Two ratings-based races carded for Saturday
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Santa Anita on Saturday has carded two handicaps based on a newly created rating system instead of more traditional methods such as allowance race conditions or claiming levels.
Santa Anita is the first track in the nation to offer such races.
The ratings-based handicaps are the sixth and seventh races.
The sixth race, which has seven entrants, is a six-furlong sprint with a purse of $35,000 for horses rated 70 to 79. The purse compares to a $25,000 claiming race.
The seventh race, with a field of six, is a sprint at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf with a purse of $65,000 for horses rated 80 to 95. The purse is equal to what is offered in allowance races.
Weights were determined by age and the spread in ratings between entrants.
In the seventh race, Antifona, winner of the Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the hillside turf course in February 2024, carries top weight of 126, conceding one to five pounds to five rivals.
Antifona has a rating of 95, while Miss Lizzy, who has a rating of 92, will carry 125 pounds. No Other Like You, who has a rating of 86, will carry low weight of 120 pounds. No Other Like You received a three-pound allowance as a 3-year-old, and three pounds for the nine-point spread in handicap ratings compared to Antifona.
Miss Lizzy was fourth in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes on the hillside turf course in January in her last start. She won the Mizdirection Stakes on the hillside turf course in May 2024.
No Other Like You was third in a $25,000 claimer for nonwinners of two at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Oct. 3, and is winless in six starts since a $35,000 claimer for maidens on turf at Gulfstream Park in May.
For the seventh race, a difference of three ratings points equals a one-pound reduction in weight assignment. For the sixth race, two rating points equals a one-pound reduction, according to the conditions of the races.
The track initially offered three ratings-based handicap for Friday’s program, but failed to draw sufficient interest when entries were taken on Sunday.
Entries for Saturday’s program were taken on Monday. The ratings-based handicaps are two of the 10 races on the card. The track has offered another ratings-based handicap for Sunday, the final day of the current autumn meeting. Entries for Sunday were being compiled on Tuesday.
The numerical ratings, introduced last week, have been generated by an algorithm created by Equibase, the data company co-owned by The Jockey Club. In theory, the ratings are designed to mimic handicap ratings used widely in countries such as Australia, Britain, Hong Kong, and Ireland.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.