Santa Anita

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...

8th-SA, $54K, Msw, 3-5yo, 6f, 7:30 p.m. In a race that also features the debut of Flightline's half-brother Eagles Flight (Curlin), breaking just to that runner's outside is VISCERAL (Violence) for the partnership of MyRacehorse and Edge Racing. Bought for $400,000 out of OBS March last year after working in :10, the grey or roan colt is the second foal out of a half to GSW San Pablo (Jump Start) and MGSP Slider (Prenup). Working out of trainer Mark Glatt's barn, Visceral has fired bullets in two of his last...

There are three graded stakes races on Monday's card at Santa Anita, but the most anticipated race of the day may be the eighth, a $54,000 maiden race run at six furlongs. That's because it features the debut of Eagles Flight (Curlin) a 3-year-old half-brother to Flightline (Tapit). Like Flightline, Eagles Flight is trained by John Sadler. "I am excited," Sadler said. "We've been working closely with him and he's showing good run and he's worked well in company. We've got 48 hours to go and we're anxious to get...

Two-time Grade I winner Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) will be heavily favored to successfully defend her title in Sunday's GII Santa Margarita S. at Santa Anita. The Michael Lund Petersen colorbearer posted triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in her two prior attempts for Bob Baffert this season, finishing second in the GI Beholder Mile S. Mar. 9 and capturing the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 13. Drawn widest of all in post five, Adare Manor is the 3-5 morning-line favorite. The field also includes Coffee in Bed (Curlin) and Super Shine...

Jeff Siegel has been named as the new Morning-Line Maker for Santa Anita, replacing Jon White who announced his retirement earlier this week. In a release sent Friday afternoon, Santa Anita noted that Siegel will begin the positive effective with the beginning of the Autumn meet, Sept. 27. "Jeff is universally respected by his peers, be them horseplayers, horsemen, or his fellow analysts," said Santa Anita's Senior Vice President and General Manager Nate Newby. " We are excited that Jeff will be expanding his role at Santa Anita in taking...

Santa Anita Park will host a charity poker tournament to benefit the 'Folds of Honor' Foundation following a special Memorial Day card at 6:30 p.m., the track said in a release. Folds of Honor provides financial assistance to better than one million dependents adversely affected by war. Players will make a charitable donation of $300 and will take part in a full night of No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em poker and will enjoy a day at the races in Santa Anita's Stretch Run Suites. Last year's event raised more than $35,000....

1st-Santa Anita, $54,000, Msw, 5-18, 3, 4,/5yo, f/m, 1m, 1:39.78, ft, 4 1/2 lengths. MISS ROCKETTE (f, 3, Into Mischief--Song of Spring {GSW, $234,403}, by Spring At Last) was sent to her owner's home track at Oaklawn Park as the 4-5 chalk for her 8 1/2-furlong debut Apr. 20 and she looked on her way to an easy victory only to be run down by the slow-starting Flashy Dancer (Curlin) in a 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy performance. Content to take the trail from third as chief market rival Ms Bo J...

8th-SA, $54K, Msw, 3-5yo, 1m, 8:09 p.m. ET. MAGNIFY (Justify), a 3-year-old colt, makes his debut for the Bob Baffert barn on Saturday. Out of champion 3-year-old filly and MGISW Stellar Wind (Curlin), the Magnier homebred is her second to make the races, but she has since produced a filly named In the Stars (Into Mischief), who was a $300,000 buy for G. Watts Humphrey Jr. at last year's Keeneland September Sale. The 2017 Keeneland November sales topper when she was taken home by M.V. Magnier for the lofty sum...

California-based GI Kentucky Derby runners Stronghold (Ghostzapper) and Endlessly (Oscar Performance) have returned to Santa Anita after their respective seventh- and ninth-place finishes at Churchill Downs, according to Santa Anita's track notes Thursday. Each was back in his own stall Tuesday. Stronghold jogged Thursday in his first time back to the track. "He came out of the race in good shape," trainer Phil D'Amato said Thursday morning of the Eric and Sharon Waller homebred. D'Amato continued: "I thought he got a good stalking trip behind the speed. He made a...

In the calm before the storm that will be next weekend's GI Kentucky Derby, a lone pair of graded turf races offer opportunities for older horses on the West Coast Saturday. Golden Gate Fields, whose closure was announced last year, cards their final GIII San Francisco Mile S. A full field of 12 lines up for the one-mile contest and while the race is open for those 3-years-old and up, the youngest runner is Blaine Wright's 4-year-old Clovisconnection (Vronsky). The class appears to be deepest amongst the 5-year-olds with Phil...