Blue skies and clear sailing for Hollywood Meet opener

ARCADIA, Calif. – While an unusually wet winter fades into memory at Santa Anita, the spring meet begins Friday with an optimistic forecast of sunny skies, a fast track, and firm turf.

The change is welcome following a winter frequently disrupted by rain. Santa Anita canceled or postponed multiple programs, racing and training schedules were altered, and momentum was elusive. Finally, spring is in the air.

“One advantage from all the rain we had during the Classic meet, and now after our break, is the turf course is definitely ready to go and looks amazing,” Santa Anita general manager Nate Newby said. “We’ll feature [turf racing] heavily this meet.”

The spring Hollywood Meet runs at Santa Anita through June 16 on a Friday-through-Sunday schedule, plus Memorial Day, May 27. The Friday resumption of racing follows a break between meets. The winter meet ended April 7.

Purses this spring are approximately 12 percent lower than spring 2023, the result of declining handle and a purse-account deficit reported to be roughly $4 million. Despite the purse reduction and uncertainty regarding the future of Northern California racing, officials believe the number of horses in Southern California will support the Santa Anita spring program.

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“There are about 2,400 horses in Southern California between Santa Anita, San Luis Rey, and Los Alamitos Thoroughbreds,” Newby said. “We’ve got a horse population that really should support what we’re trying to do. I think we’ll be in good shape.”

Spring highlights include 2-year-old races starting April 28. The past three spring meets, favorites won 24 of 47 juvenile races (51 percent). Spring stakes highlights include a Memorial Day card with the Grade 1 Gamely for turf fillies and mares, Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf, and recently downgraded Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on dirt.

The Santa Anita wagering menu is unchanged from winter. However, the California Horse Racing Board agenda for its April 18 meeting includes “Discussion and action by the Board on the request from the Los Angeles Turf Club to approve a new wager to be implemented during their existing race meet.” Details could be made available this week.

First post is 1 p.m. Friday for the opening-day card. Five of the nine races are on turf, and the all-turf pick three is on races 5, 7, and 9. During the winter meet, the $3 turf pick three produced a median payoff (half higher, half lower) of slightly more than $300. All three races in the Friday turf pick three are sprints.

Race-5 favorite Exultation runs for a $40,000 claim tag and could be the most heavily favored runner in the sequence. A 9-year-old gelding with five wins and one runner-up finish from his last six starts, Exultation is trained by Peter Eurton and will be ridden by Antonio Fresu. His main rival is stablemate Jetovator.

Race 7, a starter allowance, includes first-time turf comebacker Father Delay, Lemon Sushi, Neon Lights, and Eddie’s Last.

Race 9 is a filly-mare starter allowance in which Phenom and Rebalation are the top choices.

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