Santa Anita Stakes Preview: San Luis Rey Down Hill Saturday (5/13)

Santa Anita is home to one of the more unique U.S. turf configurations. The Saturday feature will be run on the undulating downhill turf course.

The Downhill Turf Course

Along with a standard 8 furlong oval dirt track, Santa Anita also includes a turf course which sits inside of the main course and a very unique turf chute. This chute provides several unique handicapping challenges.

First the chute creates a slight right turn as the horses exit. This is unlike the rest of American racing which is done exclusively on left turns. The course also dramatically changes elevation before the horses empty out onto the main flat track.

Another unique feature of the downhill turf is the fact that the start of the race takes place outside the perimeter of the main dirt oval However, the horses end the race at the turf finish line on the standard turf course which is inside the dirt course. This leaves a gap where horses temporarily switch from turf to dirt and then quickly back to turf as they cross over. How a horse handles the surface change can often play a role in the run of the race.

Temporary Closure of the Downhill Turf

2019 was a bad year for California horse racing. Santa Anita suffered 37 horse fatalities alone. Out of an abundance of caution the California Horse Racing Board closed the downhill turf course and implemented a number of new safety measures to ensure the health and safety of the equine athletes.

In 2021 the course reopened and has shown a tremendous improvement to equine safety which has allowed the course to remain open since.

Santa Anita Full Card Selections

Santa Anita Park- Race 1

Post: 1:00 PM PT; $40k Starter Allowance going 6 furlongs on turf; Entries: 6

• #6 SEE THROUGH IT (9-5) gets the top selection. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one seems to fit well enough here.
• #2 FLY THE SKY (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He projects to sit mid pack and come with one run. This one goes out for the Knapp barn and gets Hernandez in the irons.
• #1 BARRISTAN THE BOLD (3-1) has speed figures good enough to win this race. This one is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.
• #5 NATURAL POWER (5-2) shouldn't have trouble with the 6 furlong distance. This one will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run.

Selections: 6 – 2 – 1 – 5

Santa Anita Park- Race 2

Post: 1:29 PM PT; $65k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 5

• #3 IT'S MY HOUSE (9-5) is the top pick. He has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #5 AMERICAN ADMIRAL (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #1 ARHAM (5-2) should be competitive in this spot. He will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. This one will look to grind them down to the wire.
• #4 PIROLI (8-5) makes sense as the favorite in the race but feels a bit vulnerable here. He has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.

Selections: 3 – 5 – 1 – 4

Santa Anita Park- Race 3

Post: 1:58 PM PT; $34k Claiming going 6 1/2 furlongs on turf; Entries: 6

• #1 FRANKLIN ONE STAR (2-1) looks best here. He shouldn't have trouble with the 6 1/2 furlong distance. This one will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #3 BEAUDACIOUS (5-2) appears to be a major player in this race. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #4 ECHO CANYON (6-1) looks good in this spot based on speed figures.
• #6 NEW YORK DREAMS (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here. This one should enjoy the extra half furlong in this spot.

Selections: 1 – 3 – 4 – 6

Santa Anita Park- Race 4

Post: 2:30 PM PT; $22k Maiden Claiming going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 6

• #5 CHEVY GIRL (6-1) gets the top selection. She looks to be the class of the field.
• #2 TENNESSEE MOON (2-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She seems to fit well enough here. This one comes into the race in really good form.
• #3 CASIA (3-1) should be competitive in this spot. She makes sense on speed figures. This one is well bred for this spot.
• #4 SUGAR SUGAR (4-1) classes up well enough with these runners and stacks up on speed figures as well.

Selections: 5 – 2 – 3 – 4

Santa Anita Park- Race 5

Post: 3:03 PM PT; $61k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on turf; Entries: 9

• #5 GIOVINAZZO (5-2) is the top pick. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one looks to be the class of the field.
• #8 NEON LIGHTS (8-1) should be competitive in this spot. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #6 YOGI BOY (5-1) could be in with a shot in this race. He has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed. There is class on this runner as well.
• #1 HULA CANDY (5-1) debuts here and is a lukewarm 5-1. The board should be your guide as to whether or not this one is ready to fire.

Selections: 5 – 8 – 6 – 1

Santa Anita Park- Race 6

Post: 3:35 PM PT; $34k Claiming going 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #1 BOOK SMART (9-5) looks best here. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Glatt and Franko-Angeles. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #4 GOLDENSPA (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run.
• #5 SUZIE QZZ BROTHER (6-1) should be competitive in this spot. He projects to sit mid pack and come with one run. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #3 RUN SNAPPY (4-1) could be in with a shot in this race. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 1 – 4 – 5 – 3

Santa Anita Park- Race 7

Post: 4:07 PM PT; $63k Allowance Optional Claiming going 6 furlongs on turf; Entries: 9

• #9 BARELY FUNTIONAL (4-1) gets the top selection. He should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #5 UPWARD MOBILITY (12-1) is a price horse and should be competitive in this spot. He makes sense on speed figures.
• #8 LONG MAYSHE REIGN (5-1) should improve off the first start and could be in with a shot in this race. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Glatt.
• #2 LEFT HAND MAN (4-1) shouldn't have trouble with the 6 furlong distance. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.

Selections: 9 – 5 – 8 – 2

Santa Anita Park- Race 8

Post: 4:39 PM PT; $71k Allowance going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 5

• #1 DR. SCHIVEL (6-5) is the top pick. He could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #4 C Z ROCKET (7-5) should be competitive in this spot. He projects to sit mid pack and come with one run. This one seems to fit well enough here.
• #3 ESCAPE ROUTE (8-1) could be in with a shot in this race. His route to the winner’s circle is dependent on beating the rail horse to the front.
• #2 NONE ABOVE THE LAW (7-2) shouldn't have trouble with the 6 furlong distance. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.

Selections: 1 – 4 – 3 – 2

Santa Anita Park- Race 9

Post: 5:11 PM PT; $100k San Luis Rey S. going 1 1/2 miles on downhill turf; Entries: 8

• #4 OFFLEE NAUGHTY (8-5) looks best here. He is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race. This one makes sense on speed figures.
• #8 OPRY (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. The figures for this guy fit perfectly.
• #3 DICEY MO CHARA (5-2) has races good enough to beat this group. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #2 PLANETARIO (6-1) seems to be running for the minor placings in this contest. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Mandella and Berrios. This one will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run.

Selections: 4 – 8 – 3 – 2