WHISPER NOT is on the morning line at a very generous 6-1 and worth a use at that price. #9 SNAPPER SINCLAIR has speed figures that make this one a major player here. #4 CHARMAINE'S MIA is at odds of 10-1 and is cycling up to a big performance here.

Selections: 7-8-9-4

Race 8

Post: 4:29 PM PT; Purse: $300,000 American Pharoah S., 1 1/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 7

Undoubtedly #1 CORNICHE will be the heavy favorite and if he repeats his maiden breaking performance that should be good enough here. After that a like a big price in the #5 JOKER BOY who is likely to be left on the tote board. #7 PAPPACAP and #6 ROCKEFELLER are also major players here.

Selections: 5-1-7-6

Race 9

Post: 5:00 PM PT; Purse: $61,000 Maiden Special Weight, 6 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 12

#6 BIG SUMMER is tops on the speed figure scale in this group of maidens. #5 VA VA VOOM and should be well bred to make a big run here. #8 GRAZENINSTILETTOS and #1 PIAZZETTA are both also interesting players in this spot and look to pull the upset.

Selections: 6-5-8-1