Santa Anita

Let the record show that the very first horse to win a race at Golden Gate Fields was a mare named Skookumchuck, who won the inaugural race on Feb.1, 1941 before a crowd of 30,000. The last horse to win a race there was Adelie (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}), who got to the wire first in Sunday's eighth, the last race ever at a track. In between, there was a lot of history, a lot of memories...Citation, Russell Baze, Lost in the Fog, Noor. That's history that cannot be erased, but...

Sugar Fish (f, 3, Accelerate--Madeira Park, by Langfuhr), the longest shot at 5-1 in a short field of four, looked to lose all chance when she tumbled out of the gate as the sophomore fillies were sent on their way Saturday in the GII Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita. She immediately lost at least three lengths on the field in the first few seconds and trailed as early fractions were clocked in :23.80 and :47.41. Previously unbeaten Jane Austen (Tapit), like Sugar Fish trying stakes company for the first time,...

Former Eclipse Award-winning apprentice jockey Drayden Van Dyke, a mainstay in Southern California, will move his tack to Gulfstream Park for 30 days to ride for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. The multiple Grade I-winning rider and his agent, Ryan Cosato, will then evaluate where Van Dyke will be based in the future. "We'll bring him out there for about a month," said Cosato. "If he does well, we'll go from there. There's no big announcement. We're just giving it a try." Van Dyke took a break from riding for a...

Rick Gold is the recipient of the Ed Friendly Industry Service Award, also known as the TOC Chairman's Award, the Thoroughbred Owners of California announced Monday morning. Following eight years of service to the TOC and other industry boards, Gold is retiring this year. He served as the chairman of the TOC's Integrity & Safety Committee and he played a key role in helping to safeguard California and industry interests during the formation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), according to a release. Gold has campaigned the likes...

An online auction featuring a large 6-liter bottle of Luc Belaire Rare Rose adorned with 2024 Santa Anita Derby Day artwork by artist Juliana Paige and autographed by Santa Anita jockeys is now underway. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. The auction will run through 8 p.m. ET on closing day of the Santa Anita Hollywood Meeting Sunday, June 16. Crafted by fifth and sixth generation winemakers at a renowned French Maison founded in 1898, Luc Belaire Rare Rose holds a rich legacy of excellence and...

Godolphin's progressive homebred Highland Falls (Curlin) has been made the 5-2 favorite in a field of 11 for Saturday's GIII Blame S. at Churchill Downs, one of four graded stakes that serve as an appetizer to corresponding races on Stephen Foster Saturday in a month's time beneath the Twin Spires. The chestnut son of Round Pond (Awesome Again), upset winner of the 2006 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at the Louisville oval, makes his third consecutive appearance in graded company, having run on to be a good fourth to Newgate (Into...

Surgery to repair a condylar fracture in Mr Fisk (Arrogate)'s right front foreleg was successful, said trainer Bob Baffert on Wednesday morning. Mr Fisk won the GII Hollywood Gold Cup over stablemate Reincarnate (Good Magic) on Monday, but felt `off' in the gallop-out, according to his jockey, Kazushi Kamura. The fracture was later revealed on X-rays. The surgery to insert two screws into the leg was performed by Dr. Ryan Carpenter at the Southern California Equine Foundation Hospital on the backside at Santa Anita. "He had his surgery, and it...

Sunny Brook Stables' Mr Fisk (Arrogate) hooked up with stablemate Reincarnate (Good Magic) entering the final furlong of Monday's GII Hollywood Gold Cup and pulled away from that rival to register his third graded victory from his last four starts. Wathnan Racing's recent private purchase Subsanador (Arg) (Fortify) won the break and held the advantage passing the stands for the first time, but Juan Hernandez was equally positive aboard Reincarnate from the inside barrier and he sent the 4-year-old into the lead passing the winning post with a circuit of...

Giving jockey Umberto Rispoli a day to remember after annexing the GI Gamely S. aboard Anisette two races earlier, Cuyathy LLC's Johannes (Nyquist) rounded out a Grade I-winning exacta for the Italian when winning the GI Shoemaker Mile S. on Santa Anita's Memorial Day card. Assuming his usual stalking, the 2-1 second choice was content to survey the speed as 11-1 chance Funtastic Again (Funtastic), with Frankie Dettori aboard, led longshot Goliad (War Front) through an opening quarter in :22.28. With the longshot taking over to post a half in...

Not seen since taking the GI American Oaks last December, Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) kicked off her 4-year-old campaign on a winning note, taking the GI Gamely S. on Santa Anita's Memorial Day card Monday. Allowed to settle well off the pace as 5-2 favorite Ruby Nell (Bolt d'Oro) opened up on the field through a :24.09 opening quarter, Anisette continued to bide her time through a :47.57 half mile. With the field closing in on the weakening frontrunner approaching the final turn, the slight 5-2 second choice swept into...

Being a half-brother to undefeated Horse of the Year Flightline (Tapit, Horse of the Year, Ch. Older Dirt Male, MGISW, $4,514,800), the expectations were naturally high and the pressure certainly on, and Hronis Racing, Summer Wind Equine and William S. Farish's Eagles Flight (c, 3, Curlin--Feathered, by Indian Charlie) proved equal to the task, overcoming something of a tricky trip to join Flightline as 'TDN Rising Stars.' Beyond the obvious pedigree appeal, Eagles Flight had displayed plenty of ability in the mornings, with three consecutive black-letter works heading into the...

A trio of graded stakes, led by the GI Gamely S. and GI Shoemaker Mile S., will anchor a stacked Memorial Day holiday program at Santa Anita on Monday. Making her first start since capturing the GI American Oaks Dec. 26, Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) headlines a deep nine-horse field set for the Gamely. The Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners colorbearer also captured last term's GI Del Mar Oaks. "We gave her a small vacation that was much deserved," trainer Leonard Powell said of the Gamely's 5-2 morning-line favorite. "She's come back...