ARCADIA, Calif. - Very Vegas scored a 16-1 upset in Sunday's $111,350 for 3-year-old fillies, leading throughout to give apprentice jockey Mick Ruis his first stakes win at Santa Anita.
Very Vegas ($35.40) led by as many as 2 1/2 lengths on the hillside portion of race over about 6 1/2 furlongs, but was in front by only a length over the stalking Triple Fantasy at the eighth pole.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The pick six at Santa Anita on Wednesday will have a carryover of more than $1.4 million after the bet went untouched for the third consecutive day on Sunday.
A string of longshots on Sunday led to the carryover, one of the highest in track history.
Wednesday's pick six covers the third through eighth races, and includes three races for maidens, an allowance race over a mile on turf, a sprint on the hillside turf course and an optional claimer over 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
Sound of Gold overcame post No. 11 to defend her title in the $30,000 Willowbrook over five furlongs on turf Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park. Leslie's Love finished a neck back in second, while it was another three and three quarter lengths to third-place finisher Fleeta Dif.
Sound of Gold ($18.60) broke sharp, pushed the pace then held off Leslie's Love for the win. She covered the distance over firm turf in 57.96 seconds. John Jacinto rode the winner for River Ridge Ranch and trainer Paul Pearson.
ARCADIA, Calif. - No one hit the pick six at Santa Anita again on Saturday, leading to a carryover of $413,313 entering Sunday's races.
Sunday's card has a number of large fields in which there are several contenders. The pick six encompasses races four through nine.
Following is an overview of those races:
ALBANY, Calif. - Jets Fan ($11.80) made a strong move along the rail into the lane and pulled away from Gold Ruckus late to win the $55,500 San Carlos Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.
Jets Fan sat comfortably behind the brisk pace of Smile n Wildcat in the one-mile race. He and Gold Ruckus closed behind the leader and favored Onebadshark on the turn. Gold Ruckus went three wide, while Jets Fan cut to the rail as the horses came into the lane.
ARCADIA, Calif. - When Minister Eric could not draw into the body of Saturday's $113,350 at Santa Anita, jockey Alex Solis ended up on his back-up ride, Seattle Borders. The scenario played out ideally. Seattle Borders, making his first start for trainer Bobby Frankel, rallied down the middle of the course to catch pacesetter Stalking Tiger in the Grade 3 turf sprint for 3-year-olds.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Binya proved that distance is no problem and that she will be a more than suitable replacement for her recently retired stablemate, Volga.
Binya, who hadn't raced beyond nine furlongs in her 10-race career, galloped to a 2 1/2-length victory in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 at Gulfstream Park. Ocean Silk held off Boana by a half-length for second in the 1 3/8-mile turf marathon.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - , two fillies who figure to be headed toward stakes assignments sooner rather than later, meet up in a $34,000 entry-level allowance race on Monday's nine-race card at Gulfstream Park.
Cherry Bomb stretches out around two turns after a dynamite debut going six furlongs here on Jan. 25. In that race, Cherry Bomb dueled with Welcome Home through a half-mile in 45 seconds before running away from that rival to win by 5 1/4 lengths. She ran six furlongs in 1:10.24 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 89.
