Santa Anita Park

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Antifona at Santa Anita Park.   Recoletos Filly Lands Sweet Life Stakes The runners by G1 Prix du Moulin/G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner and French-based stallion Recoletos (Fr) in the U.S. are extremely rare, and it was his 3-year-old filly Antifona (Fr) who became his first stakes winner there with a score in the Sweet Life S. at Santa Anita for Hronis Racing, LLC and...

6th-Santa Anita, $68,206, Alw (NW1$X), Opt. Clm ($100,000), 2-11, 3yo, 1m, 1:36.65, ft, neck. MAYMUN (c, 3, Frosted--Handwoven, by Indian Charlie) was a no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star' when streaking home to a 7 1/2-length graduation as a 1-2 mortal going 6 1/2 furlongs Jan. 20 and was trying two turns for the first time on Super Bowl Sunday. The 93 Beyer he received for that effort towered over his four rivals, and at 3-10, the Zedan runner won the break, but bore out badly into the first turn, bothering stablemate...

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column reflects on success at Gulfstream Park for Warm Heart and Francesco Clemente.  The highlight of recent weeks has been the Coolmore partners' Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won her third top-level race in a third different country when taking the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. in Florida in late January (video). Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the Coolmore-bred set a new course record, and is now bound for...

Named for the owner, an immigrant from Scotland who realized a Carnegie-kind of American Dream, it began as a 12-furlong turf race. Five years later in 1964 it was cut back to nine and moved to the dirt. The roll call of Donn H. winners through 2016 at Gulfstream Park reflects a roster of unique equine and human personalities, which is peppered with some magnificent performances that shouldn't be forgotten. Hall of Fame jockey Braulio Baeza won his first of three victories in 1969 aboard Funny Fellow and took home...

Like one of those old split-flap mechanical signs at train stations, everyone knows that in the new year the 'Run for the Roses' leaderboard will fluctuate. Week-to-week, the top points begin to compound--from 20 to the winner Saturday and going as high as 100 to the winner come April. The trail to Derby 150 begins a much steeper ascent on Saturday at Fair Grounds in New Orleans as the GIII Lecomte S. offers 3-year-old colts 20-10-6-4-2 that can be applied to Bank of Churchill. This year's edition pits a field...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Kalispera at Gulfstream Park.   Ten Sovereigns Filly Delivers In Florida William Werner's Kalispera (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) won her American debut at Gulfstream Park for trainer Brian Lynch earlier this month (video). A product of the storied Annemarie O'Brien breeding programme, the 3-year-old rattled off a trio of group placings at two in her colours when third in both the G2 Debutante...

Announcer Frank Mirahmadi said it best: friends in the morning, but rivals in the afternoons. Muth (Good Magic) put away stablemate Pilot Commander (Justify) en route to an authoritative victory in the GII San Vicente S. to open his 2024 season. First or second for all four starts in his juvenile season, including victory in the GI American Pharoah S. two back and a runner-up effort behind fellow Eclipse finalist Fierceness (City of Light) in the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile, the betting public heralded this contest as Muth's to...

Nearly seventy years ago, Sports Illustrated turf writer, Jim Murray, penned a love-letter to Santa Anita, and its opening day sonata of sun and sport unmatched by any East Coast oval stunned into icy retreat by the "fierce howlings of blue northers spun across finish lines." Santa Anita, Murray wrote, was an "extravagance of beauty." It was also a well-oiled money-spinner. Huge purses lured the best horses to Los Angeles, and the best horses lured the biggest crowds, their pockets brimming with the spoils of a post-war industrial boom transforming...

Boxing Day is not a holiday observed on the American calendar--thanks, Revolutionary generation. However, the day after Christmas is circled in red by the horse racing cadre because it means one thing: Opening Day at Santa Anita Park. This Tuesday, an 11-race card kicks off at 2 p.m. ET under the picturesque San Gabriel mountains in Arcadia, California--six of which are graded stakes. To entice the horseplayer, the Classic Meet sports a $1 Pick Six, a 14 percent takeout on both the .50 Early and Late Pick 5, and we...

As part of a larger $32 million improvement plan, Santa Anita's training track should re-open in mid-January after it was closed for construction Nov. 12, as it changes from a sand-based surface to an all-weather synthetic one, the track said in a release Friday afternoon. Constructed by Tapeta Footings, the new surface is designed to improve safety while also helping to limit weather-related training disruptions. "The main thing is having synthetic will alleviate a complete stoppage of training because of weather," said Jason Egan, Santa Anita Director of Racing and...

Santa Anita's popular Paddock Captain, John Shear passed away Tuesday from natural causes at age 102 in a rehabilitation facility in Arcadia, according to a statement from the Shear family that was shared via a racetrack press release. Beloved by the many fans with whom he came in contact, as well as by his fellow employees, jockeys and horsemen, Shear opted to retire at age 100 in 2021. That same year he was honored by the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters with the Mr. Fitz Award for typifying the spirit...

Junior Alvarado, Alex Birzer, Julien Leparoux, Edwin Maldonado and Rodney Prescott were selected as finalists for the 2024 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, 1/ST Racing said in a release Wednesday morning. Presented by Santa Anita Park, the Woolf Award, which itself is a replica of the life-sized statue which adorns Santa Anita's Paddock Gardens area, is determined by a vote of jockeys nationwide. It can only be won once. The winner of the 75th annual prize will be announced in February. Named in honor of the legendary late jockey George...