The 10-race card Saturday at Santa Anita included an eclectic mix of allowance, claiming and maiden races. Unfortunately, the day did not end well for the favorite in the final race. He was injured and vanned off. Review …
Race 1 – Martin Garcia scored his fourth win from his last six mounts with Fool’s Paradise ($8) in this claiming turf mile. Horse racing is not jockey racing, but red-hot Garcia is making a difference.
Race 2 – Strange trip by Miss That Kat ($6). The claiming 3-year-old broke on top, took some funny steps on the backstretch, dropped back as if he might pull up, and then re-rallied to win. It does not say much for the horses he beat.
Race 3 – Kent Desormeaux rode Dukes Up ($5.80) to victory in this $25,000 claiming mile, and he appeared to give an earful to Oh Man’s jockey Ruben Fuentes galloping out. In the stretch, Desormeaux tried to push Dukes Up inside Oh Man and Fuentes, where there was no room. Dukes Up steadied, dropped back, re-rallied, and won going away. Based on the head-on replay, Fuentes merely maintained his path. Earlier on Saturday, Fuentes received a four-day suspension (June 15, 16, 21, 22) for a ride Friday on Goodtingscominpink.
Race 4 – When odds-on Jamming Eddy faded after pressing a fast pace in this maiden turf mile, second-time starter Desmond Doss ($10.60) won going away. Desmond Doss, owned and bred by Nick Alexander, is the seventh winner produced by stakes winner Malley Girl.
Race 5 – Convince ($4.60) won easily in this $30,000 claiming sprint, and was claimed from Vann Belvoir by Doug O’Neill in a six-way shake. She will be live at Del Mar.
Race 6 – Another winner for Martin Garcia. He rode Don’t Sell ($8.80) to victory from just off the pace in this N1X turf sprint.
Race 7 – Trainer Hector Palma is now 7-for-19 with dirt-sprint comebackers off six months after Rick’s Dream ($8.80) crushed this $16k claiming non-winners of three in 1:11.70. Fast time for this level/surface, could produce Beyer Figure in the 80s. Palma, who is 81, is among Southern California’s most under-rated trainers.
Race 8 – Ultimate Bango ($6.80) from just off the pace in this N1X turf mile, while favorite Overdue did not have the greatest of trips and finished second.
Race 9 – Wicked Fen ($3) won this maiden-30 sprint for fun.
Race 10 – Another winner for Garcia, his third on the card. Mr. Classical ($17) from off the pace in this maiden-30 mile. Formal Dude, the favorite, pulled up in deep stretch with an apparent injury to his right rear. He was vanned off.
First post Sunday, 1 p.m.