Horse Racing Analysis: Santa Anita Weekend Race Results

by Patricia Woo | Jan 18 2010

Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., hosted three exciting stakes races on Saturday, Jan. 16: the San Rafael Stakes – which was an early prep for some 2010 Kentucky Derby hopefuls – the Santa Ynez Stakes and the San Fernando Stakes.  Get caught up on all the horse racing action at Santa Anita Park with Bodog's race recaps.

Up first was the $100,000 Gr. 3 San Rafael Stakes for 3-year-olds, which gave horse bettors an early look at some of this year's Kentucky Derby hopefuls. Five lined up for this 1-mile test, including 3-10 favorite Conveyance. With Garrett Gomez aboard, Conveyance enjoyed an early lead. But Cardiff Giant and Victor Espinoza came up fast at the quarter-pole and the two raced neck and neck on the turn for home. Conveyance, trained by Bob Baffert, managed to hold on and finished first in a time of 1:36.45. Cardiff Giant finished second and Domonation, Lucky Rave and Via Verde completed the order of finish. Keep an eye on Conveyance as the Kentucky Derby nears – his growing maturity will serve him well on the road to the Triple Crown.

Next was the $150,000 Gr. 3 Santa Ynez Stakes, a 7-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies. John Sadler's She's Funomenal, undefeated in two starts and the 3-2 favorite, headed the field with Joel Rosario in the irons. And it was She's Funomenal and Switch, another Sadler trainee, who set the pace early on. Fanny Freud, with Garrett Gomez aboard, rated in third while Amen Hallelujah and jockey Chantal Sutherland – who had the mount for the first time – followed in fourth. But She's Funomenal could not maintain the pace and faded; Amen Hallelujah made her move at the upper stretch and overtook Fanny Freud in the last furlong to hit the wire first. Fanny Freud was second, ¾ lengths behind, and Switch came in third. She's Funomenal finished in fifth. Amen Hallelujah's winning time was 1:21.39 and earned owners IEAH Stables / Whizway Farms $90,000.

The last graded stakes race of the day was the $150,000 San Fernando Stakes, a Grade 2 race for 4-year-olds. Sent off as the 3-2 favorite, Gary Stute's Papa Clem finally broke through with a gritty performance. He won his last race way back in April – the $1M Arkansas Derby – but could not find the winner's circle in his six following races. And he – along with Tyler Baze – looked to be on his way to another loss with Smart Bid, under Mike Smith, comfortably setting the pace. But at the top of the stretch, Papa Clem finally seized control of the race; though he could not shake Smart Bid's rallying attempts until the final strides. The son of Belong to Me completed the 1 1/16-mile course in a moderate 1:42.64. Smart Bid, a son of Smart Strike, was second by a half-length. Rendezvous and Viscount rounded out the top four.

Don't miss out on any of these great stakes races! Bet on horse racing at Santa Anita Park with the Bodog Racebook!