SANTA ANITA LEADERS
(Through Thursday)
JOCKEYS / WINS
John Velazquez / 12
Flavien Prat / 11
Juan Hernandez / 6
Abel Cedillo / 4
Umberto Rispoli / 3
TRAINERS / WINS
Bob Baffert / 9
Richard Baltas / 4
Five tied / 3
WEEKEND STAKES AT SANTA ANITA
Saturday
• $200,000 Grade II Santa Ynez Stakes, 3-year-old fillies, 7 furlongs
Sunday
• $100,000 Grade III Las Cienegas Stakes, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, 6 1/2 furlongs downhill turf
DOWN THE STRETCH
• Under the Stars, coming off a three-length maiden victory at Los Alamitos on Dec. 11, heads a field of six 3-year-old fillies in Saturday’s $200,000 Grade II Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita. Awake At Midnyte, second in a turf stakes in her most recent start, California-bred Big Switch and recent turf maiden winner Miss Mattie B. also figure to attract much attention in the 7-furlong race that begins the road to the $400,000 Grade II Santa Anita Oaks on April 9. The Bob Baffert-trained Under the Stars will be ridden by Flavien Prat.
• Trainer Doug O’Neill told Ed Golden of Santa Anita publicity that he believes “we’re looking at a legend in the making” in regards to jockey Flavien Prat, who joined Laffit Pincay Jr., Sandy Hawley and Darrel McHargue last Saturday as the only jockeys to enjoy two six-victory days at Santa Anita. Prat also won six races in one afternoon March 12. Nine jockeys have won six races on one card at Santa Anita. Pincay holds the record with seven wins on March 14, 1987. “What can you say? Flavien is so good,” O’Neill said. “I’ve been around here since the ’80s with Shoemaker, McCarron and all the legends. Prat is still young with a big future.”
• Thoroughbred racing enjoyed a banner 2021 at the betting windows, as more than $12 billion – the most since 2009 – was wagered across the country, according to equibase. “As we turn the page to 2022, we look forward to the beginning of a new era for U.S. thoroughbred racing with the launch of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act and an even greater focus on equine safety and welfare and the integrity of America’s oldest sport,” Tom Rooney, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, said in a statement.
— Art Wilson