Little-known Home Sweet Aspen, a California homebred racing for Craig Stables, refused to give in when headed past mid-stretch and got up in the final couple of strides to win the $300,000 Santa Monica Stakes (gr. I).
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Leading Santa Anita jockey Joel Rosario was handed a five-day suspension for causing interference that resulted in a spill near the finish line of the ninth race Jan. 14, stewards announced.
Sunday, January 15, 2012Recovered from ulcers, Mensa Heat was on top of his game once again as he defeated a solid group of California-bred sprinters in the $84,500 On Trust Handicap, the closing day feature at Hollywood Park Dec. 18.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Stoney Fleece, closing with aplomb, won the $100,000 Generous Stakes (gr. IIIT) going away at Hollywood Park Nov. 27 for his first stakes victory.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Pacific Ocean, bursting to the lead from his rail post, overpowered his rivals for the first graded stakes tally of his career in the Vernon O. Underwood (gr. III) at Hollywood Park Nov. 26.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Comma to the Top, who swept the Real Quiet and Generous Stakes (gr. IIIT) and the CashCall Futurity (gr. I) last fall signaled his readiness for a return to the races with a bullet five-furlong work in :59 Nov. 13.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Santa Anita Park posted gains across the board during the recently concluded 24-day fall meet, led by an 8.7% jump in all-sources handle when compared to the corresponding days in 2009.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Dubawi Heights, a two-time grade I winner this year for 28-year-old trainer Simon Callaghan, has impressed horsemen in her morning exercise leading up to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT).
Thursday, November 03, 2011
Marty and Pam Wygod's homebred Harmonious, 10th in last year's Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) is back with trainer John Shirreffs for another run at the brass ring.
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Favored Dubawi Heights gave jockey Joel Rosario his third grade I victory of the day at Santa Anita when she posted an impressive win in the $250,000 Yellow Ribbon Presented by Emirates Airline Stakes (gr. IT).
Saturday, October 01, 2011
Zazu, coming from far out of it, charged down the center of the course to defeat Ultra Blend in the $250,000 Lady's Secret Stakes (gr. I) as 13-10 choice Blind Luck failed to fire at Santa Anita Oct. 1.
Saturday, October 01, 2011
Creative Cause, an unlucky loser in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) last time out, turned the tables on favored Drill in the $250,000 Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Oct. 1.
Saturday, October 01, 2011
With ownership partners Jenny Craig and Marty Wygod looking on from a grandstand box, potential TVG Pacific Classic (gr. I) favorite Twirling Candy worked a mile in 1:37 4/5 over the main track at Del Mar Aug. 21.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Joel Rosario, seeking his third straight Del Mar riding title, narrowly escaped injury Aug. 18 in a mid-program spill.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Three jockeys involved in a spill in the final race at Del Mar July 24 are returning to action without missing any time.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Acclamation made it consecutive grade I wins when he milked a soft pace and kicked away on the final turn en route to a 3 1/4-length victory in the $300,000 Eddie Read Stakes (gr. IT) on the turf at Del Mar July 23.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert won his first spring/summer meet title at Hollywood Park with 36 wins at the just-concluded stand.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Smiling Tiger, rebounding from a troubled trip at Churchill Downs, earned the third grade I victory of his career with a dominant performance in the $250,000 Triple Bend Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park July 2.
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Zazu won a rematch with Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Plum Pretty when she scraped the rail at the top of the stretch and drew off in the final strides to win the $147,000 Hollywood Oaks (gr. II) June 25
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Twirling Candy enhanced his reputation as perhaps the best handicap horse in the nation when he overcame traffic problems to run down the field in the $150,000 Californian Stakes (gr. II) at Hollywood Park June 4.
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Dubawi Heights, stepping into grade I company for the first time for trainer Simon Callaghan, collared pacesetter Celtic Princess just strides from the wire to win the $250,000 Gamely Stakes at Hollywood Park.
Monday, May 30, 2011
May Day Rose, showing a new dimension, took the lead in the stretch and tallied an easy victory in the $100,000 Railbird Stakes (gr. III) as 11-10 choice Pedaltothemedal finished a distant third at Hollywood Park May 21.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Returning to his favorite turf course, favored Acclamation earned a repeat victory in the $150,000 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap (gr. IIT) with a seven-length romp at Hollywood Park May 14.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
British import Dubawi Heights swept past the leaders in the stretch to post her first stakes victory impressively for trainer Simon Callaghan in the $100,000 Wilshire Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the Hollywood Park turf.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
A decline in average daily handle ontrack and overall was caused by a low horse inventory. Average ontrack attendance remained steady with 2010 for the winter/spring meet.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Live Oak Plantation's 19-1 longshot Brilliant Speed nosed out Twinspired to win a thrilling edition of the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) April 16 at Keeneland.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Under a patient ride from Joel Rosario, odds-on choice Smiling Tiger rolled to a 2 1/2-length victory in the $200,000 Count Fleet Handicap (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park April 14.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Gilded Gem closed from last on the far outside to win the $100,000 Las Flores Stakes (gr. III) April 2 at Santa Anita Park, registering her first stakes victory for trainer Bob Baffert.
Saturday, April 02, 2011
There were some relieved smiles in Santa Anita's winner's circle after favored Smiling Tiger overcame a bad stumble at the start to capture the $150,000 San Carlos Handicap (gr. II) by a desperate head in the rain Feb. 19
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Champ Pegasus defeated 11-10 choice Bourbon Bay by a nose after a scintillating stretch battle in the $150,000 San Luis Obispo Stakes (gr. IIT) on the Santa Anita turf course Feb. 19.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
The Dominican Republic native rode his 1,000th winner at Santa Anita Park, where he is four wins behind Rafael Bejarano.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
A disappointment in last month's Palos Verdes Stakes (gr. II), two-time grade I winner Smiling Tiger will get a new jockey for the $150,000 San Carlos Handicap (gr. II) at Santa Anita Feb. 19 when Joel Rosario takes over.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Vison in Gold scored the first stakes win of her career when she held off Zardana by a neck with a front-running effort in the $150,000 Santa Maria(gr. II) Feb. 12 at Santa Anita Park.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Looking like a standout for next month's Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I), heavily favored Twirling Candy simply overpowered his rivals in winning the $200,000 Strub Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Feb. 5.
Saturday, February 05, 2011
On a day owners Jerry and Ann Moss were presented the first "Vox Populi" Award for their superstar mare Zenyatta, they also gained a new grade I winner in Zazu, who won the $250,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) Feb. 5
Saturday, February 05, 2011
Square Eddie came out of retirement of more than a year to not only win the $59,000 Phone Trick Purse, but break the 6 1/2-furlong track record at Santa Anita Jan. 14.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Final Mesa left her rivals behind in the stretch to register her first graded stakes score for Wesley Ward in the $100,000 Old Hat (gr. III) on opening day of the 2011 Gulfstream Park meet Jan. 5.
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Sidney's Candy, the overwhelming favorite in a scratched-down field of five for the $150,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Dec. 26, romped to a 7 1/4-length triumph.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
John Sadler and Joel Rosario completed a sweep of the three graded stakes on the opening day program at Santa Anita Dec. 26 when Twirling Candy nosed Smiling Tiger in a thrilling finish to the $250,000 Malibu Stakes (gr. I).
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Heavily favored Switch registered a stakes record time in winning the $250,000 La Brea Stakes (gr. I) on the new dirt track at Santa Anita Dec. 26.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Comma to the Top, who won three stakes on two surfaces, including the $750,000 CashCall Futurity (gr. I), was voted Horse of the Meet in the annual media poll as the autumn meet concluded Sunday.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
After missing narrowly in her last two grade I attempts, Gypsy's Warning broke through by rallying to win the $250,000 Matriarch (gr. IT) Nov. 26 at Hollywood Park.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Longshot Dakota Phone runs down Morning Line to win the $909,000 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) by a nose. The winner is a gelded son of Zavata out of World of Gold, by Spinning World.
Saturday, November 06, 2010Battle of Hastings ended a 10-race drought when he found clear sailing on the outside through the stretch to win the $111,200 River City Handicap (gr. IIIT) over a firm Churchill Downs turf course Nov. 4.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Favored Pleasant Prince took the overland route in the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park Oct. 10, scoring a convincing four-length victory for his second win in three starts.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Favored Champ Pegasus circled the field on the turn for home and charged home impressively to win Oak Tree's $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship Stakes (gr. IT) in style Oct. 3 at Hollyw
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club ended its 37-day meet Sept. 8 with a 4.2% increase in average daily attendance and a 6.8% decline in average daily wagering.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Undefeated Twirling Candy, as expected, easily won the $300,000 Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT) as the 1-5 favorite, but his backstretch antics in the Sept. 5 turf event caused some controversy.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Favored Champ Pegasus took full advantage of a ground-saving ride from leading jockey Joel Rosario to win the $200,000 Del Mar Handicap (gr. IIT) Aug. 29.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Trainer Bob Baffert scratched two of his three entrants in the Pat O'Brien Stakes (gr. I) at Del Mar Aug. 28, but the only one he needed was El Brujo, who went gate-to-wire to give Baffert his second grade I win of the day.
Saturday, August 28, 2010