Victor Ryan/Santa Anita, Author at Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

Santa Anita Trio Slow Down Andy, Dr. Schivel, Lane Way Eye Breeders’ Cup

All four winners of Santa Anita’s stakes on Saturday – Slow Down Andy, Dr, Schivel, Lane Way, and Hong Kong Harry – were resting and doing well Sunday morning. Three from that group will now head to the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita on Nov. 3-4. Slow Down Andy, front-running winner of the Awesome Again […]

Breeders’ Cup: Hopefuls Arcangelo, Asmussen Quartet Gallop Saturday At Santa Anita

Top-rated Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) hopeful Arcangelo, winner of the Belmont (G1) and Travers (G1) in his two most recent starts, galloped for the second straight day Saturday at Santa Anita under exercise rider Robert Mallari. Mallari said Jena Antonucci, Arcangelo’s trainer, was expected to visit Santa Anita from New York early next week. Also […]

After National Treasure’s ‘Puzzling’ Travers Effort, Baffert Resumes Use Of Blinkers In Awesome Again

After a disappointing effort in last month’s Grade 1  Travers at Saratoga, Bob Baffert was not initially planning to run National Treasure back in Saturday’s G1 Awesome Again in what will be his first race against older horses. Things changed once Baffert saw National Treasure produce two encouraging works once back at Santa Anita. “If […]

‘Serious Filly’ Clearly Unhinged Takes On Baffert Pair In Friday’s Chillingworth

Trainer Michael McCarthy made a bold move this summer when shipping 3-year-old filly Clearly Unhinged across the country for a shot at the G1 Test at Saratoga. She proved more than worthy of the decision when coming up just a head short of multiple Grade 1 winner Pretty Mischievous at 17-1. On Friday, Clearly Unhinged […]

‘It Reminded Me Of Riding In Louisiana’: Parx Slop Nothing New As Edwin Maldonado Nabs First Million-Dollar Victory

Two days after winning the first million-dollar race of his career at Parx Racing near Philadelphia, jockey Edwin Maldonado was back at Santa Anita working horses Monday morning. Maldonado’s milestone victory came in front-running fashion aboard Ceiling Crusher in the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion for 3-year-old fillies. Ceiling Crusher is a California-bred daughter of […]

‘Strong-Willed’ Debutante Winner Grand Slam Smile Points To Del Mar Stakes

Grand Slam Smile was doing well on Sunday morning and on a van headed north to Pleasanton a little more than 12 hours after winning the five-furlong Fasig-Tipton Debutante at Santa Anita. Trained by Steve Specht, Grand Slam Smile won the Debutante by a half-length under Frank Alvarado when making her first start on dirt. […]

Straight No Chaser Sidelined After PET Scan Detects ‘Area Of Concern’

A recent PET scan at Santa Anita revealed an “area of concern” in the left front fetlock of graded-stakes winner Straight No Chaser, trainer Dan Blacker said Thursday. The 4-year-old Speightster colt will be sent to the farm for a 90-day break. Straight No Chaser emerged this winter and spring as a top sprinter for […]

Desormeaux Has Back-To-Back Riding Triples After Stewards Issue Alcohol-Related Ruling

In 2004, after 18 years as a professional jockey, Kent Desormeaux was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He was 34. Desormeaux’s induction into the Hall was earned after winning three Eclipse Awards, two Kentucky Derbies, a Preakness and setting a North American record for wins in a season. In […]

Valdivia Reaches 2,000-Win Career Milestone At Santa Anita

Jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. reached a career milestone on Saturday at Santa Anita when winning his 2,000th race aboard Mitico for owner-trainer Paula Capestro. Valdivia and Mitico were dispatched as the 2-1 second choice in the sixth race, a six-furlong dirt sprint for $20,000 claimers who have not won three races. Valdivia and Mitico, a […]